The act blood pact is the creative vision of Brenton Fergeson, a solo artist hailing from Orange County, CA. Over the years, blood pact has evolved into an intimate yet dynamic project that thrives on authenticity and freedom. With contributions from talented collaborators like Jovan Macias of Wisp, who played drums on the latest EP, blood pact’s music continues to push boundaries while embracing deeply personal themes. From the release of the album solace in 2024 to the exciting arrival of the new EP, subliminal messages, blood pact’s journey has been one of exploration, reinvention, and raw emotional storytelling. In this interview, Brenton opens up about the recording process, the challenges he faced, and the inspirations that fueled this deeply personal collection of songs. Let’s get into what makes subliminal messages such a standout chapter in blood pact’s journey!

TELL ME A BIT ABOUT WHAT BLOOD PACT HAS BEEN UP TO THIS PAST YEAR. WERE THERE ANY BIG ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM 2024?

"Earlier last year, in April, I released my fourth album called solace and it featured the band Velvet on three songs. It was the first release through my new label, Pleasure Tapes. Since then, I’ve taken a long break to focus on life things. That’s the beauty of this band though, I can take a break and pick things back up where I left off or come back with something completely new and different. The freedom is really nice."

IS THERE A STORY BEHIND THE BAND NAME? HOW DID YOU SETTLE ON "BLOOD PACT" AS YOUR IDENTITY?

"Honestly, the words themselves hold no significant value or have any real meaning. I decided on the name because of one of my favorite songs from Holy Fawn called 'blood pact.' I had already started to discover my sound through a good amount of demos before I had a name or released anything and then I came across that song and it really clicked. I found a lot of similarities between our sound and songwriting and felt a really strong connection to it. Someone close to me at that time gave me the idea to use their song title as my band name and I decided to run with it."

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE, THE EP SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES THAT CAME OUT ON JANUARY 10TH 2025. WHAT WAS THE RECORDING PROCESS LIKE?

"(The EP) subliminal messages is a completely new take on blood pact. I’m curious to see the response to it from the people who keep up with my music. I strayed from my sort of shoegaze/ heavy shoegaze sound and more or less just embraced the alternative rock sound that I naturally gravitate toward. I picked up a little bit of 'new gear,' like this vintage mesa boogie preamp pedal that I ended up using on every guitar track on this EP, I love that thing. Past that, Jovan is always a pleasure to work with. He and I are good friends and he understands me and my sound better than anyone. I fully trust his judgment and it shows in the way that he ends up co-producing my songs that he features on."

LISTEN TO "SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES" ON SPOTIFY BY CLICKING BELOW.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG ON THE NEW EP AND WHY?

"That’s tough hahaha. I think 'this isn’t real' is number one for me and 'sludge' is a close second. I had such a clear idea for 'this isn’t real' from start to finish. We’ll just say that I was really inspired to write that song (That’s such a ridiculously insane understatement haha)."

WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF RECORDING THIS EP?

"The recording process was really different for me than it ever has been. To keep it short, I recently got 100% sober at the end of August and I was in the peak of withdrawal when I started writing these songs. Basically, I had some really tough moments writing this stuff. I was so used to my habits and was especially self-aware in those moments of how much I was used to using during writing and recording. I found that there was a way I could funnel those frustrated, painful, obsessed feelings back into the music. I really could not have made it through those moments staying strong without my faith and how God pulled me through it."

WHAT IS THE OVERALL MEANING/MESSAGE OF THIS COLLECTION OF SONGS?

"It would be great if there was one, to be honest. The themes for ‘this isn’t real' and 'sunday' are related and 'sludge' is another thing on its own. To sum it up, 'sludge' is about the things that hold you back from your purpose or place you’re meant to be. For me, that was someone I loved and my addictions to different substances and I wrote the song as if those things are speaking to me. In my mind, I love using my instruments to expand on the lyrics I write. With that being said, the end of the song is the resolution. I couldn’t help but feel like I was expressing me breaking free from those lies, traps, or hurt through that simple lead guitar line and chaotic ending. 'This isn’t real' is really just me pouring out my emotions about someone. The way that they don’t even know they make you feel and how you can write a whole song blatantly about someone and they’ll most likely never know, it’s crazy. Like I said earlier, it’s my favorite because I’m 100% letting my emotions out over something I’ve suppressed for a while, so again, it's freeing. 'sunday' is more of that same thing in a different light. It’s a little bit sadder and I’d like to think I touch more on the frustration that comes from suppressing those feelings."

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE LYRICS FROM THE EP?

"I have two. I have this line from the beginning of the chorus in 'this isn’t real'... 'The world’s so noisy, but still I find I need your eyes.' All I’m saying is that with all of everything that is in front of you, with all of the distraction and whatnot, the only thing I need, on this earth, is that person’s look. It’s just the simple fact that you can pick that person out of crowd and no one else matters. The second lyric is from the first verse in 'sunday'. It goes, 'So how do you say, she freezes the rain, when she smiles as she’s leaving.' So, I actually have (recently) fully accepted that I have a big heart, for the right person, and that I’m unashamed of that haha. Anyway, there’s just a way something simple they do can make you feel. Time straight up comes to a stop for a few seconds and I love that I have the chance to feel those things."

WHAT IS IN STORE THIS NEXT YEAR REGARDING BLOOD PACT?

"I only have one goal I want to accomplish, but it’s pretty significant. I want to do a compilation of some songs from each of my releases, but record them in a live setting and release it on vinyl and of course everywhere else later. I get a good amount of messages from people asking for CDs, more tapes, and physical media so I think that would be pretty cool. Obviously, I would have my boy Jovan on the kit, but I’ve thought about featuring a different band I know on each song on top of that, we’ll see."

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

"I think I’ve talked enough haha. I’ll probably disappear for another year or something but I tend to post any updates I have on Instagram. I’d like to add that I’m grateful for this life God has given me, the opportunity to share my art with you guys and have you amazing people at Amplified shout it out, you guys are the best. Thanks for listening, I’m so thankful for everyone who does."

Brenton’s unwavering passion for music, paired with his faith and resilience, continues to drive the project forward. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a new listener, there’s no better time to dive into the world of blood pact. With subliminal messages paving the way for a new chapter, this is just the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable journey. Stay tuned for more updates on his Instagram, and don’t forget to stream the EP!

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