Blood Youth [Interview]
Blood Youth have been through a lot over the last year, from the dissolution of previous project Climates, and the introduction of vocalist Kaya Tarsus, to gutting relationship issues. TMMP got chatting to Kaya and Sam Bowden (guitar) in advance of the June 22 release of brand new EP Inside My Head (reviewed on TMMP here)…
Your new EP, Inside My Head, is set to drop soon. How’re you feeling right now?
Kaya: We’re all feeling really good right now! Theres a very positive atmosphere in the Blood Youth camp right now. We cant wait for everyone to hear what we have been working on. So far we have put out two tracks from the EP and we are really pleased with how they have been received.
Obviously we were a little anxious at first because nobody knew what Blood Youth was going to sound like. So far so good!
Blood Youth is a new project with what I understand is a pretty tumultuous history. Could you explain the events that led to the creation of Inside My Head?
Kaya: Inside My Head is about the year that has just passed. I had a pretty rocky 2014, and this EP was my chance to let everybody in on how I was mentally last year.
What kept you going while putting this new project together, and writing/recording the new material?
Sam: We just had a lot of motivation for this project. We knew at the start of the year what we wanted to do and the timeline we wanted to do it in. We booked the studio time pretty early – in fact we booked it before the EP was written – so we were working to a deadline and it was pretty tough! It all paid off though. It was a very proud moment for us to finish the EP.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received about pursuing a career in music?
Kaya: Davey Muise from Vanna once told me that we should only have a career in music if we are always working towards making people feel something at a show. If you’re not doing that than theres no point doing it at all. I always remind myself of that when writing songs so it can be a song someone can relate to.
What’s your creative process like?
Sam: The music for the EP started with Chris (Pritchard, guitar). He writes riffs straight in, then sends them to me. I have a play around and get all the soft parts in. I like to make sure the lead lines are melodic enough to stick in someone’s head as well as the singing. The songs go back and forth with changes until we are all happy with the final thing.
What are each of the songs on Inside My Head about? Is there a theme that runs through the whole EP?
Kaya: There is a cathartic theme running through the whole EP. Each song is a different way of me getting over a certain issue. A lot of the songs are about me dealing with the end of a relationship and the issues that were brought up.
Beyond the EP launch, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2015?
Sam: Touring and making sure as many people [as possible] hear our music.
What’s on your bucket list?
Kaya: To tour with Every Time I Die, in the USA! They have been a huge influence on me; I probably wouldn’t be in a band if it wasn’t for them.
Links
Check out TMMP’s review of Inside My Head here.
Blood Youth on Facebook and Twitter.
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