From The Road: Puma Blue
FRESH OFF THE RELEASE OF HIS SECOND RECORD HOLY WATERS AND A EUROPEAN TOUR - Puma Blue has had a busy start to his Fall. The UK, Atlanta-based artist's journey to fame started with his debut project, In Praise Of Shadows, which received acclaim from major publications like MTV, TEETH, NME, Crack, and The Line of Best Fit. His popularity soared, particularly in the US, when he opened for Arlo Parks on tour.
Puma Blue's musical style is often described as a blend of alternative, guitar-driven pop catharsis, characterized by his soulful and hushed vocals. In the time between his 2021 debut and now, he has collaborated with artists like Snoh Aalegra, Loyle Carner, Biig Piig and Mahalia. His new album, Holy Waters, delves into themes of life, death and rebirth, offering a profound exploration of these cycles. His lyrics are known for their deep insights and observations, touching on topics like grief, elation, solitude, and community.
Puma Blue captured his European tour on a Lomography camera for our latest “From The Road” feature and is giving us some insight into life on tour. Read below to delve into his recent European tour, where he shares stories and reflections on his journey, the places he's explored, and the evolving dynamics of his live performances.
LUNA: Happy fall! How has the start of this season been treating you?
PUMA BLUE: I’m gonna miss the summer this year honestly. But touring has been an interesting way to transition into autumn, seeing things slowly get greyer and wetter. I started this tour sweating through light shirts and I’m ending it wrapped in a hoodie, hugging a plastic cup of hot water.
LUNA: Congrats on wrapping up your European tour. Can you share a story behind one of the images from this roll of film?
PUMA BLUE: Thank you. There’s a photo of me that Harvey took on our way for a drink after rehearsal, standing with a poster promoting the album from right before we set off for tour. We were rehearsing in New Cross, really close to where some of us first met and lived between the ages of 18 and 25. It was a surreal trip seeing this album poster clinging to the side of a pub I’d walked past hundreds of times. I think I was more proud of that than any of the larger billboards or the record store support, because it was something I daydreamed of when I was younger and there it was in front of me, gluey crinkles and all.
LUNA: What was your favorite city to explore?
PUMA BLUE: We never have much time explore on tour sadly, after a long drive usually you’re pulling up to the venue as load-in/soundcheck starts. But we got to see Harvey’s place from when he lived in Berlin which was cool, and on our way to Manchester I was able to visit the place where my Grandparents’ ashes were scattered and connect to them and the earth, put my hands in the grass and take a moment to remember them.
LUNA: How do Europe shows compare to US shows?
PUMA BLUE: Crowds are definitely louder in America. It’s not even a better or worse thing. That level of enthusiasm can really encourage you and the instant gratification uplifts everyone in the band as we play, but sometimes you can emotionally connect more with a reverent audience. It’s also really beautiful talking to people after the shows at the merch-stand whose first language isn’t necessarily English.
I love both, I can’t believe I get to play in all these places, I’m so grateful for it.
LUNA: What’s been your favorite track to play lately?
PUMA BLUE: I love playing “Too Much, Too Much” from the new record. I always connect emotionally with “Pretty” and “Want Me”. I fell out of love with it for a long time but I’ve loved playing “(She’s) Just A Phase” recently and taking the intro somewhere different every night. The way fans sing that last chorus with so much force each night pretty much knocks me back every time, it’s so surreal and sweet and beautiful to me.
LUNA: How have you seen your live performance evolve overtime?
PUMA BLUE: Definitely, I’ve always encouraged the boys to improvise a lot within the structures of the songs so the songs just evolve naturally as we have played them over the years. I wish I could re-record some of the old ones actually as they sound now. I’ve become much more confident with my voice over the years too. I used to feel so self conscious about it and there are still aspects of my voice I dislike but now it’s just this wild thing I use much more expressively than I used to that I try not to tame too much.
LUNA: Have you developed any pre-show rituals?
PUMA BLUE: I warm up with scales and shaking some of the nerves out of the muscles of my arms and hands. I’ll drink a hot ginger tea and have a shot of whiskey if I’m nervous.
Sometimes I try and embarrass myself somehow, usually by making a crazy sound or something, so that the scariest thing I’ve done is already out of the way and I can walk onto stage knowing I’ve done my most embarrassing thing already.
We have some rituals together as a band too that just connect us and help us tune in with each other. But you’ll have to join the band if you want to know what those are.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the rest of the year?
PUMA BLUE: I’ve got two weeks off in October to have some spooky rest, and then US tour starts in November for the month. During my time off I think I’m gonna try to learn to drive and just focus on writing new music, resting and cycling to get myself out of my head and into my body.
