Q&A: Bleach Lab Makes Their Mark at SXSW: A Band Poised for Global Breakout
FRESH OFF A WHIRLWIND WEED AT SXSW - Bleach Lab is a rising force to be reckoned with. Despite the jet lag and packed show schedule, their enthusiasm for the experience is infectious. This UK outfit isn't just here for the party; they're on a mission to conquer new territories and connect with audiences across the pond.
Their sound defies easy categorization. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of artists like The Cure and Phoebe Bridgers, Bleach Lab weaves a sonic tapestry that's both familiar and refreshingly unique. Their collaborative songwriting approach is a key ingredient in their success, ensuring a sound that's as multifaceted as the band members themselves.
Looking ahead, Bleach Lab isn't afraid to push boundaries. With a new guitarist on board, they're already laying the groundwork for their sophomore album, promising a continued exploration of new sonic landscapes. But SXSW isn't just a launchpad for the future; it's a chance to connect with a whole new audience. Despite the uncertainty of playing to unfamiliar faces, Bleach Lab approaches every show with the same infectious energy, ready to win over hearts one song at a time.
As they continue their upward trajectory, Bleach Lab's long-term goals remain refreshingly simple: keep making music, keep experimenting, and maybe, just maybe, land that coveted Glastonbury slot.
Read below to get some insight into their creative journey, their evolution from shimmering 80s vibes to the poppier direction of their latest EP and more.
LUNA: How has your SXSW experience been?
IBLEACH LAB: t’s been such a whirlwind. We arrived late on Wednesday and have had shows every day since but its been generally one of the best experiences we have had as a band. Travelling so far from home and seeing people connect with our music is the best feeling and getting to meet some of the fans has been so special.
LUNA: Your music draws on a wide range of influences, from The Cure to Phoebe Bridgers. How does this collaborative approach to songwriting impact your creative process? Does it ever lead to challenges, or is it a constant source of inspiration?
BLEACH LAB: We believe that because each of us has such different tastes in music, this is what helps us create our own individual sound as a band. If we all liked the same bands/artists, we would just end up sounding like a copy of them. There are artists we all like i.e. The Sunday’s, The Cranberries etc and we lean on these artists to draw down crucial parts of our sound but it’s the differences in our individual tastes which helps keeps things exciting when it comes to writing.
LUNA: Your journey has seen you explore different sounds, from the shimmering 80s vibes of your early EPs to the poppier direction on "If You Only Feel It Once." What drives this constant evolution, and how do you decide where to take your music next?
BLEACH LAB: We always agreed as a band that we wanted to make sure we were 100% ready before we did a debut album. Whilst we fundamentally knew the kind of band we wanted to be, there were different avenues we wanted to explore before heading into recording the album. Jenna and Josh write the lyrics on life experiences, so this is often reflected in the music and the sounds we experiment with in each EP. The poppier element to the 3rd EP compared to the darker earlier EPs was heavily influenced by Kieran joining the band. He has a much poppier influence in his writing but also post covid, I think we were looking to have a bit more fun with our sound and try that route. When it came to writing the album, it felt like we took a little bit of everything forward from all 3 EPs.
LUNA: Working with legendary producer Stephen Street (The Cranberries, The Smiths) must have been an incredible experience. What did you learn from him, and how did it shape your approach to recording?
BLEACH LAB: Working with Stephen was such an incredible experience. Not only because he worked/recorded some of our favourite albums of all time but because he is so amazing at what he does. His song writing abilities absolutely blew us away and really helped us push boundaries in our sound. The man is a genius!
LUNA: Given your diverse influences, are there any unexpected genres you'd like to explore in the future?
BLEACH LAB: It’s hard to say right now but with the addition of Louis (our new guitarist) in the band now ahead of the 2nd album, we know he is going to help bring something different and we are sure we will start exploring some new ideas. We are busy in the studio writing now and we are already starting to see the beginnings of the new record which is super exciting!
LUNA: Your debut album received critical acclaim and saw you selling out shows across the UK. What are your hopes and expectations for SXSW, and what can fans expect from your live performance?
BLEACH LAB: We don’t really have any expectations. The US is a completely unknown territory for us in terms of live, so we have to assume we could be playing to very empty rooms and stages. We know we have US fans from our socials but we also know how big the US is and how spread they can be, so how many of them make it SXSW is unknown to us but honestly, just to be here is a such a privilege! Whether we play to 1 or 100 people, it’s going to be such an incredible experience.
LUNA: With a debut album under your belt and a reputation for experimentation, what are some long-term goals for Bleach Lab?
BLEACH LAB: We aren’t much of a band for setting long terms goals. The industry is such a hard one to navigate, we like to take it record by record. We are however, in one of the best places we have been as a band in a long time. The response to the debut album was so amazing and we certainly have no intention of stopping anytime soon. It really is just the beginning, but we wouldn’t say no to a Glastonbury slot if they wanted to offer us one…
