By: Staff
The Big Bloom released “Maybe” and it's a sad story, but also fire!
Big Bloom’s latest track, “Maybe,” kicks off with a blazing burst of guitars and powerful drums that immediately set the tone for an electrifying listen. The song’s upbeat and catchy sound creates a vibrant contrast to its underlying theme of heartache and moving on. The dynamic energy of the music masks the song’s melancholy lyrics, making it a paradoxically uplifting experience despite its emotional depth.
The singer delivers poignant lines like, “Cross my heart and I hope to die, turns out that I’ll be just fine. I had to face a big bad truth. Looks like I’m leaving you.” These lyrics reveal the song’s core sadness, yet the lively musical arrangement ensures that listeners are drawn in by the song’s infectious energy. It feels as though "Maybe" draws inspiration from the end of a relationship and the need for a fresh start, capturing both the pain and the exhilaration of moving on.
One of the standout elements of the track is the singer’s tone and cadence, which exudes a classic rock 'n' roll grit that perfectly complements the song’s theme. The break in the song features a powerful performance with a Broadway-style flair, adding a dramatic touch that enhances the overall impact. This section is both full and vibrant, showcasing the band’s versatility and their ability to blend different musical influences.
The song continues to impress with a compelling drum solo that transitions smoothly into a captivating guitar solo. These instrumental breaks align perfectly with the song’s lyrical angst, amplifying the emotional intensity. The singer’s ability to match the energy of the escalating beats and intense guitar riffs really brings the song to life, delivering a performance that resonates deeply with listeners.
The track concludes with another dramatic, Broadway-inspired finale, featuring the emphatic line, “It’s time I walk away.” This closing sentiment underscores the song’s theme of departure and renewal, signaling Big Bloom’s readiness to make waves in the rock arena. From an engineering perspective, “Maybe” is impeccably clean, with excellent mixing and mastering that preserves the raw, gritty essence of rock 'n' roll while ensuring clarity even at high volumes. Big props to the engineers for their work on this track.
What we really liked about this song, too, is the true indie rock feel it has. It’s an anthem, it’s got solos, and it features a lead singer who can sing and sounds unique. It also feels like the band performed it in one take at your favorite venue!
Overall, “Maybe” is a must-stream song that brilliantly combines emotional depth with high-energy rock elements. Definitely playlist, stream, and share this song!
Wait, there's more!
We caught up with this exciting and emerging artist, for:
“The Cage” Music Blog, to talk about music and learn more about them.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Is there a story behind how you chose your artist name?
Dave and John went to college in Bloomington, IN and Mike and Sean went to college in Bloomington, IL. The Big Bloom pays homage to those formative years. Bloom also signifies growth, and we’re always trying to push the limits of what our music can be.
We read you have been a band since grade school, wow! Can you tell us how this all came to be?
Mike (drums) & Dave (guitar) are brothers and grew up playing music together. John (bass) joined in early high school and later recruited Sean (vocals, guitar) to lead the band. We have been playing music for years together under different names, and have more recently gotten serious and started playing shows at clubs around Chicago.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process and where the inspiration comes from for this latest project?
The song started as a riff that Dave had in his head. We got in a room and sort of just started playing it over and over again until we found a verse and a bridge. Sean writes 99% of the lyrics, and quickly had the lyric “Cross my heart and hope to die” come to him as an opener for the song. Kind of like writing a paper - once you have the general idea for a song down the rest of it just falls into place.
Can you describe to us the theme for your artwork and what was the inspiration and intention for the observer to absorb from it?
Inspired by Banksy and just random street art that we encounter throughout Chicago. The maybe was “spray painted” on top of the art. Generally supposed to make people feel like the artist is contemplating the concept of love – which fits the song as it’s about the end of a relationship.
What instrument do you use as the foundation to start your musical creations with?
Varies song to song, but more often than not things start on a guitar. Sometimes it’s a riff, sometimes it’s an acoustic guitar with more of a singer songwriter approach. It can be challenging at times to interpret the idea and “translate” it from its initial state to the sound of The Big Bloom. In the case of Maybe - this song started with the main riff you hear during the intro and on the first chorus.
Where do you create your music, i.e. in a home recording studio or with a producer? How do you finalize your finished work, ie self-mixed/mastered or another source?
We record all our own music in a way that a purist would deem technically incorrect. We like having the creative freedom to take our time with music and not rush through a song on a budget at a studio. Makes it easier to change things or re record takes to capture a different sound. We do mix (Danny Patt) and master (Doug McBride) professionally at the legendary Gravity Studios in Chicago.
What has been the most motivating force in creating your music?
We have a lot of fun creating music together, and it’s really a privilege to work with people you are not only great friends with but hold in such high regard. What really kicked us into gear was the passing of Taylor Hawkins. Just another reminder of how short life is and to enjoy everyday.
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful, ie the creation, the actual release date, etc?
The technical process of recording can be very time consuming. From dialing in tones, playing to a click track, leveling things out pre shipping to the studio for a proper mix to ensure things sound right, etc. Creating is fun. Computers are not.
Releasing music isn’t exactly stressful, but it’s certainly hard to market.
Which of your already released songs is the most important to you, or had the most impact on your lives or careers and can you tell us why?
Serenity is about a passion for music. It is a love song between a man and his instrument. The lyrics “I can’t live without you in my life” say it all. When asking what song is most important – it’s hard not to think of that lyric.
As a and, the song that has had the biggest impact is LaLa Land. It was the song that sprung our second EP into action and drove the energy for the entire project. New Punk Rock Persona spun right off of LaLa Land put us in a position to take what feels like that next step together as a band.
What is the live music venue scene like where you currently reside?
We’re lucky to live in Chicago and play in such a diverse and supportive scene. There are no shortage of cool venues to play - both new and old. At times it can be competitive to book shows, but that in itself is a testimony to how deep the rock scene is. We’ve met some really cool people and heard some incredible music when sharing the bill with other amazing local acts.
End Interview
Check out this latest release and listen to more of The Big Bloom on Spotify & YouTube.
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