Band Name Origins, Spray-Painting and Touring With Suede - Bloodworm Interview - By The Fans Magazine

Words & Interview: Jenna Stoch

Photography Credit: Rachel Halaburda

“Bloodworm, thank you so much for taking your time to speak to us at By The Fans Magazine. For those who haven’t yet discovered your music, how would you describe the band and the world that you’re trying to create with your music?”

We are a band that makes songs for happy people that want to act moody.

“How did Bloodworm come about? What made the three of you feel like this was the right project to build and evolve together?”

Bloodworm came about when I met Euan and we realised we both liked music and were very bored. We used to play in Euan’s shed just for a bit of fun and to get out some angst, but it eventually turned into something more serious, especially when

we decided to get Chris to complete us as a three-piece band.

“Your band name is so unique, so we have to ask - How did you come up with the name “Bloodworm”, and did it all feel like the perfect fit for the sound and the image of the band, the first time that you said the chosen name out loud?”

I spray-painted the word ‘ worm’ on the wall of Euan’s shed that we used to practice in. When we got asked to play our first show, we were trying to brainstorm

names and I just read it off the wall, and once we added the ‘Blood’ part, it stuck.

“Bloodworm’ music has this dark, gothic, almost theatrical mood to it. Who would you say are your biggest musical inspirations, either individually or collectively as a band?”

We are inspired by a lot of music from different scenes and decades. Our music shares a lot of elements with late 70s post-punk through to new-wave, gothic rock,

indie, and shoegaze. I am personally very inspired by bands like The Chameleons, Television, and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

“We’ve heard that one of your latest releases ‘Alone In Your Garden’, was inspired by bitterly cold Autumn days, English Folk and Folklore, and also that you wanted to blend that with a gothic sound. When you’re writing, do you usually start with a specific visual world like that, or does the story reveal itself as the song develops?”

It depends on the song really. There have been many different versions of Alone in Your Garden, but the lyrics and general feel have never really changed. The lyrics were written on a boring bus ride, but the music came from playing late at night on a moody autumn night, or just a normal night that I was feeling moody on, perhaps.

“You’ve been described as taking your sound even further into the dark with your latest EP ‘Blood & Lust’. Is this darker direction something fans can expect more of from Bloodworm going forward?”

Yes and no, some of the new songs we have been writing and playing on the road are just as dark, but others are more energetic or even dancey. This is just the start of our sound, so I’m excited to see which directions I can take the band in the

future.

“You recently had the huge opportunity to support Suede on their sold-out leg of their UK tour. What did that whole experience teach you as a band? And have you got any key stand out moments from the tour?”

Touring with Suede was so much fun, and if anything, I would say it taught us where we wanted to be. Which is on a stage. Playing to all of those new faces was

an amazing experience, and it has been cool to meet so many people that have stuck with us after Suede introduced us to them.

“What has been a highlight for yourselves as of so far? Such as a favourite gig? What made it stand out?”

Playing at Rock City for Dot to Dot was very cool as that was a goal of ours from when we first started. Having that big of a crowd containing fans both old and new along with people that probably never heard of us until that day was surreal.

“What’s the strangest, funniest, or the most unique thing that has ever happened at one of your gigs?”

When we headlined the Bodega in Nottingham, I walked out to the crowd wearing a Zoro mask and holding a pumpkin over my head. I forgot about the pumpkin until about halfway through the show when I realised the pumpkin was crowd surfing, which made me forget the lyrics for a moment.

“You have a multitude of upcoming gigs this year, which gig are you most excited

for and why?”

Our next headline show in Nottingham is what I’m most looking forward to. It’s once again on Halloween, but this time it’s at Rescue Rooms, which is one of our

favourite venues to play. It’s going to be hectic.

“If Bloodworm could collaborate with any band or artist, alive or dead, who would it be and how do you think that song would sound like?”

I would choose Kurt Cobain. I know he was quite into a lot of older punk and post-punk music, so I would like to see what he would have done. It would probably sound horrible.

You can listen to Bloodworm here.