Los Angeles sister-duo Bleached have been punkin out for quite some time now, but just released their debut full-length Ride Your Heart, on April 2nd. Jennifer and Jessie Clavin dig through crates of 70’s garage rock LP’s to cut and paste and smattering of nostalgic guitar-driven influences on their new album. What results is 12 tracks of rough and bubbly sunpop, perfect for the improving weather, and guaranteed for solid times. Speaking of solid times, see Bleached play live right here in Boston at TT the Bear’s Place tomorrow night in a Boston Hassle show that also features Hunters from Brooklyn and local freaks Creaturos. This will be sure to blast on so many levels, so get out and see ’em. To preview, we chatted briefly with Jennifer from Bleached about a bunch of stuff.
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Nick Cox: Your album has got a lot going on: one track has those Cars-style staccato guitar flare-ups; one has some glockenspiel that reminds me a bit of Beach House; one–the last one, I believe (I lost all my music so I haven’t listened to it in a little while)–sounds a lot like the Cure. Were you consciously trying to experiment with a lot of different styles when you wrote the songs? If so (or even if not), which did you like the most?
Jennifer: Of all the bands you mentioned I’m obsessed with The Cure. Yeah but we definitely were trying to experiment with different sounds. I like records that have textures instead of sounding like one long song.
(Apologies in advance for obligatory women-in-rock question). The past five years have seen an enormous renaissance in female-led punk/garage-type music, including established acts like Vivian Girls and Best Coast as well as up-and-comers like Potty Mouth and White Lung. Do you feel like you’re part of this? Who are some of your favorite female-led rock bands on the scene right now?
Jennifer: In a way, yes, because we are currently doing Bleached. But at the same time Jess and I have been in bands (mainly mika miko) way before those bands so it’s a little different. But I notice the amount of girls in music is way more than it used to be.
More broadly, do you see yourself as part of the revival of garage-type music (e.g. Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, etc.) that’s been going on over the past few years? Which of those bands are your favorites?
Jennifer: I just see them more as friend bands. I think we all like similar music and we inspire each other. Also we all grew up with our past bands together. But I think Ty is awesome. I used to see him play The Smell when he was still a teenager.
Even more broadly, who are your favorite bands right now?
Jennifer: Current bands I love are Veronica Falls, Tame Impala, and Trust.
One thing you have in common with Best Coast is that you both talk about “waiting by the phone,” which is not something that anyone actually does anymore now that everyone has a cell phone. What’s with that?
Jennifer: Haha I didn’t realize that. But I was inspired by the Nerves song that Blondie ended up covering “hanging on the telephone”. Also I grew up before cell phones so I was actually waiting by the telephone for friends and crushes to call me. Also I’m kinda obsessed with phones, I used to sing into one in my old band.
What do you think of the East Coast? Are the crowds different over here from how they are back home? How so?
Jennifer: Yeah so far, LA and especially Santa Ana kids go way crazier at shows. The south goes pretty wild too.
How has the tour been so far? What’s been best/most memorable show you’ve played? Any good stories?
Jennifer: It’s been awesome! New Orleans was my favorite so far. We had to do our own sound. Everyone was dancing and on the last song Jess got up on a table using a swivel chair and started soloing. A girl then flew into Jessie’s amp and I somehow ended up loosing balance and fell into the crowd. It was really fun.
Ride WHOSE heart? Your own (i.e. “Hey you! Ride your heart!”) or someone else’s (i.e. “I want to ride your heart!”)? Either way, what does riding someone’s heart even mean?
Jennifer : Definitely trying to say here are my stories, all the ups and downs, of falling in love and it being so crazy. And that everyone should do the same or will relate in someway.
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