Ellie Rowsell and Joel Amey of the British rock band Wolf Alice speak about their primal screams and shattering their insecurities in their new song “Bloom Baby Bloom.”
(SOUNDBITE OF WOLF ALICE SONG, “BLOOM BABY BLOOM”)
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
Sometimes, all it takes to get past insecurities is connecting to who you really are. Other times, it’s a primal scream from your core. British rock band Wolf Alice explores those two things in their new song, “Bloom Baby Bloom.” We spoke to singer Ellie Rowsell and drummer Joel Amey about their approach to music.
ELLIE ROWSELL: My name’s Ellie. I sing and play guitar in Wolf Alice. You know, we all face challenges, no matter how big or how small. And I’ve often turned to music in my times of need, whether it’s, like, to channel into an emotion or a feeling that will – just makes me feel better or, if I’m really listening to lyrics, to feel seen. Like, both those ways of listening to music have served me well.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BLOOM BABY BLOOM”)
WOLF ALICE: (Singing) Hard. But I’ll bloom, baby, bloom. Watch me. Yeah, you’ll see just what I’m worth. Yes, I’ll bloom, baby, bloom. Every flower needs to neighbor with the dirt. Wow.
ROWSELL: I think it’s like saying that it’s not easy to flourish, but it’s possible.
(SOUNDBITE OF WOLF ALICE SONG, “BLOOM BABY BLOOM”)
JOEL AMEY: My name’s Joel, and I play the drums. When I’m playing this song, I’m just trying to channel that Muppet that plays the drums – you know, Animal. Yeah. Just on the floor tom for, like, 3 1/2 minutes. So maybe I’m trying to outgrow my nonanimal persona and into my animal persona.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BLOOM BABY BLOOM”)
WOLF ALICE: One, two, three. Come on.
(Singing) I know the dark things come out in the night. Play it hard. Play it hard. Play it hard.
AMEY: It’s primal and it’s, like, a caveman drumbeat. Do you know what I mean? And it – I kind of – I like it for that. That’s what the drums were – its role were in that song, was just to be the heartbeat, you know?
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BLOOM BABY BLOOM”)
WOLF ALICE: (Singing) Line. Whoa. Look at me trying to play it hard. I got sick and tired of trying to play it hard. But I’ll bloom, baby, bloom. Watch me. Yeah, you’ll see just what I’m worth. Yes, I’ll…
ROWSELL: A primal scream to remind yourself that you are brilliant as you are and not to let anyone let you forget that. Maybe when you feel in doubt of your own strength and power, like, it could serve as a kind of encouragement or something that you are amazing (laughter).
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BLOOM BABY BLOOM”)
WOLF ALICE: (Singing) But I’ll bloom, baby, bloom. Watch me. Yeah, you’ll see just what I’m worth.
RASCOE: That was Ellie Rowsell and Joel Amey of the band Wolf Alice. Their song “Bloom Baby Bloom” is out now on their latest album, “The Clearing.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “BLOOM BABY BLOOM”)
WOLF ALICE: (Singing) Dirt. Yes, I’ll bloom, baby, bloom. Watch me. Yeah, you’ll see just what I’m worth. Oh, just breathe, baby, breathe. Every flower needs to grow up by the weeds. Wow.
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