From existential themes of personal growth to celebrating female empowerment in “Serpentine Sisters,” Blessed Black‘s music is deeply rooted in lived experiences and shared journeys. In our interview with Blessed Black, we dive into the making of Seasons Vol. 2, the band’s journey through personal struggles, musical evolution, societal reflections, and more.
ATN: There is sonic cohesion that can be heard between Seasons: Vol 1 and Seasons: Vol 2, were they recorded in the same sessions or apart?
BB: They were recorded in separate sessions, but at the same studio (Amish Electric Chair Studios) with the same Producer/Engineer (Neil Tuuri) and in the same manner. There are some small tonal differences, but overall we tried to keep the same sort of vibe that the first EP had for sure.
ATN: Seasons Vol. 2 explores existential themes like personal struggle, enlightenment, and societal upheaval. How did these themes manifest in the EP’s lyrics and music?
BB: All of my lyrics tend to come from my own lived experiences, or the experiences of the people in my life. I try to channel what I see going on around me into starts for lyrics, or concepts for songs as often as I can, and then when it comes time to dive into writing lyrics for a new song, I can go to those and pick something that seems to fit the vibe of what we have written and expand on it until I have a full set of lyrics to work with. Then I take it to the band and get their feedback on it, and then move forward from there. The last 3-5 years have been a massive journey of healing and rediscovery for almost everyone in the band, and we talk heavily about those things as friends, and support each other through them, so it’s inevitable that it would make its way into the music we write.
ATN: Were there any specific works or events that had a significant impact on the EP’s themes and sound?
BB: In the last few years, everyone in this band has experienced massive change in their personal lives. Tragedies, loss, new love, marriages, career changes, mental health breakthroughs, and we’ve grown extremely close through it. All of those experiences become shared experiences when you communicate as well as we do, and you are as close as we are. Both of the current Seasons EPs are portraits of where our lives were when we wrote those songs in so many ways. I’m sure the next 2 volumes will be much the same.
ATN: With each member bringing their own influences and skills to the band, how did you collaborate to create the cohesive sound of Seasons Vol. 2? Were there any particular challenges or breakthrough moments during the recording process?
BB: When it comes down to writing music, everyone in the band has an equal voice, and is encouraged to use it, so that when it comes to writing the music itself, it tends to flow out very naturally and quickly from just jamming in the room free form, to when we dig into an idea and start writing a new song. With this lineup, the chemistry was immediate, and effortless. We are constantly surprising each other with cool new ideas and riffs, and always finding new ways to add to what we have started to develop as our sound.
ATN: In my review, I wrote that I can’t help but wonder if you guys mean for “Serpentine Sisters” to come across as a song that celebrates female empowerment. Was that the intention or have I completely created my own narrative?
BB: You are 100% correct. ‘Serpentine Sisters’ is one of my absolute favorite songs I’ve ever written, and I’m very proud of it. Lyrically, the song really is about watching the women in my life be absolutely amazing despite living in a patriarchal society that is constantly making things an uphill battle for them. I had an incredible mother and grandmothers, and was lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing, strong, intelligent, and underestimated women my entire life. They shaped who I am as a person, and I’m eternally grateful to them for it. This song is both a tribute to them, and a call to action for any woman out there who may not yet realize that she’s capable of tremendous things on her own, despite the fact that our society might be telling her that she isn’t, or that she needs the help of a man to reach her potential.
ATN: What do you hope fans take away from Seasons Vol. 2?
BB: I really just hope that people like what they hear enough to share it with the people they’re close to. Sharing songs and music is a massive love language for me, and I just want to be a part of that for other people.
ATN: Have there been any surprising reactions or interpretations of the EP that you didn’t expect?
BB: I’m always surprised and blown away when anyone takes the time to listen to, and offer their thoughts on our music. We’ve had some amazing people reach out recently and want to be a part of what we do in many different ways, and people who love the songs come to shows and sing along, and talk to us after the show and share their time and energy with us, and I’m just eternally grateful for those moments.
ATN: How does Blessed Black view the role of heavy music in addressing deeper existential questions and societal issues? What do you believe sets your approach apart from other bands in the genre?
BB: I think as a genre, doom and heavy metal in general tend to be a bit more abstract, and escapist. It’s a huge part of the world of heavy metal to write about fantasy and grandiose concepts, and take listeners on a huge journey. I love those things, and I love them in metal especially, but I also really like realism and relatability in music. It’s something that a lot of punk bands tend to be great at. I try to straddle that line with my own lyrics. I want to talk about real things, and share my experiences. I want to scream them into the void and hope that the void calls back. I want to share every available emotion with anyone who relates to the words I write. I think that connection is the most important thing in life, and if even one person connects to what I write, and we are able to share that, then I can be happy knowing that I’ve done what I set out to do.
ATN: What’s in store for the rest of 2024?
BB: More EPs, physical releases, live shows, tour dates, new merch, all of the great things that come along with being in a band that loves what we do, and is trying to put the work in to grow it. I’m beyond excited for the rest of the year, and next year.
SAME 3 QUESTIONS WE ALWAYS ASK
ATN: Artist / band that you feel is the most underrated and why?
BB: There are so many amazing bands out there. It’s hard to pick just one. After playing some amazing shows together recently, I think that everyone in the world should know who Faerie Ring is. They are incredible. They write the sickest songs, and on stage, they’re one of the best bands you’ll ever see by far in my opinion.
ATN: Artist / band that you would like to collaborate with and why?
BB: I’d love to get a guest vocal part on one of our songs from an amazing frontwoman. Maybe Nighthawk from Heavy Temple, Jillian from Ruby The Hatchet, or Riley from Castle Rat.
ATN: Artist / band that you would like to tour with and why?
BB: We would love to tour with just about anyone who is down to hit the road with us. If I had to pick specific bands, I’d probably say Witchcraft, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Graveyard, Green Lung, and Ruby The Hatchet. These are all bands that are phenomenal live, and really perform at a high level. I want to tour with bands that make us want to be a better live band, and keep us pushing to better ourselves, and what we do. Plus I’d just be stoked to watch any of those bands every night.
