An Interview With Bellhead
The latest release from Bellhead hits that classic alternative-edged and industrial laced soundscape and does so with a massive portrayal of character that all comes through almost like a love letter to the classics that inspired it.
The Good Intentions EP is riddled with this sort of darkwave swagger and the array of instrumentation and approach that's used throughout the record is perfectly just outside the box enough to reinvent and brandish something all their own.
For those of us that grew up in the '80s and '90s especially, this record will definitely ring some bells because it's got that classic tonality to it that you've missed for oh so long.
These tracks hit pretty hard and they do it with a really well-balanced set of dynamic ranges that make you really understand that a lot went into the creation of this release.
There is certainly a ton of attention to detail going on here but no matter how technical the song gets the soul is always on the forefront.
The vocals give off such a great character and attitude that it becomes quickly infectious and the way that they take these alternative guitar tones just hint at giving massive feedback but never go over the top and blend them in with programmed drums the classic way, it really creates the right atmosphere.
And that's the thing with this release, it feels like it's done in a classic way. Even the way it was recorded feels like it was done the way they would do it in the 90s.
It has an almost analog undertone with a digital overtone which is exactly what you want for a record like this.
There was indeed a lot of heart that went into this release and that's unbelievably evident as is the pure love for the craft this group has.
With all this, they still managed to pull something off that they put their stamp on and they've created this staple soundscape for themselves that really works like a charm.
There's something about the record that's edgy but also freeing and welcoming in a way and it's not just because it gives me a sort of nostalgic feeling.
It also bears something that makes it kind of special.
This is definitely for the lovers of the classics in terms of industrial, alternative pop, darkwave, even hints of post-punk come through on this one so you're guaranteed a damn good time.
Honestly, anyone who loves music that a band puts their absolute all into should fall right in love with this record.
With the release of such a badass record, we wanted to have a sit-down with Bellhead to find out where the soul came from, what really inspired it, and what's coming up next for them.
Here's what went down.
TSWS: Okay, let's start with the Good Intentions EP! This record had all the textures and tones of a genuine alt-pop and horror undertoned post-punk! How did this EP come about?
Songs start out small like a bar of soap. Sometimes Karen sends me a bass line and I get it up on trucks and show it to her. Other times I take a riff I liked from sound check and build it out for Karen to review. Once we have determined we have something we are enthusiastic about we rehearse it adding intros & outros, structuring breaks and the like. I’ll take it home, finalize the drums, and add some production if the song suggests it, such as piano or atmospheric sounds. Finally lyrics that I have hopefully already started or am now pulling together from bits of scribbles I fancy fit the mood of the song. If you listen close to a song it will tell you the words. Now the rubber meets the road. We rehearse it, and rehearse it, and rehearse it. a couple words will get changed, a bass sound will get polished, sometimes we find a section needs to repeat or be shortened. I would wager all our songs take around the same amount of time to write as it’s a process of living with the song and seeing how excited it makes us. If we lose enthusiasm and can’t get it back the song goes in the bin. You can fake a lot of things but you can’t fake enthusiasm. I can honestly say we truly enjoy our songs and are excited to play them at every show.
TSWS: How did this all start for you as a band?
We both played in a band called Sheriff Scabs at different times- Ivan starting with them, then Karen joining later to replace Ivan, then Ivan re-replaced Karen. Many years down the road, a meeting over german sausages and beer brought us together to talk about making some sort of project although it was never really mapped out until a Chicago blizzard.
TSWS: What kind of things really inspire songs for you?
I like unreliable narrators. When there is a soul survivor of a ship wreck do you take him at his word? I wanted to go all in on song lyrics that were open to interpretation. Are the intentions truly good or is there something else unseen?
TSWS: This EP has some great styles on it! Can you give us some of your biggest influences musically?
David Bowie! Also all the music we listen to driving and the bands we play with. Recorded music is a record of progress but live music is such a visceral relationship. An animal that can not be tamed.
TSWS: What are you all doing when you're NOT working on music?
When we are not working on our own music we are doing remixes for other artists. I wish I could say when that is but it’s a timeline for other artists to put it out. We are never not working. Between a live set of new songs. We keep at it.
TSWS: Who's in all your headphones right now?
A little bit of everything. Touring buds Then Comes Silence and Bellwether Syndicate for sure. Night Club (who we are playing with at the end of May), and Holy Wars. Depeche Mode, Billy Joel, and maybe some Iggy Pop.
TSWS: Are you guys doing any live performances right now?
Non-stop! Our tour that supports the EP starts Saturday, and we’re already booking out through fall.
05/06/23 - LiveWire Lounge - Chicago, IL - BELLHEAD (w/ The Clay People / [melter])
05/07/23 - Mac’s Bar - Lansing, MI - BELLHEAD (w/ The Clay People / Zombie Apocalypse / No Skull)
05/08/23 - Black Circle Brewery - Indianapolis, IN - BELLHEAD (w/ The Clay People / Broken Nails)
05/09/23 - The Foundry - Lakewood, OH - BELLHEAD (w/ The Clay People / Bounded By Darkness / Temple Witch)
05/10/23 - The Runaway - Washington DC - BELLHEAD (w/ The Clay People / High Horse Cavalry / Raw Dawgs)
05/11/23 - Bar Freda - New York, NY - BELLHEAD (w/ The Clay People / The Amatory Murder / Chroma)
05/12/23 - Darq at Koto - Salem, MA - BELLHEAD (w/ The Clay People / Acheron)
05/13/23 - Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center - Harrisburg, PA - BELLHEAD (w/ The Amatory Murder / Faux Fear / Goth Goth / Sugar Hysteria)
05/14/23 - JuJu Bonz Records - Akron, OH - BELLHEAD (w/ Night Goat / Bonded By Darkness)
05/26/23 - Reggie’s - Chicago, IL - BELLHEAD (w/ Night Club / Iron Years / Plasmata)
06/08/23 - TBA - BELLHEAD
07/12/23 - TBA - BELLHEAD
08/02/23 - TBA - BELLHEAD
08/19/23 - TBA - BELLHEAD
10/07/23 - TBA - BELLHEAD
TSWS: Did you record yourself or hit a big studio for this?
We record demos at home only for roughs and ideas- to send songs back and forth while we are writing. Once songs are polished up after we are in our rehearsal studio for months, we go to Jamdek studios in Chicago to record with Neil Strauss behind the mixing board and Carl Saff to master.
TSWS: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
We’re going to have a few music videos come out later in the summer and fall, and we’ll also have a few show announcements shortly after we return from tour. We’ll be providing direct support for a few national artists that we’re excited about.
TSWS: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
Thanks for all of your continued support and we look forward to meeting you all when we’re on tour!