The Bloodstrings took timeout from doing their Punkabilly thing and told us about their songwriting process. Let’s see what they have to say!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
So we started being some sort of Horror-Punk/Psychobilly Band, right? And of course you need a somewhat gory name. Our guitar player Manni always had the habit to hurt his right hand while playing and kept bleeding after one of our first show one day. Also I started to play the upright bass and wasn’t used to it so he’d have blisters and wounds on his fingers after rehearsals. Bloodstrings seemed about right and if you ever catch us live – it’s still pretty accurate!
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
We are punk rock kids, all of us, with some backgrounds in metal and hardcore as well, but essentially punk and we are all born in the late 80s and early 90s. When Celina’s and my fascination for psychobilly and horror-punk began they formed the band. We were inspired by bands like Nekromantix, The Creepshow and the likes. But we have also always been huge fans of bands like The Distillers, Rancid and the skate punk bands on Fat and Epitaph such as NOFX and Bad Religion. That meant that we started this horrorbilly band but our style never fit 100% into it and we also never dressed up for our shows. Somewhat naturally we developed into being the punk with -billy-parts band we are now.
All of us were in bands of very different genres at the time we started Bloodstrings.
How would you describe your sound?
We have been through many sound descriptions. We think that “Punkabilly” is very fittin.. But you also describe us as Alternative/Punk with a Doublebass. We have alwaxs mixed many styles from Indie Rock to Metal and simply don’t care. Not anymore.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
If we are speaking about the engineering of the sound it may be bands like Rancid, Dropkick Murphys because of their guitar sounds and arranging sounds. Also the German band Pascow has been an influence. In terms of Songwriting The Living End and The Creepshow have definitely been impacts on us because of their way to combine the upright bass to punk music that doesn not necessarily follow the rules of Rockabilly or Psychobilly. Every band member would name you hundrets of influences – that is why our new record sounds like a radio station because you have different styles of punk on there.
What’s the last song you listened to?
We are listening to a very crazy Italian powermetal band called NanowaR of Steel because we just got offered an opening slot for them.
What’s your source for hearing new music?
We all are collectors of vinyl records but to really check out the newest/hottest shit it is youtube for the most. I myself work in music professionally so he always checks out Spotify recommendations and listens to a lot of music through other labels.
Who is your dream producer?
With working with the Donots and Philip Meyer-Wien we have already found our dream producer. We always thought it would be cool to have Bill Stevenson at Blasting Room working with us or someone big like Cameron Webb and of course Fat Mike is someone who’s producing styles would be interesting for us. But why change a winning team? We had an extremely good time at the Heavy Kranich studio and both Phil and the band Donots have been super helpful!
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Interesting question. In terms of bands, we are all in love with The Interrupters right now and that would be a cool fit, but also working with Broilers once would be great!
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
Funny enough this is kind of what the single “Heartache Radio” is about. Like most people music kept each of us from going insane but also made us unite in groups of friends. Playing music came very natural to all of us. Celina learned how to play piano at young age and later switched to guitar after becoming a fan of punk rock. Manuel plays the guitar since being very young as well and always wanted to start a band. Patrick tought himself to play the drums to play in bands with his friends growing up. I started learning bass as a teenager and upright bass after founding Bloodstrings.
The motivation is the fun and the process. After a while being stuck in your garage or only playing in local bar is nothing that makes you happy – not if you were lucky like us to get to experience how it is to be on the road and actually have fans. But it is also the musical process, the fun it makes to get better at what you are doing and really enjoying the songs you write! We would be a band even if everyone hated our music, but getting people to like is definitely motivating!
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
It’s hardly just one person and it comes together in several ways. Usually I start to have an idea, mostly just a short hook or a chord progression. Manuel has an infinite pile of riffs and progression lying around and often we can puzzle the two things together. The lyrics mostly are written by Celina, sometimes I only have like a vague idea what could fit to the music. Some of the song are written by Celina from start to finish both lyrically and musically and then the guys would only add some musical spice to it or work on the arrangements. Everyone has ideas and when we pre-produce songs, everyone has their say.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
Other than us being active on social media, we are finally setting up a good old homepage for people to reach us easily via e-mail. You cannot DM us on Facebook, but you can DM us on Instagram and of course via e-mail. The best way though is to go meet us at a show and have a drink with us!
What’s next for you?
By the time we have this interview we just released the first of four planned singles before the albums launches and we are super excited. Next we will go on a short 3 day tour with our friends in Pascow and then we’ll announce some club tour weekenders and festivals! We are finally able to tour again so we want to make us of it!
