Artist Of The Week #221 - Blossom Caldarone
This week’s Artist of the Week is London based songwriter Blossom Caldarone - who has just released her new EP ‘Maybe In Love (Maybe Not). Feted for her candid lyrical flourishes as much as her virtuoso multi-instrumentalism, Blossom Caldarone has racked up millions of streams and a loyal fanbase, while still yet to release her debut album.
Evident from its name, Blossom’s upcoming EP Maybe in Love (Maybe Not) focuses on her experiences with love and its inevitable complications. Whilst ‘love’ may feel like an unavoidable topic for a musician in their early twenties, it is something that Blossom has previously shied away from. She shares that “Writing about romantic, intimate love almost overwhelms me, and so many writers have done a beautiful job at putting much of it into words. There are so many eloquent songs that already exist, and I often wonder what I can add”. She continues, “I’ve realised that releasing a love song doesn’t have to ensue a groundbreaking hot new take on the heart. It’s merely my experience”.
Prior to Maybe in Love (Maybe Not), Blossom has used music to explore her experiences with grief, her love-hate relationship with pop culture, her friends’ love life, and tumultuous teenage house parties. Almost everything, except what she describes as the “mundane realities of everyone falling in and out of love”. Now, however, with the wisdom that comes with time, Blossom has faced her quarrel with love songs head-on and created something bittersweet, effortlessly vulnerable, and beautifully introspective.
Maybe in Love (Maybe Not) is produced by Cameron Craig (Björk, Annie Lennox, Baxter Dury etc) and recorded at The Premises in Hackney. Blossom’s influences lie in many places, finding solace in The Velvet Underground, Carpenters and other big band but lyrical legends of the 1960s. Citing figureheads such as Carole King and Billy Joel as songwriting inspirations, the project is a sweet alliance of both vintage and modern energy, coming together as 5-tracks of danceable baroque pop.
Hey there Blossom - how are you? So your EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
Very very good, thank you. I finished the EP a while ago so it’s about time the people heard it! It's cathartic putting music out that reminds you of a specific time in your life. I'm excited to move on from that period now. I was sixteen when I wrote 'I Still Love Him' which is crazy. Some of these songs have been a very long time coming.
It is called ‘Maybe In Love (Maybe Not)’ - what is the meaning behind that?
It felt insincere to give the project a title that glorifies love entirely; the songs don't always talk highly of love and much of it contradicts itself. There is so much questioning involved in love and I know this isn't unique to me; I wanted a title that reflects this experience. I ended up choosing something quite explicit but its straightforwardness feels accurate.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
We recorded it at The Premises, Hackney. It was during summer 2021 and extremely hot; we spent our time rehearsing, recording and watching the Euros. It was perfect! I recorded the project with friends, so it was simple fun from start to end.
There are probably more tales from the post production. I didn’t have anywhere to live in London at the time so found myself sofa hopping, and always had multiple bags and the remnants of a meal deal with me. It was a chaotic end to what was a pretty smooth recording process. However, when I got the final masters a few months later, I was driving around Italy with my best friend, which was a magical setting to be in when listening to it for the first time. There were very different energies throughout the whole creative process.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
All in all, the songs were actually written over a period of six years, so the project captures me (and my heart!) at very different points. The main theme is actually that of indecisiveness and embracing the different emotional states that love conjures; the incoherence of the songs' messages only emphasises this notion. It captures love at all angles!
As for influences, it's all personal and inspired by the characters in my life. They can figure out who they are.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Hmmm good question! I wrote the songs between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two, so I want to suggest a coming of age film. However, saying that at twenty-three feels a bit overdue. Perhaps something with a big lesson in it for a female protagonist. Something like God Help The Girl. It's excessively twee but the plot has a few sinister undertones. It's quite jokes having saccharine strings alongside lyrics about being unfuckable.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP - if so, which one and why?
It's a lyric from Blue "the books say this is part of the plan / and that people do all that they can / you struggle for a bit then you strive / yeah, you fumble with your life / then you die"
I often feel overwhelmed by the amount of art in the world that tries to sum up life and all its mess. Everyone has interesting things to say, but ultimately they reuse and recycle similar ideas. "What goes up must come down", "life is for learning", "love hurts" etc. The lyric in Blue finds solace in these notions; they're clichés for a reason. Accepting life's inevitability is one of the best things I ever did, and this lyric is a peaceful homage to that. It might read as hopeless, but it means the opposite for me.
Now the EP is out there - what next?
Eternal happiness and sunshine hopefully! I’ve started writing songs that I’d love to include in a longer project, but there's a few things I'd like to figure out first. They're some of my favourite songs I've ever written and I want them to be recorded and delivered in a way that works for me.
I also have a headline show at St Pancras Old Church on 16th February, and plans for other UK dates later on in the year.
