Death Valley Girls - 'Message From the Venus Flower'
Southern California wild fires bring about Death Valley Girls “Message From the Venus Flower” single from their upcoming album Welcome To Earth.
Disguised as a rock-n-roll dance song, the single “Message From The Venus Flower” was brought about from the tragic wild fires in Southern California, that lead to the destruction of lead singer Bonnie Bloomgarden’s house, and the later passing of her beloved dog, Tommy.
The single mourns the loss of Tommy while celebrating life and their spiritual connection. Though Tommy was no longer with her, Bloomgarden was assured that their connection was eternal, and that they would meet in many lifetimes. His death, and later their keyboardist Gregg Foreman, brought about the idea of invisible threads linking people, animals, memories, landscapes, and lives across time.
Bloomgarden was struck with inspiration for the single, taking her usual path she used to take with Tommy, where she came across a Venus flower. She stated “As I stood there, the flower sent me a message like a lightning bolt to my brain! In an instant the flower shared with me what Tommy had been trying to explain! Everything I love is Tommy, because love isn’t just something you feel, share, or do; love is more like a dimension!”
With its looping synth, saxophone, and EQ’ed vocals “Message From the Venus Flower” gets listeners up and dancing. With lyrics ‘All love’s the same / On the astral plane / It’s a dimension / Just like heaven” Bloomgarden gets listeners thinking about connection and life beyond death.
The music video, directed by punk legend Ian Svenonius, consists of pilates dancers from The Rated Z Dancers, and 80’s workout fits to go along with it, overlaid with a saturated hue to imitate an 80’s film.
Throughout the band's body of work, they have treated music as both celebration and search party. Bloomgarden’s “Message From the Venus Flower” and Welcome To Earth finds meaning in everything and everywhere. Bloomgarden survived a disaster by creating Death Valley Girls’ most intimate and expansive album yet.
Words by Isabella Basile
