Interviews: Black Market Heart

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Post-Punk band Black Market Heart from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or did it just come out like that?

SR: When I started this project, I was trying to find the right name. I had already written songs, and they had a bit of a “from the underbelly” feel. Ultimately, it was my gf at the time (now wife) who just spit it out. The idea being that my heartbreak music mixed with the idea that it’s something dangerous and underground…

TB: Spencer's wife, Mariya, conjured the name

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

SR: I had played in a Garage band before this, which I loved, but I wanted the ability to explore some of the noisy, feedback-laden music that I also loved. The lyrics I’d written had come from a much darker place, and the music just fit.

TB: It calls back to my formative years of learning guitar and bass. The genre feels natural for me, and I love the multi-cycle element of nostalgia with a modern refresher.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

SR: Shawn and I played together for years in The Lords of Altamont. After I had recorded the debut Black Market Heart EP myself, I started looking for musicians. I was excited that Shawn was into the idea. I had also been in a band called The Wolf Spiders, and I’d played a few shows with Tina’s band along the way. She was the guitar player and singer. When we needed a new bass player, I reached out to her to see if she knew any bass players, and she was like, “Me, I also play bass.” We’ve been locked in since.

TB: My old bands, Hot Licks and Auto Motives, shared bills locally with Black Market Heart and Spencer Robinson and the Wolf Spiders at the Redwood, so we had met from playing together a few times.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

SR: I don’t know that I can choose one band over all the others. I feel like it’s just not possible, but for the sake of giving you an answer, I’ll list a few that come to mind. The Stooges are incredibly important to me. That band could tear your face off one second, and make you shake your ass the next. From a songwriting standpoint, I love anything Nick Cave touches. Birthday Party, Grinderman, and of course the Bad Seeds. It’s just all brilliant.

TB: I love The Cure and Violent Femmes, The Pretenders, The New York Dolls, The Damned, The Cult, Eater. I am bad at playing favourites. I like many.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

SR: I’ve often written about some of the darker things I’ve been through in my life, but that’s definitely not all of it. I know that my point of view is not SO unique, and I mean that in a good way. I feel like, if there’s something that I find interesting, someone out there will as well. Whether it’s some of that dark stuff, or just seeing a coyote walking the streets of Los Angeles. If I see it, hear it, or feel it, I guess it’s worth writing about.

TB: Sometimes it's more of a compulsion than an intention. They come out of seemingly nowhere, and you have to catch them and document them before they slip away. I try not to examine so much why or where they are coming from, but rather make sure I am ready to catch them when they arrive. Often, they are inspired by my cats.

6. Where was your last gig?

SR: We just did a “halfway to Halloween” show here in Los Angeles at a club called The Offbeat. Really good time!

TB: The Offbeat Bar in Highland Park, Northeast Los Angeles

7. Where would you like to act?

SR: I would love to play anywhere people like loud music about sad stuff. Not even kidding!

TB: I would like to play in France, anywhere, everywhere.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

SR: I love writing songs with different people. The dream collab would be with Nick Cave, but I also know that is pretty far-fetched. I’d love to do something weird with someone like Kim Salmon. I also really love Country Music, and I’d very much like to do something with someone like Kaitlin Butts, or Jenny Don’t and the Spurs. I keep threatening to have Black Market Heart do an offshoot Country band.

TB: Some local French bands that we could invite to play with in LA. Let's be pen pals and start an exchange program.

9. Whom not?

SR: I’m not really trying to knock anyone’s music. Are there artists I don’t love? Sure, but no need to call them out for sucking. We’re all free to suck.

TB: No haters, please. We are here for a good time.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

SR: When I joined the Lords of Altamont, my first show was literally 8 days later, and I was definitely pretty nervous before I stepped out there. I can honestly say, though, that was the only time I had that feeling. I’m an anxious person, which makes me overplan, so I usually feel pretty ready for shows.

TB: I used to get a sweaty fret hand for the first few songs as a nervous reaction, and it made playing a mess. My nervous system was short-circuiting and mistaking the adrenaline from playing for terror. Eventually, it subsided, so I would say just do more of it and coexist with the terror until you are besties.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

SR: Early on, it was Black Sabbath, The Who, and the Ramones, but really, there are so many musicians who have blown me away over the years. When I was 15, I discovered punk rock, and that was the first time I felt part of a community of people.

TB: Lately, I am feeling very inspired by modern punk and post-punk irrelevance. We have a wealth of women making aggressive music right now, and the immediacy and urgency are thrilling. I am awed by the interweaving of melody and power with dynamics from bands like Die Spits, Lambrini Girls, Mannequin Pussy, Wet Leg, and Upchuck. It feels limitless to me.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

SR: There was a guy in Mexico City who REALLY wanted someone from the band to have sex with his girlfriend. That’s weird, right?

TB: Fingernail clippings

13. What do you think of your fans?

SR: I’m incredibly grateful, honestly. Making music is such a privilege, and I’m thrilled anytime someone likes what we do. The response to the new record has been very positive, and I just want more people to hear it.

TB: Our fans are the coolest, of course

14. What do you think of our site?

SR: The site is great. I especially like that people can filter by genre and country. It’s cool to get that specific. So I want hardcore punk today? Perfect! Maybe tomorrow is a Death Metal day, all sorted! Really great!

TB: Your site is very cool, and there are so many bands to check out. I love scrolling the list of band names, seeing where everyone is from in the world, then being able to find out more about them through interviews and listening to the music.

15. Something to add?

SR: I love playing in this band and sharing the songs we make. Give the new record a listen, and if you dig it, find us on social media and say hello (Bonjour). I also want to say that I played a lot of shows in France, and truly loved the experience. The people were incredibly warm, and I got to see some of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to in that country. Excited to have people there hear us!

TB: Check out our video for What Happens in the Dark on YouTube. Thank you for interviewing us. We hope to meet you in France one day soon.

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