Bloxx have started off 2019 with a lot going on: so far, they’ve dropped their ‘Headspace’ EP via Chess Club Records, and played an almost unending list of live shows, from their biggest headline tour to date in April, to buzzy city festivals like Sound City and Dot to Dot. They also stopped by Live At Leeds, where we grabbed frontwoman Fee Booth for a quick catch up.
Hello Fee from Bloxx. You’ve literally just come offstage. How are you doing?
Very, very hot after that show. It was a good one, though.
It looked like you were having a lot of fun.
Loads of fun. We make it as fun as we can, because at the end of the day, it is our job and we want to enjoy it. It is so enjoyable, it’s hard not to have fun.
You’ve been a busy bunch recently. You released your ‘Headspace’ EP earlier this year. What was the reaction like?
Insane. The EP has racked up over 2.5 million streams, and we’re mindblown. How has that happened so quickly? The response has been incredible.
And you’ve been on the road almost constantly.
We’ve been everywhere. Anywhere that’s on the map and is a town, we’ve been there.
You’ve played some very big shows to a lot of people, most of which probably had no idea who you were. How was that?
It’s been weird. The big shows with The Wombats, they were great for us early in our careers because those people now follow us. That’s the fanbase we’ve built up. The people that saw us then still come to our shows now. It is scary and daunting when you play with a big artist because you know no one knows you and you’re trying to please the crowd. And sometimes it works, sometimes they’re not into it but whatever.
Has playing those big arena shows changed how you approach the band?
We’ve gotten more confident, 100%. We don’t get nervous as much. We’ve grown up a lot, and that experience has helped us learn who we are as a band.
You mentioned your debut album on stage. How’s it coming along?
We’re working on it. We’ve been in the studio this week recording some bangers, so it’s in the works. I don’t really know where it’s at, but there’s definitely going to be new stuff this year, towards the tail end of summer. In terms of the album, it’s a work in progress. We’re trying to make it as good as it can be, as best as we can make it and also, we want to do a fresh piece of work. We don’t want to put anything that’s already out on it. We’re working our hardest to recreate good songs, but step it up because we’ve progressed so much. We want to get a piece of work: twelve tracks, all new, all bangers.
Have you got a vision for it? Do you know what you want it to sound like?
We’ve got a very good idea from the demos. It’s very close to the EP. That sound we’ve curated over the past year, it’s definitely heading in that direction. All of the stuff we’ve got done for it already, we’re incredibly proud of. Some of it is the best stuff we’ve ever done. We’re taking our time, and it’s working for us.
Is that the main focus for the rest of the year then?
They’ll be loads of writing and loads of recording, but there are also so many festivals. We’re playing Reading & Leeds, which is mindblowing. We’re also going to America next month. A year ago, America was one of those dreams that we thought was maybe five, ten years down the line. When we got the email a month ago, we didn’t believe it. ‘This can’t be real?’ We’re so stoked. We’re just so happy.
It feels like things are happening fast.
The momentum is crazy. During those first two years, we were slowly building. Now we’re at this steady pace, where we’re still building but we know we’ve got so much support from so many people. It’s gone from four to nine all of a sudden.
Do you still feel in control?
100%. I think that’s when we’d start losing the love for it if we lost control. That’s why it’s so important to take the time with things like the writing process because it would become mundane and boring if you’re just doing it for the hell of getting something out. That’s why we’re taking our time. We’ve been around for a while, we’ve released singles and EPs, and people ask ‘where’s the album?’ Give us some time, wait for it, and it’ll be the best thing you’ve ever heard.
What inspires you?
My biggest inspiration is Jack Steadman [from Bombay Bicycle Club and, more recently, Mr Jukes] because I love him to pieces. But being around loads of bands all the time, it drives you to be as successful as they are. Touring with big bands, going to festivals like this, seeing how hard people work for it, it makes you want to work just as hard, if not harder. That’s the most inspirational thing.
Taken from the July issue of Dork, out now – order your copy below.
Words: Ali Shutler
