All Things Blue – aka band-leader India Coombs, and guitarist and collaborator Jon Joseph – are gearing up to the release of their debut album ‘Get Bit’, due 30th October. The LA duo’s latest teaser-track, ‘White Lady Dogs’ is a critique of gentrification (“Get OUTTA here ya rich fuckin’ opportunists.”) via nostalgic, playful-yet-pensive 90s pop vibes – a small taster from a record packed with themes ranging from love to social and political issues. India tells us more.
Hi India, how are you doing? Are you having a good day?
Hiya there! My day is going pretty good thanks.
What first sparked your interest in music, did you have a musical upbringing?
I did have a musical upbringing in the sense that I was exposed to as many art forms my mom could expose us to, it wasn’t focused on music in any way. Definitely had art incorporated into my being though. I did also take violin lessons from a very young age.
How did you guys get together?
Jon and I met through an ex-manager. He was getting a free studio room in exchange for producing some of the artists, one being myself. We were both 18, new to Los Angeles and it just kinda clicked. Five years later and I can’t imagine working with anyone else.
Are you creative in non-musical ways too?
Most of my life I was an actor. Funnily enough, I stopped acting as soon as I moved to LA. I love attempting visual art, though I’m pretty trash at it. Oh, I’m in love with photography, I really love capturing little moments in time.
What do you most enjoy writing songs about?
Hmm, it always differs, there’s a lot of factors affecting that aspect for me. Whether it be the people in my life, the state of my mental health at the time, world affairs (which are not so hot right now) and the basic principle of what feels fulfilling to me at the time.
Tell us about your new single ‘White Lady Dogs’, where did it come from?
I moved from Pennsylvania straight into South LA, which tends to be pretty low income. I had no money when I moved out here, rent was cheap, and it’s California, so to me everywhere was paradise. I love my neighbourhood so much and all my neighbours and the inclusive community here (my neighbour is changing my serpentine belt on my car as we speak cause “it’s too dangerous for you to be driving around like that and the squeaking is driving me nuts”). Now our neighbourhood is starting to look different, the cost of living is going up, buildings are coming down, mom and pop shops are closing, yuppies are taking over… Pretty much, I saw a boujee white lady with an expensive pup on my block, and it affected me!
What else are you working on at the mo?
Starting to work on the next album but still very early phases. Really looking forward to touring again. This whole lockdown has made me realize a huge part of what I love about this career is in live shows.
What would you most like to achieve during your music career?
I would love to make art that helps people feel a little better/not alone in this crazy life we live.
What’s your favourite thing about being a musician?
Playing all these weird little sounds on different instruments and it all coming together into this awesome wall of sound. It’s just so fun.
What do you do for fun?
Hangout with the people I love dearly.
Do you have any summer plans?
Hard to have plans right now. The most planning I’ve been doing has just been planning out the release of this album and here- we- go! Haha.
All Things Blue’s debut album ‘Get Bit’ is out 30th October.
