Bamming it out with B.A.M.
Written by Scott Belzer | April 5th, 2024
B.A.M. isn’t just one of the latest incarnations of emotionally resonant and dark alternative rock—it’s also a deeply personal project filled with cultural allusions and classical sensibilities. Want soaring melodic vocals? You got it. An angst-filled scream that can wake up and electrify a room? Look no further.
But who (or what) is B.A.M.? What’s the project all about? We asked the brain behind the solo project about samples, violins, ambiance, and more to get a full lesson on all things B.A.M.
SB (Scott Belzer): Dude!
BAM (B.A.M.): WASSUP!
SB: What is B.A.M.? How long has it been around? Is it a solo project or do you have band members?
BAM: I’m a solo post-genre artist. B.A.M is my initials. My nickname is “BAM,” so I made it my stage name. I’ve been working on this project for four years.
SB: How did this project begin? How has it evolved?
BAM: I’ve always loved music and wanted to be a musician full-time. So, I woke up one day and said, “Fuck it, I’m doing it.” When I was younger, I did a lot of plays. It’s been a long journey. I had to just get out of my own way and commit. I’ve been very blessed to work with my producer, Ben Johnson. We’ve worked together to make something really cool, I hope people will enjoy it.
SB: There’s plenty of ambiance and sound bites leading into and out of your songs to help build alongside drums and synths – rain, crickets, bullfrogs, specifically. Is there an interesting story behind this?
BAM: Yes, for that particular song (“Cries From the Past”), that intro has a lot of cultural significance to me. I’m African-American and Choctaw. I wanted to create a song to honor my roots on this journey. Thanking my past for the future—they fought for me to have.
SB: Similarly, there’s plenty of lyrics about regrowth, especially in “Cries From the Past,” but I’d say your entire project is quite emotional (in a great way). I’m sure there’s an interesting story there, too! What’s your lyrical creative process? Would you mind sharing it?
BAM: It really depends for me. Every song has a different process. Sometimes I will write the instrumental elements first and build around it. Sometimes I have the lyrics and do it the opposite.
SB: You list your influences as “anything and everything” you’ve ever heard, but I’m sure there’s one or two artists you can’t stop spinning. Who are you jamming to these days to help B.A.M. keep on ‘bamming?
BAM: When it comes to music, I listen to every genre. However, Celine Dion is definitely my favorite artist.
SB: You learned to play the violin at an early age (so awesome). What’s one thing most people don’t know about playing that instrument?
BAM: As you grow, you shift to different sizes, depending on your arm length. So if you start playing violin young, most people start on a 1/16-sized violin and eventually get to a 4/4 full-size violin. Most violins don’t have frets. So, your finger position has to be extremely accurate. It’s such a beautiful instrument. I hope to see more people play it.
SB: What do you hope people take away from your live performance in April? Can people expect to see a violin? What else can people expect?
BAM: I have thought about incorporating violin into my set. I haven’t gotten to that yet, so sadly no. I always try to bring a lot of dynamics to my set and just take people on a journey through the music.
SB: There’s a ton of production behind the songs you shared with us (thank you!). Where was this recorded? Do you want to give a shoutout to any producers?
BAM: Thanks for taking the time, to listen to the songs. Much love and respect to Ben Johnson. The best producer and friend anyone could ask for! Ben recorded and mixed this project. This EP was recorded and mixed in two locations. One location being Graphic Nature Audio while Ben was working for Will Putney. Then later in Florida once Ben moved.
SB: When can people expect a B.A.M. EP or LP?
BAM: Please keep following my socials for more information.
SB: What sort of advice do you have for folks that see B.A.M. and immediately think, “I wanna do that shit. This is my type of shit. This shit is on my level.”
BAM: Be yourself and make music that expresses you. A lot of people go into a studio and say I want to sound like ____. I think that’s most musicians’ first mistake. Go and make music that expresses your feelings and experiences. Doing so will make you stand out in any room. Don’t dim yourself for the comfort of other people. Be yourself in all things and stand firm in what you believe in.
B.A.M. kicks off a night filled with alternative melodies on Saturday, April 13 at Boggs Social & Supply with Casket Robbery and Nights of Malice.