Hell or High Water is a fresh start for the Louisiana based Blonde Roses. After years together as The Wooden Wings, this new incarnation of the band is more open minded and stronger than ever, and they have a brand new EP with a fresh sound to show for it. The future is bright for Blonde Roses, with a new record already in the works and plans to hit the road coming together soon. Read what the band had to say about their rebirth, new EP and more below.
Interview by Dom Vigil
You guys just celebrated the release of your new EP, Hell Or High Water! What are you most excited for listeners to hear on it?
It’s a new sound for us, one we never tapped into before. We’re excited for people to hear the real us – the us we’ve been itching to be for so long now.
Although you’ve been a band for almost ten years, you’ve mentioned that this new EP marks a sort of rebirth for Blonde Roses. What can you tell us about this “new” version of the band? What makes this a new chapter for you?
I started this band when I was 15. We’d been really chipping away at writing music for 9 years using the same routine and formula, and it felt like it was time for something new. We went through a name change about a year ago, and it felt like the perfect time to move in a different direction. At it’s core, our roots are still there, but we’ve grown as musicians and writers. We’re different people now than we were 10 years ago. This EP felt like chapter one for us. It felt like the fresh start we needed.
What was the inspiration behind the name change to Blonde Roses?
I began The Wooden Wings with my best friend when we were just teenagers. We literally grew up in that band with that name. When she left to pursue a solo project, it didn’t feel right to continue on as that. That project was us, not just me. It was time for something new, and it was the perfect time to do that. Blonde Roses gave us the chance to start with a clean slate and redefine ourselves.
What goals did you have in mind for this new EP?
We didn’t go into writing this EP with any set goals in mind. It just kind of unfolded through the process into something we’re really proud of. We just wanted it to be honest and real, so we wrote without holding back. If a song felt forced, we scrapped it. We wanted this EP to be a painting of our new beginning.
How do you feel you’ve grown along with the creation of these songs?
I’ve become stronger and more confident. I’m in no way perfect and I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, but I couldn’t let my past define my future. These songs chronicle the past year for me and the band. We found our way in the darkness and I feel like an entirely different person than I was a year ago. My eyes and heart are completely open to the love and positivity around me. Music, in a lot of ways, has helped me through that process.
What would you like listeners to be able to take away from the EP?
To never underestimate yourself – your strength. To always pull yourself forward even when it feels really tough. This EP is about resilience and self-love.
With Hell Or High Water out now, do you have any plans to hit the road any time soon?
We have some plans in the works. More on that soon!
Do you have any other big plans for 2017?
We’ve already begun writing our next record and we’re really excited to get back into the studio this year.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Don’t forget to love. We really need it in this world right now.
STAY CONNECTED WITH BLONDE ROSES: Facebook | Twitter | Website