Ash & Bloom want songs to make an impact
Matt McKenna and James Bloemendal aren’t afraid to sing about the heavy stuff.
The Hamilton-based popfolk duo Ash & Bloom share everything on its debut album Let the Storm Come, from the regret of hurting someone to letting go of negative people.
“We’re just two guys that are more comfortable talking about their emotions than some people are comfortable with,” said Bloemendal. “We’re trying to put words to some situations that people are afraid to talk about.”
The singer/songwriting team met a decade ago while studying music in university. They were in another Hamilton-based band before becoming Ash & Bloom in 2012, the name being a throwback to duos like Simon & Garfunkel and Hall & Oates.
“We’ve spent so much time working together for 10 years it’s hard to hide parts of yourself from somebody,” Bloemendal explained of the partnership.
“There’s a certain amount of honesty and authenticity in those relationships. So I would say (McKenna) is someone easier to share with, he’s seen so many sides of me.”
The songs are deeply reflective but bittersweet, mulling over heaven, heartache and a roller-coaster spectrum of feelings. Bloemendal says sometimes it can still be awkward singing to strangers about such personal things, but he has grown more used to it.
“I think part of what we view our job as musicians is to remind people that they’re not alone,” he said. “And talking about some of those tough issues reminds people that they’re not the only person going through that … it can be really powerful as a musician when someone comes up and tells you afterwards that’s how they feel. Having that happen once or twice gives you the courage to do it again.”
Ash & Bloom is also spreading more positive vibes also through the current tour, with 50 per cent of proceeds from every show going to local charities. In Regina, tonight’s show is in support of the Regina Humane Society, while an earlier show on Aug. 17 supported the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan.
Bloemendal was especially inspired by the food banks in North Battleford and Brandon, which are constantly struggling to meet high demand.
Both he and McKenna are active volunteers themselves, having built houses for the less fortunate in Mississippi and Mexico, while his songwriting partner often works in camps for underprivileged teenagers.
“As a musician, you’re always looking for ways to make a contribution to other people besides just writing a song for them,” said Bloemendal.
“But spending a lot of time on the road, volunteering is not always possible.”
Next up for Ash & Bloom is Australia, where the band will tour for the first time outside of North America in October.
The guys are already writing songs for the next album, and picking through dozens of others that didn’t make the last one.
“Every songwriter hopes they’re going to grow,” he said. “We want to explore the edges and continue to write better songs that make an impact.”