We found out some more about cutting edge Black Country post-punk outfit Baudelaire and their distinctive sound
Speaking as someone from the Black Country in the West Midlands, one of the things that we aren’t really associated with as of late is the burgeoning post-punk scene in the UK right now, but emerging upstarts Baudelaire are proving a really interesting prospect that are more than capable of carrying that flag with their industrial flavoured, intense sound that takes inspiration from some of the bleaker aspects of the region.
Their first two releases are all of the proof that you need of the potential this outfit have, melding the fierce brashness of post-punk with the theatrical, gothic darkness of industrial metal. Their latest single ‘Lethe’ explores themes of excess, misanthropy, and self-destruction, with its energetic rhythms and bleak imagery highlighting the unique personality and charisma that the outfit have. Baudelaire feel unlike anything that we have heard any time recently, and are likely to hear anytime soon, and now the outfit have added a stellar second track to their arsenal, we figured that there would be no better time to find out some more about them.
Who TF are Baudelaire?
We’re a six-piece band, hailing from Wolverhampton in the Black Country.
How long have you been making music?
We’ve been making music together for a little over a year now.
Why do you make music?
Music is what keeps us going. It’s helped each of us figure out who we are as people. The idea that something we’ve created from a place of vulnerability has the potential to resonate and affect someone else, makes it all worthwhile.
What are your biggest influences?
We all have eclectic tastes and draw influence from different places. There are a few bands that we all admire though, such as Nine Inch Nails, Savages, Boy Harsher and Gilla Band.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
Playing a sold-out show with Crows was amazing for us. We’ve all been fans of theirs for a while now.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
We’d like to think that there’s a certain sense of urgency to our music. It’s easy to throw out generic terms like “gothic rock”, “darkwave” or “industrial”, but those are ultimately the sounds that we’re inspired by. We’re striving to bring our own balance of aggression and introspection to the table.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
There are so many. Being played by Iggy Pop on BBC 6 music would be a dream come true for us right now.
We love your initial releases ‘Prayers’ and ‘Lethe’, what more can you tell us about them?
They’re different in terms of style, but they do share thematic similarities. Both songs focus on our own sense of self, our relationships, feelings of isolation and loss of control. We don’t want to write the same song twice, so without giving too much away, using a more conceptual approach with our second single ‘Lethe’ was a useful creative tool.
All our music, released and unreleased, focuses on the darker aspects of modern life. We’re interested in the human condition and people’s common frailties in what can feel like an increasingly callous and detached world.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
We’ll be playing alongside some great bands on August 6th at Distortions Festival in Birmingham. Heavy Lungs, The Rills, Japanese Television and FEET are all on the bill to name but a few. We’ve also got new material to release throughout the year which we’re very excited about.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
The good people at BBC Introducing and Brum Radio have been very kind to us, but hopefully, it’s someone who hears our music and can relate to it.
