Bittersweethearts
Words by Glenn Sargeant
Photo Credit: Scotty Wise
Los Angeles-based indie rockers Bittersweethearts have recently released their latest single ‘Empty’ and have completed a European tour. They kindly sat down with us to chat about their new music, touring and more:
Who is in Bittersweethearts and what do they play?
Zoë: We are indie rock that have some new wave influence and 60s rock mixed in there and I sing!
Daniel: I’m the drummer and we’re a quirky, energetic band that likes to dabble in visual arts and fashion. We like to blend certain aspects of the 80s and 00s and see what comes out of it.
Alyssa: On the road, someone said they would describe us as: “No Doubt meets Blondie in 2023.” There’s a definite truth to that, I take it as a huge compliment! But there’s so much more to Bittersweethearts! There’s definitely some new wave and post punk elements, maybe even some glam-punk vibes. And of course, we’re all from varied musical backgrounds, so that plays a part, too and my guitar playing. Zach plays bass, but he’s out on the road with another band so I’m answering for him!
How did you all meet and what was the first song that you performed together?
Zoe: I was looking for a new band and my manager found the perfect guys! We have been around for a little over a year so we’re still babies, I’m so proud of all the things we have accomplished in such a short time.
Alyssa: The band had a few line up changes before I joined, so I’m the newest member. The current lineup with Zach, Zoe, Daniel, and myself has been solid since November 2022. Sentimentally, “Polly Plastic” means the most to me; it was the very first Bittersweethearts song I learned, and I auditioned for the band with it.
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
Zoe: Los Angeles is our hometown in sunny southern California! Warm; sunny; beachy; eclectic and picturesque.
What is the inspiration/story behind your single ‘Empty’?
Zoe: I was in a failing relationship that was so draining. Modern-day society holds an unrealistic view of women. A woman has to be a certain way when the guy isn’t pulling their weight, not being a good partner, while still having to believe everything is great with a smile on her face. Life and being with someone doesn’t work like that and sooner or later, something gives and you have to get out. That’s the moment that you can transform a situation for the better. As hard as it may seem in the moment, the reward of being free of toxicity is so with it.The best thing about being a musician is someone coming up to you after the show and being like “Hey this song really helped me through this moment.” And I’m like hell yeah that’s why I’m doing this. I want to make people feel good.
Alyssa: It means a lot to me because of its meaning. Although the song is about a specific relationship, I think it still communicates the importance of self-liberation from any relationship (be it family, friend, or partner), or even a part of yourself that no longer serves you and creates an emptiness that’s more pain than it’s worth.
In addition, you have a music video that accompanies the single. What was the thought process behind making the video? Any funny, memorable or interesting stories from the video shoot?
Zoe: We really wanted to take the theme of out-dated and unrealistic expectations of women and put it on the screen, but in a fun way, that shows empowerment and inspires other women and young girls in that they don’t have to be walked over.
Daniel: It was fun for Zach and I to get into character and to play the ‘bad guys’ which helps to show the contrast and underlying conflict which people can be oblivious to. It was super cool shooting in Palm Spring, driving around in a cool car!
Alyssa: In our research into the 50’s for the video, it turns out they had a thing for jello A LOT! Zoe and I had a blast making the prop food you see in the video.
Do you have any favoured stage instruments?
Alyssa: My favored stage instrument is my main guitar: a Kurt Cobain signature Jaguar. It was my first sort of “real” guitar that was uniquely mine. I’ve had it for almost as long as I’ve been playing guitar—so for about 10 years. It’s so resonant and the neck is comfortable. And I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but it also looks cool as hell! And although not an instrument, my pedalboard is very important to me. I take great pride in my guitar tone, and take a lot of time to get it dialed in just right. Though every pedal is as crucial as the others, the pedals most integral to my tone (in no particular order) are the Pro Co Rat, the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone, the Way Huge Swollen Pickle, and the TC Electronic Flashback.
Daniel: Tama or Ludwig kit with Paiste cymbals for the win!
Zoe: Any mic that works haha!
How do you look after your voices?
Zoe and Daniel: Warm ups and rest.
Alyssa: The main way I look after my voice is to make sure I’m always hydrated. We joke that I have an “emotional support” water bottle because I always have one on me at all times! Before gigs, I’ll do some vocal warm ups and light stretches to loosen up both my vocal chords and my body. I also try to use my voice as little as possible and avoid yelling in general. There is really so much you need to do to take adequate care of your voice, but at the end of the day, my biggest takeaway is hydration and rest.
Do you have any plans to tour Europe and the UK in 2024?
Zoe: I loved our 2023 European tour and we played one show in Camden London. All of those shows have such a special place in my heart so we can’t wait to come back and there’ll be more than one UK show this time!
Alyssa: Yes! We have some exciting things planned for 2024 and, yes, we’re coming back
to the UK and Europe in the new year. We had such a great time on tour there earlier this year, look out to see if we come to your city!
What are your plans for future music releases?
Zoe: We are finishing up recording and will be releasing our first debut album soon! Be sure to sign up to our mailing list at https://bittersweetheartsband.com/ to be the first to know. You really should follow us on Instagram too! @bittersweetheartsband
Alyssa: We’re excited to work on the rest of the album which we;ve been putting together between our tours and shows, so I’d say keep your eyes peeled for that. We also have some new merch coming, so you’re gonna wanna follow us to get your hands on that when it drops, and stay up to date on everything Bittersweethearts!
What makes Bittersweethearts happy and what makes you unhappy?
Zoe: Tour makes me happy. Not getting a good night’s rest after a show sucks.
Daniel: BSH is happiest when we can find 1 restaurant that can accommodate everyone’s dietary requirements. Not having a Red Bull on stage makes me unhappy.
Alyssa: It’s hard to determine what makes us happy or sad as a band. Working with difficult people at venues when we’re gigging is definitely tough, and issues with sound are frustrating for sure. I know that something that makes me unhappy within a band situation or musical setting is the sexism that I sometimes I face as a woman in music. It’s disheartening to endure the micro aggressions and feel dismissed and talked down to at times—especially in this day and age of 2023.
Depending on any given interaction, you can get sort of rattled and overthink the simplest things, which can throw you off your game a bit and weaken a performance. I think what makes us happy as a band is when we have a great show, which I tend to gauge by the audience’s reaction. People may not always come up to us at a gig and say “Hey! I really liked your set,” which can make you question your performance. So, I pay attention to how the audience is responding during the show. I can tell they’re having a good time if they’re dancing or taking videos or singing along to the songs they know when we do covers.
Photo Credit: Scotty Wise
Bittersweethearts latest single ‘Empty’ is out now.
For more information visit the following links:
Website: https://www.bittersweetheartsband.com
