Kid Bloom on the Intertwining of Art & Humanity
interview by Kyla Rain & Sami Harris, photos by Carianne Older
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We catch up with Lennon Kloser, the artist better known as his stage name, Kid Bloom. In a sunny LA backyard in late August, our photographer Carianne Older sets him up against a cloudy backdrop, capturing him in various moments of youthful softness. Since his first release back in 2016, he’s racked up millions of streams & toured alongside The Neighbourhood and The Regrettes, all while releasing multiple EPs & developing his signature, psychedelic indie-rock sound. Now, just a few weeks after the release of new EP Lemonhead, we talk all things art — how deeply it’s entwined with his sense of humanity, how his song-writing and authenticity has evolved with his mindset, and how the one thing he truly wants to leave his listeners and fans (affectionately referred to as Lemonheads) with, is simply a sense of inspiration. Keep scrolling to listen to the EP, too.
What initially drew you to music?
I think it was something I always wanted to do. I found myself being able to think like a musician and that made me feel like I was able to do something you couldn't go to school for, you know. So I don't want to say “I had a dream" or that I was special or anything like that — I just really wanted to do music. A lot of this just comes from really wanting it.
Why do you think so many people can resonate with your work?
First of all, I'm honestly just honoured that they do. I think I just recently started making the music that I want to make, so that's why [it resonates].
If you could collaborate with one artist or band — living or dead — who would it be?
Living or dead is crazy — that definitely changes things. It's so cheesy, but writing a song with one of The Beatles would be pretty damn crazy. (laughs) That’s really nerdy of me to say, isn’t it. But, with people alive right now, Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott are both artists that I really love to work with. Obviously that's a HUGE long-shot, though. Oh, and Kevin Parker!
Can you elaborate a little more on making music, and how you’ve grown & progressed? Why do you like your current work more than what you've produced in the past?
Well, for the first time, I'm writing by myself and letting it flow unabridged — without wanting to be something. I make all sorts of music now, and I think that’s why.
“…for the first time, I'm writing by myself and letting it
flow unabridged — without wanting to be something.”
What's one thing you wish you would've known when you started?
To keep the faith and not doubt yourself as much; and to live in the moment as much as you can.
You said your biggest challenge was staying true to who you are?
Absolutely. Within the music industry (on and off the field), in the music, and also just being a person that people want to be around. I struggled a lot with myself in the past, and I'm just so happy to be out of that and be in a healthy mindset. My mindset was so wrong.
The last song on your EP, “Circles”, is a slower ballad that differs from some of your other songs, which are more heavy-synth and upbeat. What was the creative process and inspiration for this song; why is it so different from some of the rest of your work?
I was really into Queen at the time, and that gave me the idea of writing a song that had the melody and lyrics in the foreground and honestly nothing else. All the other stuff that went into it was just because I got so excited about the song itself, so I went through all the harmonies and stuff and it just came out of working at a piano and not needing anymore craziness.
If you had to choose one band or artist to listen to for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?
Tame Impala. I mean, The Beatles is so easy because they're literally the best and they have so many songs, but I absolutely love Tame Impala — his music is so special, and something I draw so much inspiration from.
Why do you think some people find it so hard to stay true to who they are with what they're creating?
I don't even think it's with what you're creating; it's every day and that's the truth. I think it’s about getting to a place in your life where you don't have to do anything for anyone else — not literally, but figuratively, you know? I just feel like you have to become a person that exudes white light, and then you can preach and people will listen, because I feel like you're living by example, and that's so important in today's day and age. People say a lot of things that they don't follow through on, or have these facades that they present. For me, right now, it’s just about being happy, and being a good person to yourself and others.
What do you want to say to your fans who have been supportive of your music?
Dude, I love every one of them. They're my lemonheads. And I'm just excited to make them all proud.
If someone could listen to one of your songs and have one thought or feeling in their head, what would you want it to be?
I want anyone that listens to one of my songs to be inspired to do something. To make music, paint something, call their parents. I don't know, I just want to inspire. That's the biggest compliment I could get. You can't touch it, no one can show you, but if you can inspire something, then it changes the world.
“You can't touch it, no one can show you, but if you can
inspire something, then it changes the world.”
What do you think that art inspires?
Change. 100%. Change and growth. I think because it's a direct line to it — it directly correlates with those emotions. in and of itself there's a confidence in any form of art, and that confidence shows purpose, in a sense. The most important thing as humans is that we have to create things, make things, because what the fuck else is there? Like, think of one other thing that's more important. I mean, obviously I want healthcare for everyone — things like that are important too, of course, and would be awesome — but is that something that’s a testament to humanity? Art in general is very important because it's what we are — we're the only thing on this planet that can do it. So we have to do it.
“The most important thing as humans is that we have to create
things, make things, because what the fuck else is there?”
Is there any particular song of yours that you’re most attached to, or find the most honesty behind?
I feel that on this new record there's a couple songs that are really honest, but I love “Circles” because it's apologetic to myself; it's like I’m saying sorry to myself for not treating myself well, and for me personally, it hurts a lot … I don’t know if it’ll resonates the same way with anyone else, though. It’s a very personal thing.
