Neon Bloom Perfectly Captures The Breakup In New Single “Novocaine”
Death, taxes, and heartbreak – these are the inevitability of life. No one among us hasn’t felt the pain of a breakup, and Neon Bloom captures this feeling in its latest release, “Novocaine.”
The group’s first foray into hip hop, “Novocaine,” touches on the stress of a failing relationship, when two people know deep down that they should walk away but can’t quite bring themselves to do it, and the difficult aftermath when all that’s left is to pick up the pieces.
“The title, “Novocaine,” refers to the delusional desire after a breakup for some sort of quick fix that will numb the sting of a lost love, leaving one blissfully ignorant and pain-free,” the group explained.
Underneath the lyrics is a slow, rhythmic beat that evokes feelings of pain and mystery, making listeners feel like they’re going through it themselves. Vocalist Jen Simpson provides the punch, detailing the fallout of a collapsed couple in the song:
“Novocaine
For love pains. Always falling
Do it again,
Like we knew what love was then.”
The verses dive deeper into the abyss of heartbreak and the internal torment it can bear – “Feeling so alive, but like a zombie though.”
The single is part of Neon Bloom’s Still Life, the EP that was created and recorded from each member’s individual homes during the height of the pandemic. The musicians sent clips and ideas back and forth to one another, eventually piecing together what would become the band’s fourth project.
The track was abnormal for Neon Bloom in more ways than one. The pandemic made things strange enough, but it was also the group’s entry into a new sound.
“Not only was our writing and recording process very different for this EP, but ‘Novocaine’ specifically was a major departure for us in terms of genre,” the band said. “It’s our first attempt at a hip-hop track and features bassist Fred Yurichuk’s high school friend, Mark Cruz, scratching in the bridge. Mark is an established scratcher who sent his contributions from Calgary, continuing the collaboration-by-distance trend.”
Also unconventional is the music video for “Novocaine,” which features professional dancers Marissa Ricci and Tyler Angell performing improvisational, interpretive dance around Simpson on a rooftop basketball court located close to the Lansdowne subway station in Toronto. The court’s open space juxtaposed with the dancer’s closeness to Simpson displays the simultaneous feelings of the infinite unknown but finite room at the conclusion of a relationship.
Whether you’re fresh out of a relationship or haven’t felt the ache of heartbreak in years, we all know the feeling. Neon Bloom’s “Novocaine” will take you back to that time and offer a shoulder to cry on – you don’t have to face this alone.
Watch the video for “Novocaine” below and learn more about Neon Bloom via our mini-interview.
You’ve been featured here before, so tell us something awesome that’s happened since the last single, “A Bullet In Tomorrow?”
We were happy to kick off the spring and summer with many shows, including B@tch Fest, NXNE, and CMW. We’ve also been undertaking more studio recordings and music videos.
We’re stoked to start touring again and plan to return to Asia, this time touring in Japan, including a performance at the Tokyo Beyond Festival.
Tell us about the process of writing “Novocaine.”
The music of Novocaine began with Simon writing the steelpan melody on the keyboard over a hip-hop drum loop. In rehearsal, Jen came up with a rap vocal delivery. The song floated around for a while. We debated if Neon Bloom could pull off hip hop, then decided that was what fit the song and decided to experiment with a different genre on this recording. Like all of the tracks on the Still Life EP, Novocaine is a home recording, written and recorded in the thick of the pandemic. Simon laid down the steelpan line and then added the gliding lead synth. Chris later recorded analog drums from his home, Fred added electric bass, and Jen recorded vocals in a home studio setup.
Pick five words to describe yourself.
Fred: Live, laugh, love (Also, clearly a Rulebreaker 🙂 )
Jen: Tenacious.
Chris: Ambitious
Simon: Warm
Neon Bloom: Lively
What’s in your pockets right now?
Fred: One hand …not the other, holding the peace sign!
Jen: Dog treats.
Chris: Wallet, Phone, Keys, and a Drum key
Simon: Fisherman’s Friend (they should sponsor our band), Phone, Keys
Happiness is…?
Working together as a team to produce a creation or show that others enjoy.