Toronto’s Neon Bloom Unveil Music Video For “Lovers Dance”
Toronto-based quartet NEON BLOOM is back with their latest single and music video, “Lovers Dance”, a vibrant and invigorating synth-driven dance-infused glam-rock track. With punky, Debbie Harry-inspired vocals, soaring synthesizers, a pulsating bass line, and rock solid drumbeat, Lovers Dance encourages listeners to celebrate themselves and embrace a sense of freedom.
“Lovers Dance” is not just a song; it’s an anthem of triumph over adversity. The lyrics were inspired by the famous Nietzsche quote: “…throw roses into the abyss and say: ‘here is my thanks to the monster who didn’t succeed in swallowing me alive.” It’s a quote that beautifully captures the essence of the song, reflecting the band’s journey of overcoming personal and external challenges to emerge stronger and better.
Lead vocalist Jen Simpson shares her connection to the song’s message,
“That quote resonates with me because I’ve had what feel like numerous ‘monsters’ throughout my life (illness, bad relationships, other personal difficulties), and not one of them has quite managed to devour me. Even if left changed by the process of interacting with someone or something that damages you, you can choose to either live with that pain and anger, becoming bitter – or you can let it go” she explains. “We want to empower listeners with the message that, no matter who you are or what you’ve been through, you deserve to be free – to dance. Try to let go of all the things that are holding you down, even if just for the length of a song.”
The video for “Lovers Dance” was shot and directed by Neon Bloom bassist Fred Yurichuk and is meant to convey a joyful, victorious feeling. The video shines bright with young stars, Dylan, Gillian, and Scarlet adding a nostalgic flare to the video.
“The video aims to depict the special phenomenon when music (and music videos) inspire our moods and permeate our memories,” says Yurichuk. “This may be especially true in the impressional years of our youth. In this simple narrative, the music video on the television inspires the protagonist to go out and have fun – letting loose, dancing, and enjoying friendship.”
Neon Bloom has gained a reputation as one of the most energetic and innovative live bands on the Toronto scene. If someone has never seen you before, what can they expect at one of your shows?
Our shows tend to run the gamut of histrionic rock theatrics – from shredding guitar solos to occasional tears, to copious amounts of jumping, impromptu trances, distortion, and awkward banter.
“Lovers’ Dance” was inspired by the famous Nietzsche quote: “…throw roses into the abyss and say: ‘here is my thanks to the monster who didn’t succeed in swallowing me alive.” What’s your defense against the monsters in your musical career?
As a band, we tend to deal with difficult issues or the “monsters” that arise by adopting an (overall) optimistic outlook. It’s a constant struggle to stay positive and not give in to a lot of the pessimism that surrounds the music industry, and the act of sharing art in general. The deck seems to be largely stacked against independent artists who don’t have a ton of money behind them – which is our situation – but we have been able to persevere despite that, and through the Covid lockdown and many personal difficulties over the years. So, yeah, optimism and perseverance. And endeavouring to maintain open communication within the band. It’s important that the four of us check in with each other at times and make sure we’re still on the same page, otherwise any grudges or differences of opinion can get off track if left too long, like in any relationship.
Neon Bloom is known for making fast-paced and visually appealing music videos. What can you tell us about the music video for “Lovers’ Dance”?
The “Lovers Dance” music video was meant to convey a sort of optimism and appreciation for life. We thought it would be great to hire young people to act in it, as they would naturally lend a nice, nostalgic flare to the video. We recruited Dylan (Jen’s best friend Amanda’s son) since he has such a fun personality, is really into music and learning guitar, and has been a Neon Bloom supporter since he was very young. Then we asked Jen’s cousin Elissa’s daughter Gillian and her friend Scarlet if they would like to be involved. Luckily they agreed and brought incredible energy and dance/athletic skills to the video – along with their great sense of style. We were really happy to have them be a part of it!
Neon Bloom was formed in 2017. What do you think the biggest changes have been in the music industry since you started and how have those changes affected how you release and promote your music?
Since starting in 2017, there seems to have been a continued shift away from downloads towards streaming. Social media seems to hold more weight than ever before, maybe especially TikTok, which is something we struggle with at times. We’ve also realized how important it is to have connections within the music industry. Being an indie band is a constant learning process, it seems. We’re currently trying to put more effort into these online areas, but it’s difficult when you would rather be putting energy into actually making music and recording.
What’s next for Neon Bloom? And what can we expect from Neon Bloom in 2024?
We’re playing The Horseshoe Tavern on Monday, November 6th, opening for We Are Scientists (who we are fans of), so we are looking forward to that. As for the future, Neon Bloom plans to keep forging ahead. A major goal of ours moving forward is to open shows for larger bands. We also have at least two singles and videos planned for release in 2024, as well as an acoustic EP with accompanying videos. Ideally, we would like to record a full-length album and tour across Canada for the first time.