Originally started in 2016 as a pure diy solo project, Pip Blom’s early recording quickly garnered interest, compelling frontperson Pip to expand to a full band formation. Refining their indie pop sound through a series of self-released, the Amsterdam-based band eventually released the highly touted debut LP Boat, back in 2019. On October 8th, the next chapter opens with their sophomore LP, Welcome Break, still self-produced yet backed by heavy hitter Caesar Edmunds on the mix. Judging from the first few singles, the trademark feel-good guitar hooks and laid back vocals are still in full swing, and their catchy songs are ready to imprint in your brain.
Second album Welcome Break will be out on Friday October 8th, through Heavenly Recordings.
Catch the band live this September at independent venues across the UK, as part of the Revive Live initiative. All upcoming dates, in more UK and Netherlands shows, available at https://mobilehome.pipblom.com/.
Name five songs that you consider “perfect songs” and explain why or what they mean to you.
I don’t really think about music in a “perfect” way. Music has to hit me, it has to give me feelings (sad, happy, sexy, etc etc). So I guess that the tracks that are my all time favourites are songs even after listening 10000 times to them, still give me those feelings. Couple of those tracks are: Curly Teeth by MICACHU & THE SHAPES, Tainted Love by SOFT CELL, You Said by FONTAINES D.C.
Which music genre do you listen to the most? List your five favorite albums in that genre.
Alternative music, indie rock? Haha, I find genres always very confusing. Anyway favourite record in that genre are:
-Serfs up! – FAT WHITE FAMILY
-Light Up Gold – PARQUET COURTS
-This Is Happening – LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
-Jewellery – MICACHU & THE SHAPES
-More Than Any Other Day – OUGHT
What’s the album you’ve listened to the most in your life? Do you still listen to it?
I’ve never been much of an album listener, I listen a lot to separate tracks. But an album I have listened to a lot is Nights Out by METRONOMY. I absolutely love the melancholic sound, all the synths are so cool. And one of my favourite tracks, On Dancefloors, is on that album too!
Do you have an absolute all time favorite band or musical artist? What makes them so special to you?
There are so many artists and bands that I really like but if I would really have to pick one it has to be Micachu & The Shapes who I’ve mentioned twice already in this interview. Someone once recommended the album Jewellry, and I was hooked straight away. The album has impacted the way I was writing songs a lot, and it’s still a big influence. I really like how all the songs on the record are short, catchy and also weird. Their use of sounds is phenomenal and it’s just such a cool band in general.
Do you remember the first time music had an impact on you?
One of the first tracks that I absolutely adored and still to this day vividly remember is Şımarık by TARKAN. I remember always asking my parents to put it on and dancing along to it. It was a song I really was obsessed with and I have to say: I still like it a lot 🙂
What beloved music do you share with your parents? Any specifics memories?
I grew up in a household where music was very important. My dad played in a band (still does) and my mom used to be their sound engineer. They worked at a music website and are generally music fans. Funnily enough, I have always really enjoyed the music they’re listening to and vise versa. We listened a lot to LILY ALLEN, ARCTIC MONKEYS, BLUR, THE BREEDERS. My mom used to make mixtapes when we would go on Holiday with tracks that everyone would enjoy. When I was a little older, my mom and I always went to gigs together. PARQUET COURTS, OUGHT, RATS ON RAFTS. And till this day, we still go to gigs together & sometimes as a family too!
What are some of the most memorable shows you’ve ever seen? What makes them stand out?
The first time I saw PARQUET COURTS, I didn’t really know what to expect. My mom took me there and said: I think you will like it. It was around the release of their first record. When they started playing I was sold straight away. The energy, the droney songs, I was knocked off my socks and knew immediately that I wanted to make music like that too.
Is there any band that you’ve always wanted to see live but never had the chance to catch them? Any classic show that you wish you could have experienced?
Almost all the music I listen to is fairly new so luckily for me, I’m still able to see all of it. But I would have loved to see DAVID BOWIE live.
What are some of your all-time favorite music books and/or zines, documentaries, biopics?
Favorite movie: Little Miss Sunshine. Favorite documentary: Anvil! The Story of Anvil.
Do you have an artist that you love in a genre that you don’t usually listen to? What makes them stand out?
LIL NAS X. It’s not really the music I would listen to normally but I absolutely love it. I can’t wait for his album to come out and listen to it. And I have to say: the videos he’s put out so far are amazing too. Really cool.
Can you think of a band or artist that put out only one fantastic release (album, EP or demo) and then disbanded? One that you really wish would have kept going?
Yeah so, before there was PARQUET COURTS there was TEENAGE COOL KIDS. I really, really love the album they made. You can definitely hear they are related to PC but I feel the songs are a little bit more melancholic, and as I said before: I’m a sucker for that.
When shows are being played again, who do you want to see live first?
I would really like to see SORRY live. I’ve seen them once, before their album was released. But I’ve been enjoying their record so much and I can’t wait to hear the songs through a really loud PA again.
What albums have been on heavy rotation lately?
An album I’ve been listening to a lot this summer is the album Shades by GOOD SAD HAPPY BAD. It’s a really cool album, I would recommend everyone to check it out!
What are you listening to right now, while answering these questions?
I’m listening to a podcast called the High-Low. It’s a podcast that I started listening to after they quit and I’ve been backtracking all they way from their first episode in 2017. They’ve just hit the pandemic at the moment so I think I’m getting close to the end..
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