FVMusicBlog

Photo: Bad Bubble

We were lucky to catch up with Bad Bubble following the brilliant release, ‘At the Age of Three‘. Enjoy our full interview below!

Hi, Bad Bubble; how did you get into the music industry?

Even after all this time, I still don’t feel a part of it. At one point, maybe 2-3 years ago, I cared more about being a part of it, but I gave that up. When I think of the industry, I think of big names.

In the music business, I think of people who make a living from it. I don’t yet know or have discovered how exactly to do this. I personally don’t think it’s possible without cutting major corners or buying your way in somehow.

I don’t know. This, of course, could change in a week or never change at all. I do know this…I have tried my very best, and I have taken advantage of every opportunity outside of buying streams or that kind of thing. It’s not worth it, in my opinion. But I gave up on that. I still push and push and push. I just lowered my expectations. That does me zero good and will lead me to an early grave.

Who influenced your brilliant latest release, ‘At the Age of Three’?

Who, meaning an artist? Honestly, no one. I don’t really have “influences” in the way some artists do. I’ve been separated from that for a long time. Meaning that I don’t listen to any music from the mainstream, and I hold no one on a pedestal enough to draw inspiration.

Instead, I draw inspiration from my own past experiences. I’ll think of something I have been through and conclude it has relevance enough for me to tell others about. If the memory is painful or significant, I then begin brainstorming what kind of song it warrants.

‘At the age of Three’, it is about being relentlessly bullied as a child all through school. A very painful series of memories. So, I knew it had to be grandiose.

Your music is raw and emotionally captivating. How important is it for you to be authentic with your audience?

It’s the absolute most important thing. There is no more important. Not even close. I’m trying to think of anything else even remotely close…I cannot think of anything. This is why, by the way, I play my own instruments and record on an old-school mixing board. It has to be real. All of it…

What draws you to the alternative-pop genre?

Good question. I have no idea, really. It’s just what comes off my fingers and out of my keys. That said, I do have plenty of music that is considered something else. Synthpop, rock, Indie, electropop, etc. Some are straight industrial. Album 6: War comes to mind. That album was not received well by my audience…I tried to warn them…lol.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

Whoever it would be is from Indie. I wouldn’t waste time with big names. I would probably have to say. Claudia Blackstar would be high on the list. Blondeking,,,that would be nice…

What’s your dream venue to play?

Hmmmm. I’ve never been asked that. I don’t know…. I’d have to say Pop’s in St. Louis would be up there…Maybe the pageant in St. Louis as well. I played the Canopy Club in Champaign already…cross that one off the bucket list…

Other than music, what are you passionate about?

Nothing. I was speaking with a friend about this… We’ve spoken a ton about this very thing. Not only do I not have any other passions, I’m hard-pressed to find any other interests whatsoever. Writing poetry is a passion, but I consider that linked with this. To tell you the absolute truth…This is it.

What changes would you like to see in the music business?

Everything. It needs a complete overhaul from the ground up. Bottom-up, not top-down. If I had it my way, it wouldn’t have a top. First off, get rid of streams, period. As long as they’re around, we get screwed. Why on earth has anyone ever agreed to this in the first place? I’ll never know. I get it; it’s a way to get yourself out there….But ask yourself…out where?

From the looks of it, we’re all “out there,” and that is a long way from where we need to be. It’s not all about dollars and cents; I get that….But there are people who think it is about that. I have artistic friends who put food on the table because of this. And it’s always the artist who ends up not only footing the bill but getting screwed in the process.

When Spotify takes a bigger chunk of the streaming, does that affect the promo companies? The journalists? The audio engineers? No. It’s us. We get screwed every day.

This will not change until we give up streaming and sell our music for money. One dollar a song, period. Right now, we work so hard. For instance, no one sees the fact that I spent 4 hours trying to figure out the right tone for the piano in At the Age of Three.

No one knows, and no one cares. Why do they not care? Because they invested nothing into the song, I did. Back in the day, people had to take a trip downtown to the record store. Which, by the way, was the hangout of all the cool people.

They would work all week and spend the money on records to add to their collection at home. Their collection at home was organized the way they wanted it. They took care of their music because it was important. Now… it’s disposable, and that is sad.

That is just so sad because when the listener does not value it, the listener does not value the work it took, much less the bullying I went through for years to make it…

What would it be if you could choose one thing for fans to take away from your music?

Anymore, I don’t know. 2 years ago, I would say take away X, Y, and Z because it is important to me. But how can I ask anyone to take away something if they have the wrong outlook from the beginning?

The listener is not to blame for the way things are…at the same time, they’re not off the hook either. I’m brave enough to call them out because, at this time, I have nothing to lose and nothing to gain. I’m at a strange point in my career right now where I’m looking around, and I am really, really not liking what I see. I am not disposable. I would have them take that away.

I am not disposable…even if you dispose of me, I am valid, and so are you. My work has a value that is more than $000.0001 of a cent. It is my entire life. And each song makes up my life’s work. I have to give it away for free because reasons….fine. That’s on me.

But just know what is inside each song, which is considered disposable, and it will not be found in the first 4 seconds before you swipe me away. I did everything I could; the ball is now in their court. Swipe me away if you want to. That is their prerogative. But do it after you hear me out.

Have you started working on your next release?

Oh absolutely. I usually stay 1-2 years ahead. I have all of 2025 and 2026 squared away. Written, recorded, and ready to go. I’ve already uploaded as much as I can. They only let you work so far ahead; I’m just waiting for the days to catch up.

https://Badbubble.net
https://www.instagram.com/badbubblemusic/
https://twitter.com/BadBubbleMusic
https://badbubble.bandcamp.com/

FVMusicBlog January 2025

If you would like to submit your music for a playlist or review consideration, please submit here.

Also! Check out the awesome other artists on the ‘Discovered This Week’ Playlist!