Blous3 dials into the noise on ‘Synchronized Swimming’
Photo Credit: Leeah Painter
Sacramento’s art punk band Blous3 recently released their third album Synchronized Swimming. On it, the band flexes their songwriting muscle layering on more noise and distortion. Blous3 is Riley Partanen, Julian Hall and Jacob Waite and Cole Apperson. The band explores changes in tempo (“Jewel Tone”) and noise punk (“Chemical Heart”), experiments with sound collage (“The Oyster”), and name checks the FDA and USDA for their involvement in a corporate scandal revolving around Johnson & Johnson (“Goo Goo”).
In our Q&A, Blous3 talks about developing their artistry, working with Cherub Dream Records, their origin story and more.
Congrats on Synchronized Swimming! How are you guys doing at the moment?
Blous3: Thank you!! 😊 I think we’re doing great. Our bandmate Julian just got married and we all celebrated last weekend and danced all night with the new couple!
What’s the band’s origin story?
Blous3: Riley (bass) and Jake (originally drums, moved to guitar) were looking for a guitarist to start a band during COVID. Jake is used to playing bass and guitar in bands (like Meet Cute, H. Salt, Quinine) and wanted to try drums. He rocked and played drums on the first two albums we put out as a three-piece. We knew Julian from the scene and he and Jake also used to play music together. Cole is our newest member. We originally had talked about him joining on guitar because every time we saw Mastoids (Cole’s other band), we were completely blown away. I didn’t even know Cole played drums until he and Jake were talking about Blous3 needing a drummer.
Synchronized Swimming is the band’s third full-length album. How would you describe the band’s development as songwriters over the years?
Blous3: We've been trying to experiment more with noise and having noisy songs but still having a clear structure... Jake says getting better at drums and then transitioning to him playing guitar and the strings section getting more and more layered.
I feel like we’ve been more intentional about songwriting, especially now that Synchronized Swimming is out. I (Riley) personally don’t want to write songs like I used to write in 2021… This was the first time I ever played in a band and I think being embarrassed by your past shows growth. I also love leaning on my bandmates more and more to help me finish songs. We tend to write all together and bring parts together. Sometimes Julian brings a whole song to the table too. I really love collaborating on writing. I tend to get in my own head about [whether] a part is even good or not.
You worked with Jack Shirley at Atomic Garden. Can you tell us anything you remember about the recording sessions?
Blous3: Collaborating with Jack Shirley was an excellent experience. His extensive knowledge and diligent work ethic greatly impressed us. I valued his ability to take the resources we brought to create a great record. What stood out most was his meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of the sound production, including drum tuning and amp configuration. Jack was very considerate and ensured that we were engaged throughout the entire process. Jack 5vever.
The album was released via Cherub Dream! How did that partnership come together?
Blous3: Cherub Dream is amazing. I first became aware of them through putting out homies' records in figure eight and by seeing Buddy Junior play. JB knew who blous3 was and was stoked. I loved how many genres Cherub Dream put out.
On “Goo Goo” you call out the USDA, FDA and J&J for their involvement in a corporate scandal. How do you view the role of your music in pushing for accountability?
Blous3: I (Riley) do think everything is political… I don’t think the song will hold the government accountable but I do hope that people sing along to the lyrics and feel the same way I do… Fuck the government lol.
Are there any Sacramento bands that you think people should listen to?
Blous3: Cockring! My besties’ band. Fitting, Gentlemen Surfer, Demistar, MRS., Riley Echo, Slugfeast, Meenowave.
As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to spotlight some of the standout creative projects from the year. To help us celebrate, we’ve teamed up with a few of our favorite artists whose work has made an impact.
Next up in our Best of 2024: Artist Picks, we hear from lucidlüc. The Atlanta-based artist blends psych-pop, punk and hip-hop. Lucidlüc’s curated list includes the diverse sounds of Tyler Jackson and Alli Cat.