[Photo courtesy of Julianna Rose]

By Cody Englander, Managing Editor

At 9 p.m. on Nov. 1 at The Union, Blood Lemon, the Boise, Idaho based indie rock band makes their Athens debut performance. The band is made up of vocalist/bassist Melanie Radford, guitarist/vocalist Lisa Simpson and drummer/percussionist Lindsey Lloyd. They will be performing alongside the post-punk band Black Cross Hotel. 

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Blood Lemon released their full length self-titled debut album in April 2021, releasing their second project, Petite Deaths, in January of this year. Doors will open at 8 p.m. and tickets can be purchased here. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Cody Englander (CE): How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard of it?

Lisa Simpson (LS): We draw from a few different influences and concepts. There’s definitely a clear ‘90s influence in what we’re doing, none of us would deny that. We certainly enjoy a lot of the bands that have had these long careers and been around. We’ve also pulled a lot of slower, sludgier rock into our sound. It’s kind of under that same umbrella of indie rock, but what does that even mean anymore? I think sometimes it’s called post-riot grrrl, it’s got several different flavors of rock. We kind of just play around with that.

CE: How have you developed your sound from your first record to now?

LS: I just think it’s something that happens to most musicians. Whatever you’re listening to influences the outcome of your music. I would say the Petite Deaths is like a snapshot in a lot of ways. We made a decision to record a lot of those songs despite not having a full album worth of songs because it really encapsulates this moment in time, where we were, what we were doing, etc. We had released our first album in 2021 and there had been a delay in getting everything done because of COVID-19 restrictions. I think that gave us time to slow down and pay more attention to what we were doing. In between the two projects, touring, recording, it’s influenced what the music sounds like. 

CE: Does it feel different, since that second record of yours in mid-January, to release music in a constantly changing world?

LS: Yeah, it’s sometimes really daunting when you’re an independent band and you don’t make a living off of this music. But I’ve been a musician for a long time and it’s something I’m really passionate about. It’s something I feel called to do. I went to a concert a couple of weeks ago where the artist said, “You know, I wasn’t going to tour in America, but this has been a really important time to have spaces that are safe and that celebrate queer joy, trans people, etc.” You know, things like going out are really important, so I’m taking that as an important part of making art. 

CE: Local music is important to the spirit of Athens. Have you or your bandmates taken inspiration from any local talent?

LS: For me, absolutely. Mel lives in Seattle. Lindsay and I live in Boise, Idaho. Local music in Idaho has been something involving community building and supporting other artists throughout my time here. Sometimes that looks different from one year to the next. I’d say, living in a red state, it’s important to stay up to things and to be involved in ways that are maintainable for me in what’s happening in the world. I would add that we have had the opportunity to play shows in Seattle and Portland, it’s not something we’d shy away from. We love playing with all kinds of bands, whether it’s all female bands or local talents. 

CE: What is your artistic process going into a record thematically? 

LS: I feel like our first album was more political in some ways. I personally can say, as a songwriter, I draw from a lot of areas. I’m a big reader; I love painting. I read a lot of modern queer romance books, some of them are beautifully written and some are like candy. It’s like watching a guilty pleasure, but I don’t feel guilty about any of it. The language around modern romance novels is interesting too. That’s where the themes of sensuality come in with this new record. That got me thinking about the idioms used in other languages and countries. Like high tide for example. I wanted to use descriptors that aren’t typical to English, that aren’t cliche. 

CE: Do you have a favorite song to perform in front of an audience? 

LS: I would say “Perfect Too” is a favorite right now. I just, like in the moment there are certain times when we play it and I’m really into it. Especially the end of that song, the groove can just build and it’s explosive. It’s super fun to play.

CE:  Lastly, is there anything you want the Athens audience to know before your performance?

LS: I would say, when it comes down to it, we truly believe that music should be fun and build community. That’s what we’re there for, to have a good time and play good music.