A Chat with Rollers Of Bedlam (29.04.20)
Rollers of Bedlam is a London-based rock foursome influenced by all types of music ranging from classic and psychedelic rock to blues and reggae. With a fresh and original sound, they have been causing bedlam since 2017. We had a chat with the group about their latest EP Bedlam City, discovering new music and first-world problems.
OSR: How did Rollers of Bedlam come about?
ROB: All started in the summer of 2017 when Joey Bedlam (vocalist) and Luke Byron (guitarist) met Luke Rendel (drummer) and had no clue he played the drums. We started making music for fun and as a couple of months went by the vibe built and finding a bass player was inevitable. Luke Rendel’s brother brought Dimi Duke to our rehearsal and the rest is history.
OSR: Your EP Bedlam City was released in March. What has the response been like so far?
ROB: We decided to release the EP during lockdown. It’s a weird time, but we have had nothing but good response from the people. We are waiting to hear from some labels when this shit storms over.
OSR: Can you tell us about the EP in general?
ROB: It’s all our vibe, passion and mutual energy with lyrics of our everyday life and what we see and feel. The Bedlam City EP is a show from start to the intervention to the finish.
OSR: What about the recording process. Was it a smooth process or did you hit a few speedbumps?
ROB: We got introduced to Gordon Raphael who produced The Strokes and many other bands and it couldn’t have gone smoother. We also decided to make Alessio Costa, the man behind ‘Living Poor With Kings’ and ‘It’s Rock ‘N’ Roll’, an assistant sound engineer in the recording. He was great, just like Gordon. Initially, we decided to do five songs, but we finished with time to spare and did the extra song which we will be kept secret.
OSR: Which is your favourite track from Bedlam City and why?
ROB: We love all of them. I know it sounds like something you always hear, but as a band, we have to love a song to record it. Simple as that.
OSR: What about your least favourite track?
ROB: If there was a least favourite track it wouldn’t be there.
OSR: What do you hope people take from the EP?
ROB: Good vibes, realness and people to see how far we have come since the start.
OSR: Do you believe your sound has evolved since Bedlamic Estate in 2018? If yes, how so?
ROB: Joey and Luke never played in a band before, so the Bedlamic Estate EP was only seven months from completion when Dimi Duke joined the band. We feel and the people feel our progression in the vocal range and the music. We are living and learning as we go through our rock ‘n’ roll journey.
OSR: What, do you think, is the best way to discover new music?
ROB: Everyone’s different, but we like to go out on the frontline to gigs in London and support grassroots venues. There’s always new talent to find!
OSR: If you could collaborate with any living artist, who would it be and why?
ROB: Mick Jones from The Clash or Suggs from Madness would be a blinder!
OSR: Who would you love to meet on a personal level and why?
ROB: Boris Johnson. We really envy his hair so we would like to know who does it.
OSR: What do you know is a first-world problem, but it bugs you anyway?
ROB: That at night there’s empty offices and buildings and there are still homeless people.
OSR: How do you feel the Covid-19 pandemic has affected musicians?
ROB: Money will be hard to come by for most musicians during this time, but we think it’s a time also to reflect, write and think, and when things get back to normal we will all have an extra passion for the love of our craft.
OSR: How do you remain motivated during this time?
ROB: You’ve got to to take the positives in bedlam times like now. Like, the sun’s been out for the first time this year and everyone’s in the same situation together so we got to just crack on.
OSR: Describe Rollers of Bedlam in three words.
ROB: Save our souls.
OSR: What does the future hold for Rollers of Bedlam?
ROB: At least one beautiful album – we can promise that thus far. We want to thank The Other Side Reviews for this beautiful conversation. Keep rolling!
Thanks to Rollers of Bedlam for the chinwag! To engage with them and find out more about their music, check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Spotify.
