A Chat with Love Ghost (23.04.24)
Some bands make an impression but few ignite a passion for life in the way Love Ghost does. A firm favourite of The Other Side Reviews, the US-based group draw together various genres into a boundary-breaking sound – think pop-punk, rap, nu-metal, pop-rock, alternative rock and even a hint of Afrobeat. We speak with frontman Finnegan Bell about their new EP The Speed of Dreaming, what music means to him, future plans and more.
OSR: Cliché, but what drew you to music? How did Love Ghost come about?
Bell: Honestly, I was a pretty isolated kid and for me, music was sort of a saving grace. I really idolised lots of musicians such as Kurt Cobain and David Bowie, and I wanted to be like them when I grew up. I wanted to be able to give the experiences they gave me to other people. As far as the Love Ghost project coming about, I started it when I was a teenager by asking some friends at the time to play a local show with me in Los Angeles.
OSR: You’ve recently released your EP The Speed of Dreaming. What can you tell us about it?
Bell: It’s a blend of Latin rap and emo rock. I made it when I was living in Mexico. I think the music captures my state of mind at the time pretty well.
OSR: Many of your current singles, as well as the EP, are collaborations with Mexican artists. Why did you choose to embark on this collaborative project?
Bell: Mexico has shown me a lot of love and my fan base is primarily out there, so this project was a way for me to expand on that business venture.
OSR: If you had to choose, which songs are your favourite and least favourite on The Speed of Dreaming?
Bell: 😆 That’s a good question. My favourite is probably ‘Be Not Afraid’. I don’t think I have a least favourite though.
OSR: You released an AI video for ‘Be Not Afraid’. How do you feel about AI being used more frequently in the music industry?
Bell: I think that as long as it’s used just as a tool to help creativity then it’s fine. Of course, I wouldn’t want it to replace artists or be used for other nefarious reasons but I think if it is used correctly then it will do more good than harm.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Bell: To me, on a deep level, music is a language for emotion. It allows us to express feelings that we can’t quite express or feel with language (whether you’re playing music or just listening to it). Language can evoke emotion but music hits you in the part of the brain that doesn’t have a capacity for language.
OSR: What makes Love Ghost unique?
Bell: I think my perspectives on things are pretty unique so that makes the music and the art interesting.
OSR: What is something you tend to procrastinate on?
Bell: Saying “I love you” before it’s too late. I like to take my time with that, for better or worse.
OSR: Do you consider telling white lies to be okay?
Bell: Depends on the context.
OSR: What can we expect from Love Ghost in the future?
Bell: A new album that’s very special. It’s a collaboration with Tim Skold and I’m very proud of how it’s sounding.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Bell: Do something. Get out of your head, get out of your bed and go live your life. 😁
Thank you so much to Finnegan Bell for speaking with us! For more from Love Ghost, check out their official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more pop-punk tunes on The Other Side Reviews Pop Punk playlist:
