OVERGROWN by BLOOM THE MAG

steve williams jnr

kate house

@pollydesignss

natasha syberg

sally sopinka

taylor webb

noah nicholson

zoe statiris

Photographed by Andreas Kristos

zoe statiris

BROOKLYN BABY With 1.2 million streams on Spotify from this year alone and her debut album on its way, 27-year-old Brooklyn based singer/songwriter Anna Shoemaker has proved that her reign as an alt-pop princess has only just begun. Earlier this year BLOOM had the honour of chatting with her about opening for Bishop Briggs, desert island albums, discovering our shared love for Mitski and more... By Amanda Edwards April 22, 2021 AE: Hi, I'm Amanda - it’s so good to meet you! I kinda just wanted

AE: Do you ever find yourself writing about a specific theme all

to start off with how did you get into music? Did you have a

the time or a specific event that happened, or is it mostly just

musical family? Or did you go to school for music or something

things that happen as life goes by?

like that?

AS: I feel like I'm constantly writing about my sanity

AS: It’s really nice to meet you too, I’m so excited! So I

unraveling. Sometimes I just feel like I’m so emotional

actually didn't have a musical family at all, I really just

and in touch with my emotions, so when I come in

kind of always made music and was really drawn to it. I

contact with people who aren't, there’s a lot of

feel like music was so attractive to me because all

communication issues and I wanna go crazy. I wanna be

these different artists had the ability to just say

like ‘tell me what you're thinking’ or ‘how are you

whatever they felt like, which was a big fantasy of mine.

feeling’, like why can't you tell me?! But then I have to

AE: Yeah for sure, I definitely get that. So, have you had any

remember not everyone is open about their emotions,

specific influences to your sound, like any artists or genres?

and I feel like a lot of the time in writing it’s about being

AS: I'm really influenced by any kind of good writing.

able to go insane. I also write a lot about anxiety and

When I grew up I listened to a lot of Sheryl Crow, Amy

relationships. Just like different things that I'm feeling

Whinehouse and Lauryn Hill - just anyone who’s telling

and going through. A lot of the time I just write and I

their story to me. It's really inspiring because you're the

don't even know what I'm writing about, and then I look

only one who can tell your own story, and it's really cool

back and realize ‘oh shit I was sad or hurt’.

to be able to do that through music.

AE: I feel like that's definitely a good way to process your

AE: I also think that it’s really important that a lot of the artists

emotions too. Like if you don't know what it is you’re feeling and

you mentioned are strong, confident female artists.

then you write it out, it can help identify them.

AS: I think it's interesting cause it's like I relate to

AS: Definitely. It's like wow, I was really holding onto

female singers because they’re talking about things that

something there.

I relate to too.

AE: I heard that you opened for Bishop Briggs a little while ago, how was that? AS: I love her, it was really fun. It was amazing. It was one of my first shows in New York, so it was really crazy to be thrown in front of an audience of that size. There were a lot of people, but it was a lot of fun. AE: Did you move to New York recently? AS: I moved about 2 and a half years ago. AE: Why did you move? Was it to get into the music scene? Or was there something you wanted there? AS: Yeah, I was signed to a label here and I was going back and forth from Philadelphia a lot to work with different producers, so it just made sense to move here. But now I really like it, I really love the music scene here and all the people I've met and worked with. AE: Speaking of work, you’re releasing an album soon, right? AS: Yeah! AE: That's so cool. Is there anything you can tell me about? Or is it all top secret for now? Photographed by Lily Nason

AS: It's not even that it's a secret. I used to think that I

Photographed by Morgan Maher

knew what it would sound like but now I've been writing

nobody knows what they’re doing even if it seems like

all these new songs and now I don't know. I know it's

they do, which is great but it’s also really scary. I feel

definitely gonna be cool though. I'm really excited about

like everyone is just playing this game of pretend and it's

it, but I think it's gonna be a little bit different from my

cool because as an artist I’m able to play into this game

usual sound, but I think that's a good thing.

of creating who I want to be through a persona, and it's

AE: So is Call Me, your latest single, going to be on the album?

even more fun, but also scary because it's under my real

AS: Nope, that was just a one-off single and now we’re

name. It’s like I’ve created this character of who I want

gonna start fresh and do a bunch of new music. I'm

to be through my writing, but it's not always who I am.

actually finishing the first single tomorrow, it's featuring

AE: I think it’s good to be able to switch up your personality a bit.

one of my really good friends, Middle Part. I'm just really

Like one day you can be Anna Shoemaker, your average

excited because he's really become one of my best

27-year-old, and then the next day have a super flamboyant

friends throughout this process. And it's really fun

popstar personna.

working with someone you're close with because usually

AS: I definitely express myself from the way I dress to

it would be a disaster, but for us we’re really on the

the music I make.

same page all the time and I feel like sometimes we're

AE: Oh by the way I love your style! I was looking at your

twins. It's really fun.

Instagram photoshoots and all your outfits were sooo cute.

AE: So has the pandemic affected you as an artist?

AS: OMG, thank you, thank you so much. I definitely love

AS: Definitely. Not being able to play live has been really

thrifting and finding vintage clothes. I think that style

terrible because that’s one of the things I love to do

has a really big impact on my writing because it's like

most. But also I think that I've been able to write a lot

the way I feel in an outfit on a certain day can affect how

and focus on what I want my sound to be like, and I think

I feel when I'm in the studio.

that's been really amazing. To be able to sit down and

AE: So if you could collab with anybody, who would be the first

really think about how I want my music to sound and

person that comes to mind?

make people feel.

AS: There's an artist named Ethel Cain who would be my

AE: For sure, I feel like that's been the case with a lot of artists,

first choice. She's my favourite artist right now and her

like they've had a lot of time to reflect.

music is so insanely good.

AS: There definitely has been a lot of time where I've

AE: I haven't heard of her, but I’ll definitely check her out.

been like this sounds great. And now I've been sitting

AS: She’s amazing. Her music is so good, her writing is

listening to all these demos for so long and questioning

perfect. I feel like she has so much to say and every

them. Usually I just go for it, but now I think it's good to

song feels like a real story.

be able to overthink sometimes.

AE: Are there any other artists you have been loving lately?

AE: Do you have a bucket list as an artist? Or a goal set in mind? AS: For me it's to be able to quit my job at a restaurant and to work with my friends and make art and feel creatively fulfilled, because that's the most important thing for me at the end of the day. That's the whole reason why I make music. AE: So you started off in 2018, were you writing before then? AS: Yeah, I've always been writing. I wrote poetry when I was little and I was always writing songs. Once I learned how to play guitar in fifth grade I was writing all the time. Like I would take Taylor Swift cords and I would rearrange them and write my own melodies to them. I always felt like I was an artist, but I just had to figure out how to do it. And I still feel like I'm figuring out how to do it. AE: I feel you never stop learning. AS: 100%. I feel like the best thing I realized is that

Photographed by Morgan Maher

AS: Yeah, my friend Middle Part. I listen to his music all

onstage and - ugh, just her voice, oh my god. I also used

the time, I'm really a true stan of his. I’m also always

to work at a radio station in Philly and I would put on

listening to SZA. I really like Spill Tab too right now and

mics for all the different artists that came in and I mic’d

Cherry Glazerr. I just listen to a lot of different stuff and

her and she was so nice. I mean I didn't really talk to her

sometimes I'll just go back and listen to Amy

because I was shy and helped mic everyone, but she was

Whinehouse or Johnny Cash to clear my head. I just

just so nice and cool and her presence was just so calm

listen to a lot of music all the time. Also Julian Skiboat is

and confident and collected. I just feel like working there

really cool too. I’m always trying to find new music

and seeing all the artists, especially Mitski and

because I'll get really into one song and listen to it over

BADBADNOTGOOD. But yeah just seeing the artists

and over and over…

come through and how they hold themselves, it was so

AE: And then you hate it.

interesting to me because I was younger and was like

AS: Yes! So I'll try and find different music all the time. I

‘oh these people aren't just partying, they’re serious’,

also love Jasmine Sullivan’s newest album “Heaux

like this is something I wanna do.

Tales”, it’s one of my favorites.

AE: I feel like just going to a concert and seeing how artists are

AE: What are some of your other fav albums? Like desert island,

and act kind of changes how you think of them. I've been to a

I-can’t-live-without albums.

couple concerts of artists that I really love and just seeing how

AS: SZA. I really can’t live without “CTRL”. That album -

they maneuvered around and how they sort of acted kind of

and other ones I listened to when I was younger, like

changed my opinion of them and sometimes not in a good way.

Ashlee Simpson, Sheryl Crow and Lucinda Williams - sort

AS: Yeah but then there's the opposite where you go to a

of reminded me that as long as you make it sound good,

concert that you kind of like or someone who your friend

you can actually say whatever you want. Specifically in

drags you to and then you’re just like ‘wow they're really

“Drew Barrymore” when [SZA] says “You came with your

cool’. Everytime I see my favorite band Carseat Headrest

new friends / And her mom jeans / And her new Vans”, I

I'm like ‘I love you guys’.

was like ‘oh my gosh, that's crazy, you can really say

AE: So what do you think has been the best concert you've ever

whatever you want’. Taylor Swift too, she was another

been to?

musician that made me think ‘that’s amazing, that’s sick,

AS: I would maybe say Ashlee Simpson when I was 13

I want to do that’, just say

because I cried haha. Or

whatever’s on my mind. So

maybe I was 11 or 12, but I

I would definitely say

just remember being SO

“CTRL” and Orion Sun, her

excited. I just haven't been

album “Hold Space For

to a live show in so long, so

Me”. That album came out

I'm trying to think of a

right before quarantine and

more recent one. I really

I just loved it so much, I

liked seeing The Japanese

love how natural and raw it

House. It was just so cool

feels, it’s really good.

seeing them live because

[Anna notices the “Bury Me at

of all the vocoder stuff, it's

Makeout Creek” vinyl by Mitski

just so interesting to me. I

hanging on Amanda’s wall

love making my voice

behind her]

sound weird and I think it

AS: Omg it that a Mitski

was really cool how they

poster on your wall?!

do it live.

AE: Yeah, it's the vinyl!

AE: Yeah I was listening to a

AS: That's another album - I

bunch of your music and there

was just listening to that last night! Oh my god,

Photographed by Tyler Borchardt

was one song that really reminded me of The Japanese

Mitski is so good. I went to her concert in Philly and the

House so it’s funny that you mention them.

venue was in the basement of a church and it was so

AS: I think that I love using vocoder or effects on your

good. Her writing is insane

voice because it kind of relates back to what I was

AE: I think that album has to be one of my all time favs.

saying earlier about how you can just say whatever you

AS : Is that the one with First Love-

want, and sometimes people aren't necessarily listening

AE: First Love / Late Spring.

to what you say, but just to the music.

AS: That might be one of my favorite songs I've ever

AE: I feel like lately with quarantine going on and since we can’t

heard, it's so sick. Yeah, I think I'm gonna listen to that

see live shows or just do anything, I've been watching a lot of

album today. I love that song where she's like “I don't

recordings of shows online from years ago and it's just so crazy.

know what to do without you / I don't know where to put

AS: I know it’s so weird seeing all those people together

my hands”. Like I. Felt. That. Because when you like

or even just people in TV shows.

someone so much or you’re missing someone and you

AE: Yeah and they aren't wearing masks.

just wanna be like…ah I don’t know how to explain it,

AS: I know I'm like ‘where's your mask?!’ Yeah it's so

she’s just so good.

crazy. I was actually telling the girl I was working with

AE: That album truly changed my life. Like I was going through a

last night…This is so embarrassing and I probably

really rough time in my life and I discovered that album during it

shouldn’t tell anyone this but I feel like “Riverdale” is

and I was just like ‘oh my god she wrote this album for me’, like it

sometimes a comfort show for me and I'll like end up

was crazy.

writing about it.

AS: Isn't that crazy? How you'll listen to an album and

AE: I feel like it's great when you can kind of live through a TV

you'll be like ‘oh okay, this is fine, everything is fine.

show that can influence who you are. I mean we all have our

Other people feel this way too, so let's relax’. You know

guilty pleasure comfort show.

what I mean? Like take a deep breath, I'll listen to this

AS: We all have our own “Riverdale”...

song 75 times then I'll go and drink a coffee, you know

AE: Exactly. I think it's important to have something to lean on

like it’s gonna be okay.

especially if you’re dealing with stuff. It’s like ‘well at least I still

AE: I’m so jealous you got to see her live!

have Archie and Cole Sprouse’.

AS: She was amazing and she was playing her pink bass

AS: Totally, specifically Cole Sprouse

bella bienenstock & karen ng

bella bienenstock

@taylorlikesyouu

mckenzie rose

karen ng

gwyneth hall

ashy pawed caution By Karen Ng it scares me sometimes when i hear noises or imagine shadows below the skies where i wonder what if thunders (even if it could be kind) my heart bears burdened caution that marks ashy paws beside.

it scares me sometimes when i think of monsters and some gruesome image sticks inside my mind stood and felt discouraged by my freedom (yet knowing to march on despite).

it scares me when i see people as art even in the slightest more than the slightest of ways

my soft heart that i let do its own findings steers its own ship in accordance to mine (some say a little ahead of me.) and i let it be natural, with some rules, it glows pleasantly in my hearth, burns sometimes wildlike above a sealike dragon shadow waterfall conscious between my toes.

to lose your rhyme, constraint overtaking observance, love muffled by fur smiles, home time lingered in a grimace. dark reviewing of your daylife sat alone in eve silent flattened spirit mumbling whys.

now, i let my heart command at once my steering boat is light oars hold hands with purpose serene reason floats by side.

in the night, i still shudder and i wring my hands before a sight monstrous in my mind just pauses that should come let me breathe. a sea floats across these wiles.

Old Cats and a Mouse Hayden Aw “I am swift as a gazelle. An old one. Run over by a land rover. Seven days ago.” -Somewhere on Pinterest The mouse scampered beyond the bedroom window. Even with his fading eyesight, Benny could make out the ropy tail and those little hopping legs, mocking him. Although he wasn’t aware of it, Benny’s tail swished back and forth slowly in that deliberate way that cats have when they’ve spotted prey. If only this accursed window wasn’t in the way, then he’d make that little upstart sorry for ever coming onto his front lawn. Look at it! Even from the top floor Benny could see the folds of fat wobbling along its tiny sides. This was a soft animal that had gone untroubled unnaturally long without fear of any predator. It was against the natural order of things it was, and it irked Benny deeply. “Are you staring at the mice again dear?” Asked a kindred voice from behind him. Benny turned, and there she was. He recognized the tabby stripes right away. His better half. Milly hopped up onto the bed with that nimbleness that never seemed to have left her even in her old age, and within seconds she was beside him on the head of the bed, looking out the window. “You are.” She said half kindly and half accusingly. Benny felt a pang of envy for the ease with which she had spotted the mouse. “The-” Benny stopped and cleared his throat before starting again. His voice sounded croaky even to him. “The little upstart is scampering around the lawn acting like he owns the place.” He said crankily. “Just let me at him. I’ll bring us home some early supper.” Milly sighed and shook her head lightly. “You’re too old to be chasing mice dear.” Benny snorted. “If this stupid window weren’t here, I’d prove you very wrong woman.” “I’m sure you would, dear.” Milly agreed warmly. “I just came to ask if you’d eaten yet?” Benny sighed. “I can’t stand that stuff Milly, you know that. The dry food feels like a porcupine’s quills going down your throat and the wet food is always freezing cold and makes icicles grow in my brain.” “You need to eat to keep your strength up dear.” Milly insisted, concerned. “I’m plenty strong!” Benny exclaimed defensively. To prove a point, he turned and leapt off the bed. Only, as he landed his bad left hip flared up in pain and he skidded clumsily to the hardwood floor on his chin. “Benny!” Milly exclaimed in fright. She leapt infuriatingly nimbly down beside him and paced in circles around him. “Are you alright dear? Was it your hip? Talk to me!” Benny’s voice sounded muffled because his face was still mashed into the floor, but he did his best to sound dignified nonetheless. “Mmmmf. Mm-fine woman. Quit yr fretting.” “You know your hip doesn’t like it when you do things like that dear.” Milly still sounded worried, and it warmed Benny’s heart and infuriated him in the same instant. “Stop talking about my hip like it has a mind of its own.” Benny grumbled as he got to his feet. “It’s my hip and if I want to jump off a bed then that’s just what I’ll do thank you very much, and my hip will just have to deal with it.” He walked out of the bedroom, head held high as he tried to salvage his pride. He walked out into the hallway and Milly followed, catching up to him without difficulty. “Benny, I want you to be more careful dear.” Milly said from beside him. “You’re not as young as you used to be.” Benny grumbled some unintelligible response that was most likely unfriendly and picked up his pace, intending to stay ahead of his wife as he reluctantly headed downstairs to the food

estora wyn

sally sopinka