8 minute read
PIP BLOM
Dutch indie quarter Pip Blom are a passionate and musical bunch that have been taking over Dutch and UK scenes by storm. I talked to the band about their 'Welcome Break', touring postBrexit and the past eighteen months... Onwards and upwards!
Now that the restrictions in the Netherlands have somewhat lifted, venues and festivals are slowly starting to open up again and Pip Blom have seized the opportunity to play indoor festivals and grace the Dutch stages again. A combination of time on stage and time in the studio is exactly what Pip loves about being an artist, “what I’ve come to realise, in 2019 both were very isolated, it was just playing live and then just recording an album. What I like about that is the combination of both and the diversity of being in a band. You make so many great memories, you’re on the road with friends and it is so special to be able to do that and to have a lot of fun all the time!”
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Recording an album in lockdown isn’t for everyone and it wasn’t the ideal situation for Pip Blom either, luckily they were able to and were inspired by their ‘Welcome Break’, “I wrote ‘Welcome Break’ after we toured a lot in 2019 and we were home after quite an intense period, I wasn’t sure if I was able to write again because I hadn’t written anything new in quite a while, but it was very exciting to write new stuff because eventually, the old stuff gets a bit boring…” It was quite literally a ‘Welcome Break’, “it was a weird break because we missed a lot of the social stuff, I would usually visit my nan more often or hang out with my friends and because of the lockdown it wasn’t the break I had envisioned but we still managed to make the album!” While she speaks, we see her eyes light up and she gets more animated the more we talk. Creating music because of a passion for music is truly at the heart of Pip Blom. “I started writing music because I loved going to gigs. I remember seeing Parquet Courts for the first time live around the release of their first album and they were so energetic and I just wanted that too. To be able to play live and travel the world and make music together, that’s what sparked my interest. To me, making music and being in a band is one of the coolest things there is, and the more people we reach the longer we will keep being able to do this.”
“I am very nervous about people’s reactions to the album but at the same time, I don’t want to put too much pressure on it, because I don't think that helps anyone. I think it’s important not to put too much pressure on what you’re doing!” The music media absolutely loves Pip Blom, and their no-pressure-policy might just have something to do with that, “when we play live we try to have as much fun as possible, each to their own, but I personally love seeing bands that enjoy themselves. Lots of UK bands look very ‘cool’ when they’re on stage but that’s not us, we’re very outgoing and enthusiastic and I hope that translates to the album and why people like us.”
Pip Blom are presented as a Dutch band, but they almost spend more time in the UK. Is there a clear difference between the two countries and do Pip Blom get the best of both worlds? “From the beginning of us being a band we played shows in the UK as well as the Netherlands, it was very much our focus from the start. But what could be difficult for other Dutch bands is that hospitality and fees are very different in the Netherlands and the UK, it’s a lot tougher in the UK. In the Netherlands we are used to a fridge full of beer and a good fee, so going to the UK is quite difficult as it feels like you start at the bottom again. The music scene in the Netherlands also wasn’t as vibrant back when we started and we kind of fit into that British identity. Indie rock isn’t such a big thing in the Netherlands, so playing both countries is very fun and different, but it’s hard to pinpoint the difference.”
That British sound and identity would have also contributed to the band being invited to the National Lottery-funded Revive Live tour which was organised by Music Venue Trust. It was an honour for Pip Blom to be asked to be a part of the tour, and talking about the importance of funded tours, we discuss its fine line between enough and
too much. “I think it is very important to have funding in the music industry, although I have to say that too much funding sometimes creates laziness. In the UK you really have to like working in the music industry, because it’s not easy money, but especially now with COVID funding is important to keep it going, but there’s a fine line...
The band are currently residing in the Netherlands but will soon get back on the ferry for more shows overseas, which hasn’t been made any easier for musicians, thanks to Brexit… “It is way more expensive now to travel to the UK, especially combining Brexit and COVID, it’s all quite complicated. You also have to get a carnet (a carnet is a temporary export document that is used primarily for professional equipment) for all your gear, and it takes you a day extra to get into the UK and an extra day to leave, which is very timeconsuming. We have only travelled in and out once and it was so chaotic! None of the people working at the border really knew that we needed to have our carnets stamped… But it isn’t going to stop us from travelling to the UK as it is such a big part of our market, but for bands that are starting out that want to go to the UK it will definitely be a big hurdle.”
“We have been getting a lot of messages from other Dutch bands and we have all been trying to help each other and are sharing information. Hopefully, in a year or two it will be getting easier when it’s all settled.” That sense of community and helping others doesn’t just shine through in the way they work with other bands, Pip Blom have also created their own online community of fans in the form of a membership area on their website. Wondering how to get all your fans together, talking to each other and being able to share exclusive content such as travel vlogs and unreleased demos? A membership is your way to go! “What I really like about our membership area is a sense of community, it gives people a more personal insight. On Facebook and Instagram, you have to be quite ‘pretty’ and it doesn’t truly reach the people that would like to know what we are like as people!”
It’s not just the fans that swoon over Pip Blom, the band truly seem to have gotten the entire music journalism industry on their knees and there’s not much the band can do wrong. Pip’s tips for bands that would like to follow in their footsteps: “Find out what you like, what you want to do, be honest, real and personal, and don’t try to be the next cool band.” Solid advice.
Since most of Pip’s friends seem to be in bands, we need a list of recommendations that receive the Pip Blom stamp of approval! “I really like Dutch band Personal Trainer, they were with us on tour two years ago and they are a very cool and energetic band! I also always recommend Micachu & The Shapes, especially ‘Jewelry’, they are not active anymore but they did release an album under the name Good Sad Happy Bad. I haven’t been listening to a lot of music recently, because when I'm making music it sometimes gets a bit much in my head. There’s also an endless list of Dutch bands people should check out, such as Rats on Rafts, Steve French, KIEFF, The Klittens…” Some more solid advice. The idea was to end the interview on a high and speak about some of Pip’s dreams, but she’s set the bar pretty feasible for herself. “I’m terrified of collaborating with anyone that I look up to, but we did support The Breeders on their Europe tour and that was an absolute dream come true, I would love to support them again! I would love to support Parquet Courts, or join Fontaines D.C. and I would also really like to join Franz Ferdinand on one of their tours through South America, they’re also so sweet and they’re a very cool bunch of people!” Right, we’re aiming for a South American tour with Franz Ferdinand and let’s say the album is going to blow the roof off the industry once again because they’ve worked hard for it and their enthusiasm and hard work should be rewarded!
