La Bouquet

If you haven’t heard of La Bouquet yet, their undeniable charm and cinematic sound will infiltrate your playlists in no time. The band is the latest alternative-pop venture of musicians Bryan Sammis and Jake Lopez. The duo are long-time friends who, prior to the formation of La Bouquet, have each navigated the industry as parts of other projects as well as through solo work. Some may recognize Sammis as the former drummer for The Neighbourhood and as solo act Olivver the Kid, and Lopez is a former member of indie pop band Sink Swim. La Bouquet was born when the two decided to step away from these projects, and the decision to collaborate was seamless.

“Putting music out as a duo as opposed to more people being involved was more a product of circumstance and timing. I think the future line-up of La Bouquet could very well be more than two people.” The biggest difference between the two artists? Sammis admits, “The biggest difference would be that I am always thinking about the lyrics and the melody in the course of writing, just everyday life. So much of my life is consumed with the words I want to say and I think it’s a beautiful thing but also a burden that certain singers or writers have to bear.”

Though their sound is uniquely their own, La Bouquet’s eclectic tracks draw inspiration from 80’s post-punk inspired pop; an era of music that was more about conveying a feeling rather than appealing to mass audiences. This is what Sammis and Lopez envision when creating their own music. “A lot of the 80’s music that I listen to definitely feels emotion based over formula based,” says Sammis. “It feels like a lot of the choices were made because of an emotion or a feeling rather than because of what was ‘catchier’ or ‘right’. I feel like a lot of vocalists from that time period used the range in tone in their voice to compliment the music, much like an instrument.”

La Bouquet made their debut just two years ago with their single “Loveless”, and since then have released their first EP, Heavy Sunshine; a collection of tracks reminiscent of lost love and of every night you’ve spent singing wildly in your car. What shaped the EP? “Heartbreak,” says Sammis.

When you do and you can articulate yourself with such duality it is like discovering another facet of your artistry that you didn’t know you were missing. it makes me feel whole.”

“The end of a relationship, really. Depression and anxiety that I constantly deal with, but also knowing that I want to get better and I am motivated. The dichotomy of dealing with all of this negative stuff but not reveling in it. Knowing that you want to take this pain and turn it into something you can smile about. Art.”

Something that doesn’t go unnoticed about La Bouquet is their way of incorporating visual elements to enhance their storytelling. “I think, with any great art, the coupling of audio and visual can be what sets you apart. I think to truly know yourself on both levels is not an easy accomplishment. When you do and you can articulate yourself with such duality it is like discovering another facet of your artistry that you didn’t know you were missing. It makes me feel whole.” The band’s artistic vision is crystal clear in the recent release of their music video for the song “Kiss Me Kill Me”. Sammis says he wanted it to feel like an episode of a soap opera. “You get picked up and dropped in the middle of this movie where you have to put some of it together yourself. I think exercising that creative freedom for the viewer is liberating.”

Though the band and their work are evolving, their incentive to create music has stayed the same: “It was always to make great art. Those were the broad strokes, at least. Peppered in were the smaller more ambitious goals. I would say the broad strokes haven’t changed. It’s all about making great art.” Their passion is evident, and La Bouquet’s music creates both a raw yet whimsical soundscape that is sure to resonate with the listener long after the songs end.

Written by Lauren Speight | Photography by Dillon Matthew