After spending the best part of 2020 teasing us with a stream of bold and enticing alt-pop offerings, US artist Angela Jane Bachmann has now returned to deliver her highly-anticipated new album 'Uncommon Likeness'.
Blending a mix of broad and captivating aesthetics such as soul, pop, and psych-rock throughout, 'Uncommon Likeness' makes for a wonderfully warm and textured listen. Filled with an array of lofty ideals, sweeping melodies, and her own hypnotic vocals at the helm, this new collection cements her as a true talent rising on the new music scene right now.
So with the new album out now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I fell in love with was the voice. I grew up in a family where everyone sang, no one was trained in any way, but they all sang well, then I started to teach myself piano, which I loved for many years.
What was the first song that inspired you to make music?
I can’t pinpoint the first song to inspire me particularly, but I do remember the people that encouraged me to try. It was actually members of the band ‘Portugal, the Man’, who I was friends with. I had expressed my desire to write, but my fear of doing it, and I remember them saying I should move past the fear and just do it. It was sort of the push I needed to just try.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
I was really into hip-hop, Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, and also really into emo stuff like Bright Eyes, Elliot Smith, and Cursive. Growing up in Denver, Colorado, a lot of great music would travel through from all over the world, so I was lucky to sort of get to see so many bands play.
What do you find is the best environment for inspiration for your music?
It’s funny because I’ve found inspiration in all sorts of ways. When I moved to Northern California, and was around a lot more nature and solitude, I was inspired by those things, but my music was a lot more mellow. When I came back to Long Beach, and lived above a train station, I would be inspired by music coming from people’s boomboxes, and the sounds coming from people’s cars. Long Beach has a feel, and it definitely inspires my music, subconsciously and consciously. This album I just released ‘Uncommon Likeness’ was really inspired by the return to the city, specficially the chaos of Los Angeles.
Who are your favourite artists you’ve been listening to at the moment?
Sault, The Marias, Kendrick Lamar.
How many songs have you written about people in your life?
Ahhh, who knows, maybe 5 or so? This most recent record is more about larger life contemplations than a specific person.
What’s been one of the most unusual moments in your career?
I think one of the defining moments was hanging out with my friend’s friends who has a 2 year old. I just had released the record ‘Uncommon Likeness’, and their 2 year old is super into one of the songs on the record, ‘Boys Klub’. She makes her parents play it over and over again. I think seeing someone so little react to your music and having it be their first favourite song isn’t something I thought I would get to witness in person, ever.
If you could open up for anyone in the world who would it be?
Bjork in Iceland, or Thundercat in Los Angeles, Erykah Badu anywhere.
If you weren’t a musician what other path would you have taken?
Filmmaker, its very excavating and magical to work with films, I think making music videos made me realise how much I love them.
Whats the best piece of advice you received as a musician?
That all your work is a part of the legacy of your work. Even if the project doesn’t really get opportunities, or you loose money in the process of making it, as long as it is work you feel you are proud of, ultimately It’s a part of your catalogue of creation. Every little failure doesn’t mean anything if you think the work is good, and to keep working forward towards still creating more and better work in the long run. I think it sort of determines the lifelong musicians from the ones wanting to make something for accolades. Having a big beautiful catalogue of work is pretty amazing.
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Angela Jane Bachmann's new album 'Uncommon Likeness' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in full via the player below.