After a wave of impactful offerings throughout last year, including his much-loved EP 'SIRENS', emerging artist BermudaCal is back on the grind once again with his dreamy new single 'GOD'.
Lifted from his forthcoming new album 'The Divinity of Doubt', which is set to arrive in the coming months, 'GOD' makes for an incredibly rich and breezy listen. With his dynamic flow layered across a progressive production from start to finish, he is returning for 2024 with one of his most alluring efforts yet.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I played a couple instruments when I was younger, starting with the recorder in year 2 (lol). The school made it mandatory it wasn’t my choice I promise. I then played guitar for a couple months solely to learn how to play Sweet Child O Mine by Guns n’ Roses. Then in year 6 of school we had to pick violin or cello, i picked violin - hated it. It's one of those instruments that doesn’t sound very good to me until you become unreal. I was far from unreal haha. The following year I went in to the music programme and I got given the saxophone, at first I couldn’t make a note but I stuck with it because I fancied a girl in the class that played clarinet. In year 8 my music teacher told me he needed another sax player in the jazz band, when i started playing the jazz thats when my love for saxophone began.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
As mentioned briefly above, I loved rock like Guns n Roses, Pink Floyd, The Who, The Rolling Stones. On the other side I also loved groups like chic. Loved Otis Redding too. Honestly there was so many different music genres that my Dad would throw on when I was younger.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I think it was Appetite for Destruction by Guns n Roses, I loved Axel Rose and Slash.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
To pick one is so tough. One that recently comes to mind because of the video that accompanies it is Count Me Out by Kendrick. Theres a bunch of Mac Miller songs I love I wish I had written, ‘Come Back To Earth’ being one. Mac has been a big influence on my music, probably because he likes to combine a jazzy side to things like myself.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
When im home in Bermuda, I love to make some pico de gallo and a lil bag of tortilla chips down the beach in the afternoon/evening, a beer to 2 as well maybe. I take my laptop down after Ive got the skeleton of an idea made and find a lil spot. When im in a place with beautiful landscapes and just myself I feel it comes so easy. Ive made full songs in a couple of hours down there. Then I just need to come home and record it.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
At the moment Ive been listening to this guy Brakence, he’s solid. I like that new Kid Laroi song BLEED as well. Definitely a bit of J Cole heavy in the rotation too.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Hmm, another tough one. If Mac was still with us, probably him. Right now, I feel my music would compliment an opening for someone like Emotional Oranges or Kendrick, JiD, those sort of artists.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
It definitely ain’t the money hahaha. I think this feeling I have right now, having just completed my first album. I know over the course of this year Im going to be dropping it bit by bit and im excited for people to hear it. It feels much more than the feeling you get with just a single, its a full body of work, a lot of time and love has gone into it. The reception off the first single has been great so far, and although Id say most musicians make the music for ourselves because we love it, it is nice to see the loving messages of people enjoying your art.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Trying to get your music in front of people. You could make the best music in the world but if no one hears it whats the point. The most important messages to me are when people reach out and open up to me, saying they’ve been going through it and they’ve got my music on rotation and its helping them out, even if its just a little bit. I use making music a bit like therapy sometimes, so it’s cool when the lyrics resonate with people.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
One of my favourite things I’ve ever been told was when I was getting frustrated when I would mess up in jazz band solos or something. My teacher, Mr. Kent Hayward, said to me, “If you play a wrong note, play it twice! It’s jazz.”
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BermudaCal's new single 'GOD' is available to stream now. Check out the new video for it in the player below.