Simon Bromide (aka Simon Berridge) is best known as the frontman of London alternative rock band Bromide, but has now branched out as a solo artist and is releasing his debut solo album ‘Following The Moon‘ on November 19th 2021.
1. Hi Simon, thanks for your time answering a few questions today. You have been making music for quite a while now, since Bromide’s debut album ‘Iscariot Heart’, released in 1997. What would you say was the most significant change in the music industry since then?
The most significant change by a zillion miles is the internet. Suddenly everyone has a voice which is great. Now we just need to manufacture the extra ears to go with..
2. Apart from making music, you also run your own label Scratchy Records. Is it a label that adheres to the DIY ethos of punk, a sort of hub for independent music?
I guess so. I started the label in ’97 cos someone who was kind of my mentor at the time one day said across the desk at ‘The Good Van Guide’ mag where we worked: ‘Patti Smith put out her debut single herself – so why don’t you do the same?’ So I did. I had no idea what I was doing but she seemed like a pretty good person’s example to follow. Then about four years later I met a band called ‘The Rocks’ and that’s when I really realised why I’d started a label and that was to release music that I loved and wanted to share with people.
3. You recorded your debut solo album, “Following The Moon”, at Bark Studios in Walthamstow with Brian O’Shaughnessy, who has worked with Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine and Beth Orton, which I imagine was a great experience. Is there any specific producer you would love to work with in the future?
John Leckie is someone who comes to mind cos of all the great stuff he’s done. Jimmy Page – just because.. but I’ve enjoyed working with Brian a lot, especially on this album so really would just love to get back in there making another album as soon as the songs are written. (2 down so far)
4. Obviously music is subjective and is always open to interpretation, but one of the things that strikes me about your music is how you are full of philosophical musings, troubadour tales and sprightly optimism. Is there an artist out there that you can relate to in terms of style, outlook and demeanor?
Thank you! That’s nice to hear you get that from the music. I suppose more than anyone, Neil Young has been someone I’ve been inspired by the way they’ve done things – particularly his ability to go between electric and acoustic stuff which is also something I find myself doing.
5. Your music with Bromide has often been described as “noise-pop”, “power-pop”, and “Indie-rock”. How would you say your solo album “Following The Moon” compares to the music created in Bromide?
Well, it’s definitely gone more to the acoustic side of things with this record. I wasn’t really planning on making a solo record at all but my two bandmates in Bromide correctly realised that these songs were not gonna be band songs! I didn’t take this news too well at first but now realise it was a really good experience to go off and try new things – plus it also helped define what the 3 of us do in the band and hopefully will do again in the future. Making this record also somehow free’d me up in some ways – just seeing where a song wanted to go without any preconception. That was exciting. As was getting lots of different people to contribute – especially on ‘The Skehans Song’ where I was trying to capture some essence of this great weekly club night called ‘The Easycome’. More than anything it made me think about singing. What that actually is! ..and I found a great singing partner in Dave Hale.
6. What direction do you see your music going? Do you have any plans to produce more solo material?
I’d love to do another solo record and more band stuff! In fact we’ve got about half a new Bromide album already written – drummer Ed has several great new songs just waiting. Though the stuff I’ve been writing recently is more in the vein of ‘Following The Moon’ so maybe plough that one first!
7. We all know that the pandemic has affected people in lots of different ways. Do you think the U.K government has done enough to support the arts, in particular musicians through these dark days?
I heard something on the radio today in fact about the huge number of people in the music industry who’ve lost their jobs during the pandemic – mainly because they fell under the self-employed category. So in answer to your question it looks like ‘No’.
8. Who were your musical influences as a teenager?
Teens.. I’d just got out of my Beatles wormhole – although really that’s still going on and will forever – and after a brief foray into punk I settled on a kind of archaelogical dig back into Rock’s golden ‘67 – ‘73 period. Hendrix, Zep, Purple, Floyd, Yes, Genesis.. the usual suspects. I think this pretty much lasted for my whole teenage years though occasionally something actually current would creep in like Parallel Lines or Scary Monsters.. amazingly a 12 inch of ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ got through undeteceted..
9. James Dean Bradfield, from The Manic Street Preachers, recently said in an interview “I will always be jealous of Nirvana’s Nevermind” (source NME). Is there an album out there you feel slightly envious of or wished that you had made?
So many!! Maybe Love’s ‘Forever Changes’. Mark Eitzel’s ‘60 watt silver lining’. The Doors ‘LA Woman’. Let’s go with Love.
10. So often the terms “legend” and “genius” get so overused to describe artists out there. It’s become a bit of a cliche, but are there any artists still alive today you think have that special quality which qualifies them to be a “legend” or “genius” or even both?
Bob Dylan is both unquestionably. That recent album ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ was a treat. He’s still blinding us with magic.. especially the epic album closer ‘Murder Most Foul’. That’s not a song it’s a whole river!
Photograph credit; Alastair Indge