Bottlemoth's Breakout: Exploring Time and Permanence with Debut Single 'Tattoo'

Indie-folk five-piece Bottlemoth has made a striking entrance into the music scene with their debut single 'Tattoo,' released on July 11th, 2024. Formed earlier this year from the former members of Bridges, Bottlemoth has quickly captured attention with their emotive vocals, introspective lyrics, and uplifting soundscapes.

Known for their energetic live performances, the band has shared stages with acts like The Dangerous Summer and Cold Years, and graced festivals such as 2000 Trees, Isle of Wight, and Glastonbury. Their debut single 'Tattoo' sets the stage for their upcoming album 'Even Us Ghosts,' promising a heartfelt celebration of love, friendship, and the passage of time.

Combining their seasoned musical talents with fresh production efforts, Bottlemoth is poised to leave a lasting mark on the indie-folk scene. With a genuine passion for their craft and influences ranging from Manchester Orchestra to The Gaslight Anthem, Bottlemoth's 'Tattoo' is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

1. Bottlemoth formed in January 2024, rising from the former members of Bridges. How did your experiences and lessons learned from Bridges influence the formation and direction of Bottlemoth?

Being in a band can be the funnest thing in the world, and in our last days of Bridges I think we lost that feeling for a moment. Something in our mindset suddenly shifted and we knew it was time to start again. A complete refresh of what the band is; what it looks like; what it sounds like; what it’s called.

Now we are in a great place and working harder than ever, taking our time and creating some of the best music we’ve ever produced. I guess the biggest lesson we’ve learned is not to worry about what everyone else is doing, that there is no rush and pressure should be a positive and creative influence. It’s better to get there happy with what you’re releasing, than early.

2. Your debut single "Tattoo" delves into themes of permanence, time, love, and friendship. Can you elaborate on the inspiration behind the lyrics and the emotional journey you wanted to convey through this song?

This album is very much about growing up and that time in your early twenties when not a lot is making sense yet. In that hazy, we find who we are and our groups all grow together. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, though when you find your people, you don’t have to go through it alone. Tattoo is about those forever people; the ones who you’d move mountains for. Like most across the album, is hopefully uplifting and honest from our experience.

3. "Tattoo" was produced by the band across home studios and mixed by Adrian Hall. How was the process of taking on more production duties yourselves, and what impact did it have on the final sound of the track?

Over the last couple years I spent hours and hours learning to record through YouTube tutorials. When we decided to launch the band with an album in the same year, it made sense to dive in head first so we could craft the sound. The process of writing and arranging without time constraints was a new one for us, and it was tough to know “when is it done”. Deciding on that was the hardest part I think, but we got more to a point where I was taking parts out and thinking “yes, we definitely don’t need my guitar in this one”.

Once everything was tracked, we went on the hunt for an engineer who could really elevate the sound. My brothers are in a band called China Bears and had worked with Adrian on an EP that I loved - so I got in touch. He’s worked with some incredible acts, and that talent and experience moulded our sound to a place we couldn’t have imagined on our own. Very grateful for all his help and time, and proud of the result.

4. Since your return to live performances this year, you've played alongside notable acts like The Dangerous Summer and Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun. How have these live experiences shaped your music and stage presence as Bottlemoth?

We are trying new things live, and are working on an album show that is really exciting. These first shows back have been incredibly welcoming and to share stages with such great bands has been a joy. We are hopefully back on the road later this year sharing the new show.

5. Influenced by artists like Manchester Orchestra and The Gaslight Anthem, your sound is described as honest, heartfelt, and dynamic. How do you balance these influences while ensuring Bottlemoth maintains its unique identity and sound?

We have so many influences between us, and love so many different styles of music that hopefully all those elements create something unique to us. I don’t know if we are chasing a stand alone sound, but it would be lovely if that comes one day. We get some comparisons to bands we love from time to time, and that’s a huge compliment. It’s just as great to be compared to bands we haven't heard before too!

Tattoo is a real driving track, and was one of the first to finish for the album. The album as a whole is perhaps less of a ‘rock record’ than I thought it might be when Tattoo came together, but let’s see where things takes us in the future.

Writing honestly has always been the forefront of our band, and that’s truer now more than ever.