Recently, we got the chance to review ‘Underbelly‘ by the LA-based pop artist single, Joyeur. Her controversial style besides a unique talent were capable to make us curious to know more about her. Let’s find out!

How did you get inspired to write “Underbelly”?

I wrote this song in response to a very painful moment in my life where I felt terrified of exposing my flaws, traumas, and insecurities within a relationship. I had to face some serious abandonment issues and writing this song was my therapy and process of letting that fear go.

Which skills do you have that help you in singing and songwriting?

I think that the most critical skill an artist can have is to allow yourself to create. It takes practice, consistency, and courage to let it come out without critiquing during the process. That’s a skill I’ve developed that helps the ideas flow freely from a pure place. I can be what I call a “lethal perfectionist”, but I’ve learned to sit down and do my work, then let the critic come into the room. This sort of applies to my voice too. Let it come out with flaws and all.

Don’t miss our review here.

Tell me more in depth about the creative process while writing the lyrics?

I like to read a lot of poetry while I’m in the writing mode to infuse my mind with feelings and images that inspire me. For this album, I was constantly jotting down notes about my emotion experience and words that stuck with me. I would really savor the concepts that shook me and let them trigger my own ideas.

Did you collaborate with someone else?

I began recording music with my long-time producer and friend Anna Feller in 2018. She produced my debut album ‘How to Love Yourself and Not Destroy Everything’ with some support from Coke Youngblood, davOmakesbeats, and Vampsy.

Who do you want or plan to collaborate with next?

I’m always excited to see female producers—as sad as that is in 2022—but there really isn’t a lot of representation of women in the music industry on the technical side. I’d love to get in a room with Kito, Empress Of, TOKiMONSTA, Grimes, St. Vincent, Doja Cat, Kelly Lee Owens. Really digging Gosford and Jamie xx too. And my ultimate creator crush would be LCD Soundsystem/James Murphy.

Did you feel unsure about the nudity seen at the end; did you feel that it might create controversiality?

I was super nervous the day before shooting. I grew up in a religious household and have received mixed reviews from people I love about revealing my body. It’s so hard to break that indoctrination even as an adult, but this wasn’t about being sexy—not that there’s anything wrong with that!—it was about really capturing that moment of vulnerability and the massive fear that can come with exposing yourself. No regrets.

Tell your fans more about your influences.

I love such a broad range of music, but I grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Motown music, Celine Dion and The Police. These were the people who taught me to sing and love R&B and pop music. I used to just sit with my karaoke machine and try to emulate Michael and Stevie’s voices. I started loving more electronic music later in life.

Finally, what plans do you have for the next period?

After 2 years of not being able to play live shows, I’m really itching to perform and meet new fans and friends. I release my debut album ‘How to Love Yourself and Not Destroy Everything’ on May 25th and perform live at Kiss Kiss Bang Bang here in L.A. on June 1st. Tickets can be bought here.

Don’t miss our review here.

Bloomfield Machine is the alter ego of the gifted musician Brian Kassan. He wrote, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered his 5th and latest release, “Joyology.” He combines Indie Rock and Electronic music, resulting in a mastered work with both bright and dark ambiance. In the interview, we’ll get to know the multi-talented musician and dig deeper with him into his album and his upcoming plans.

First things first! How did you come up with the name “Bloomfield Machine” for your musical project?

I was working for Staples in their Corporate office back in 2007. I sat in a cubicle and took large orders from various businesses around the country who ordered office supplies. My first territory was accounts opened in New Mexico and a business in Bloomfield—a machine shop. Bloomfield Machine—I made a mental note that when or if I could get my dream of an instrumental progressive kind of project—that would be the name. After years of trying to find bandmates and as recording technology became less expensive with a home set up—-Bloomfield Machine was born. I like the blend of technology/biology that the name implies—me and the computer!

What inspired you to pick your first instrument and start playing for the very first time? And what was it?

My Mom won a piano on a game show in the early 70’s. My parents decided to give me piano lessons at that time, I was 7. I studied classical piano with several teachers for about 10 years. When I was 14 or so, I had also picked up the guitar—learning Beatles tunes of course. I’m so grateful to be able to play piano, guitar, bass and program drum sounds/loops. The classical background, the amazing collection of 60s albums my parents had in their collection along with listening to the golden age of 70s am radio in Los Angeles, my ear for strong melody was tickled from the very start.

How did you decide that blending Rock and Electronic is your niche? Why those two genres?

Bloomfield Machine was originally in my mind as a progressive rock band like Yes, Genesis, etc. I tried for many years to get musician friends to join me, but many of my friends went on to form their own bands, or tour. Not to mention that progressive rock was not a ticket to anything past the mid-1980s unless you had started in the 1960s. I also am a huge fan of electronic music starting in the 70s/80s like Gary Numan, New Order, Depeche Mode, Ultravox, Bowie, Brian Eno all the way to today—Tycho, Boards of Canada, AmonTobin, Casino vs Japan, Flying Lotus, Tobacco, Pilotredsky, Lone etc. I’ve also been into experimental math rock, glitchy and noise based music too! So Bloomfield Machine became my home one-man-band project which incorporates rock, electronic, pop, ambient, industrial, cinematic elements that I think are uniquely me. Having a foot in the past and the current styles, my music is a hybrid of all my influences. I never consciously plan what I’m going to do—it just channels through…

Do you have a usual writing process? Or does it depend on what you’re crafting?

For Bloomfield Machine, I started by writing things on a little Casio MT-68 (a great little 80s analog keyboard with some decent sounds). I like to watch nature videos/tv while fiddling around on the keyboard or a guitar and pay half-attention to the screen and instrument. I find that great ideas tend to come out that way on a rather consistent basis. Also, I like to find or create an interesting drum or glitchy loop to use as the starting point. Then I just go in search through all the interesting sounds and plug ins or odd instruments I have lying around and just use the sounds as a basis for inspiration. I spend a lot of time modifying the sounds to make them my own. I try not to use the same sounds which keeps it interesting for me and hopefully the listener.

Would you walk us through the making of your first album, “Joyology”?

Actually, this is my 5th album in the past 5 years! They are all on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. I’ve been totally immersed in making tracks since I dove into my first album “Arguing with Success” which came out in 2017. I am always working on a track these days—it’s an essential part of my mental health and brings meaning to my life.

Album Review: Joyology by Bloomfield Machine

The 18 tracks range from bright to dark, dreamy to noisy, and convey a wide range of emotions. It’s remarkable! Do you naturally transition from one state to another, or do you find it challenging to conjure opposing emotions?

Thanks..I guess these are all the emotions that express through my subconscious. I don’t really plan on writing with a specific tone in mind. I just let it emerge, lean into it and not think too much about it. I can say that I do tend to make them short—once I’ve made a musical statement, I get bored repeating it too many times unless it hypnotizes me too! Friends ask me about that—“are these full songs?” to which I reply “yes.” I grew up listening to 2-3 minute pop songs, so I guess that also informs the length of my tracks.

As a musician, you have a natural ability to express yourself. If you weren’t, what do you think you’d be doing to get it out of your system?

Drawing, painting, writing. Someday very soon, I want to spend more time doing that as well.

Would you tell us about your future plans?

As much as i’d like to think I could gain a big enough audience to perform live, it’s a real challenge for me to spend time marketing, and learning the ins and outs of social media. I much prefer to be creating. I’m grateful to writers/fans such as yourself that enjoy what i’m doing and are helping to spread the word. I will just continue to create without too much expectation for as long as i can!

Thank you for your time! Care to give us and your fans a last word?

Thanks again for giving Bloomfield Machine/Joyology a deep, thoughtful listen and helping me to find more fans. I hope everyone will give my other previous albums a listen too! I’m very proud of my work as Bloomfield Machine. I think my previous albums are every bit as good as Joyology and probably not yet heard or discovered! And lastly, I’m hoping for peace in the world and within ourselves. Music is a language that we all share in common.