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Interview with
ORCHID BLOOM

(7th June 2025)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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Who is Orchid Bloom?
My name is Jay, I go by the music name Orchid Bloom.
I’m a New Zealand-born & Sydney-based multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, producer, visual/graphic designer, tattoo artist, photographer, painter & more.

Have you always wanted to be an artist?
Since I was a kid I’ve always enjoyed being creative; it’s in my blood. I would get in trouble for drawing on my school books or listening to my earphones during class. I grew up listening to all sorts of music in the house, thanks to my parents, who have always encouraged my creativity. I grew up playing drums in primary school; sometimes for school assembly. I always connected with creative expression, I knew that being artistic was my passion.

Briefly describe your journey to date.
I started taking music seriously around 14, where I taught myself to play guitar, bass & piano. Later on, I studied music over a few years and learnt about many aspects; performance, industry, marketing, production, etc. I released my first single in 2021, titled ‘sunshineheatwave*’. I played my first solo show in 2022. The last few years I’ve spent attending shows, travelling, writing, practising, recording, soaking it all in; to create a new style for myself both sonically and visually.
I live and breathe music, I’m a music nerd. If I’m not listening to music, I’m collecting it. If I’m not collecting, I’m researching and studying it. I’ve always been into music, so learning to be a creator while also a consumer of music has been interesting but fun. I simply decided to pursue my true passion and never looked back since.
I’m also working on my first magazine called Viroid, which invites local and overseas creatives I resonate with, a safe platform to showcase their artistry.
If anyone reading is interested in featuring, please reach out to me on Instagram – @vir0id or @nedy4j.

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How would you describe your sound?
My sound is a textured and warped combination of stylistics I connect with. I’ve always been adamant to sound unique, representing my personal style and interests, while staying easy to digest with an aspect of catchiness. I’m a fully solo artist, so I do everything by myself. Whether it’s writing, recording, producing, mixing/mastering, designing, marketing, performing – it’s all on my end.

Why do you think fans resonate with your music?
I think fans can resonate with my music as being a symbol of independence. For the people out there who are alone, but want to become something.
I want to be an example that you can do it too; regardless of who you know or what you do.
With that being said – I think it’s hard to say exactly why people could resonate with my work. Some may simply like it for how it sounds, or how it makes them feel.
Whatever it may be; I’m grateful for each and every listening ear.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
I draw inspiration from a lot of creatives, so it’s difficult to pinpoint only a few. My artistic taste is forever growing. A notable performance would be Hendrix’s ‘Live at Monterey’, that’s always been iconic to me. The first band I really connected with was Nirvana. To this day; Kurt’s unique style, the way he approached songwriting & performance, all while teasing the corporate music industry is something I always relate to. I’m also very inspired by a lot of my favourite modern Australian creatives; such as Kevin Parker (Tame Impala), Pond, GUM, Genesis Owusu, etc.
They are all classic examples that you can be yourself and people will appreciate you for it.

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Your latest EP ‘Ambivalent Works’ has just been released! What’s it all about?
‘Ambivalent Works’ is my first body of work. I like to describe it as “a collection of ideas & moments in time”.
The project explores themes of solitude, reflecting on past memories or people; learning to grow into a new phase of life.
I had previously made a more soft-psychedelic/indie sound, so I wanted to push myself by creating something more out of the box, exploring stylistics of electronic, ambient, alternative, experimental, dance and more. This was a project I always wanted to make; to showcase my various styles of production.
I did some travelling over this timeframe, so I incorporated postage stamps as the project’s theme. This is paying homage to all of the great people, experiences, memories and culture I took back home with me to help finalise the project.

Describe its origin and evolution.
I created ‘Ambivalent Works’ by experimenting with sounds & instruments over the last couple years. I was obsessively producing, I had made a lot of demos and ideas on the journey of finding my own sound. I revisited these projects and realised how much I personally enjoyed them, so I decided to refine, compile and release my favourites.
The title plays into the theme of indecision, considering the range of styles and genres of the tracks.
I merged them into a cohesive project that I found nice as a full listen, shot the cover on my iPhone, edited some things together and put it out there.
A lot of my favourite albums are instrumental or ambient, so I wanted to create my own spin on that sort of project.
This body of work was more for myself than anyone else. I just wanted to make something that truly represented my style. If people like it, that’s a bonus which I’m always appreciative for.

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What are the signature tracks on the EP, and which are your favourites to play live?
The signature tracks are ‘Pomegranate’, ‘Don’t You Know Better?’ & ‘Fertiliser’. However, I think translating to my live setting where I sing and play guitar – ‘Don’t You Know Better?’, ’Strawberry Jam’, and ‘After All, All After’ are fun to play; they reflect my performing style well. I like to mix in interludes and segments into my performances too; it creates consistency and dynamics during my set, helping transition between tracks.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
There’s so many to choose from. I’d love to perform with someone like Björk, her always eccentric style is a big influence and inspiration on my own.
It would be a dream of mine to play with somebody like Kim Gordon, John Lydon, John Frusciante, Krist Novoselić, Devonté Hynes, Theophilus London, Kevin Parker. I have so many favourites though, the answer for this would change daily for me. I would love to produce for a lot of these artists. Especially 070 Shake.

What are your long-term aspirations as a music artist and how are you progressing towards them?
My long-term goal with music is to create timeless art. I want to make art that outlives me, art that relates with people who see my vision.
I want to be considered on the same level as my favourite artists. I hope one day people will respect me for being an authentic creative.
I would love to be able to live comfortably from my musical work and indulge myself in doing music for my job.
I’m always staying consistent, pushing myself to create new sounds. I’m forever learning new things and staying up to date with the fast-paced music industry. All while allowing myself the confidence to share my music. It’s vulnerable for me at times, but I’m learning to get better with that side of myself being shown.

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With that in mind, what piece of advice would you give to an artist starting out?
Create something that only yourself could bring to fruition. Don’t let any negative input or doubters warp your vision.
You don’t need a team, a big budget, or a major label behind you to create impactful art. In this day and age, if you have something great, you can do it too.
If you have a knowing, a craving to make something, follow that voice and never give up on yourself.
Find the version of your creativity that is the truest representation of you. I feel that’s what makes me connect with art; when it’s authentic.
I can always tell when someone is playing a character; trying to be something they’re not. It comes off tacky and fake, and people will disregard you for it.
For me, creating is all about the expression and extension of my own taste. The reason I like my favourite artists is because they stick true to being themselves.
They’re not afraid of standing out or being different. There’s a quote by Virgil Abloh I love, he says;
“Life is so short, that you can’t waste even a day subscribing to what someone thinks you can do, versus knowing what you can do.”

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
I love performing to a small or large group of people, all at the same time, particularly when it’s involving creativity.
To be able to express myself on any platform is something I’m always grateful for, especially if it involves my own work.
A highlight for me so far, would probably be my first ever solo show. I previously played in bands doing backup vocals, rhythm guitar, or drums.
This time, I played an hour-long set by myself, consisting of covers and originals. The stage was set up on the grass at a golf course, and the sun was setting half-way through my performance
I remember watching these birds fly above me as I performed. It was a big step forward for me. It proved to myself that I can follow what I truly love if I’m brave enough to take those steps.

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What is the one topic you can talk about for hours?
Music.

FAVOURITE:
Album – Too many to choose. Currently: 070 Shake – You Can’t Kill Me. Honorable mentions: CZ-5000 Sounds And Sequences – Satoshi & Makoto.  Pharrell – In My Mind.  Björk – Debut.  J Dilla – Donuts.  David Dallas – Falling Into Place.  Nirvana – In Utero.  Tame Impala – Innerspeaker.  George Clanton – Slide.  ESPRIT – 200% Electronica.  etc.  I’d have to do a Top 50 or something haha… it changes daily.
Artist – Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Movie – A Clockwork Orange.
Place to visit – Japan.
Venue to play – Any that want me.
Food – Fruit or pancakes.
Drink – Water, red wine or beer.
Person in History – Jimi Hendrix or Kurt Cobain.
Tattoo – Toshio Saeki piece.

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Follow ORCHID BLOOM
Bandcamp – Instagram – Spotify

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AMNPLIFY – DB