Simon Lunche

Influenced by a solo performance of Eric Clapton's at age five, Berkeley, California singer-songwriter Simon Lunche developed a precocious knack for guitar. Since then, the artist has moved on to become the youngest ever to be endorsed by Gibson, earning a name for his stylings on a vintage '56 Stratocaster. Lunche's newest single, "Cherry Wine", is a testament to his knack for crafting rich arrangements that are not afraid to indulge in soul leanings.

Detailing a dance between two lovers, a charming, sensual romance naturally unfurls throughout the song as they sway throughout the evening. At its center is Lunche's own luscious vocals, producing lustrous guitar licks along the way that help carry the tune forward. Rounding it up is bass from Sean Hurley and backing vocals from Tiffany Palmer and Brandon Winbush, sealing the deal on a brand of music that Lunche acknowledges as "soul pop". Crystalline production from notable Dave Reitzas (Carole King, Barbra Streisand) helps in successfully conveying the right emotions from Lunche and his collective. - Pop Matters

Simon Lunche‘s voice is baked between a rich stack of guitar. “Cheery Wine,” a neck-nuzzle of intimacy, skin-soft and flaky, flows down the eardrums, replenishing the well of romance. He’s a dazzling crooner, bringing his listeners to his knees in much the same way as Justin Timberlake but with a penchant for stinging guitars. He sweeps you off your foot and across the ballroom floor. The candlelight casts an ethereal outline around the lovers’ embrace, and even their breath moves in time with the steady waltz tempo. It’s never a “hopeless plight” as long as Lunche wrestles you into his arms. - B-Sides and Badlands

Simon Lunche does something rare in modern pop music, though there is much more going on here than mere pop. In My Arms is the sound of a man bearing his soul, of being as open, honest and vulnerable as you can be and all in the name of love. It just doesn’t happen these days. For all of the lyrical sentiment and love-lorn rhetoric that pop is traditionally built on, I can’t remember the last time I heard a record in that genre that felt anything other than a calculated bid to win the listeners pop dollar rather than pull on their heartstrings. Simon Lunche is here to re-right that wrong.

It is a wonderfully emotive song, dripping with all of the qualities that made Jeff Buckley’s music so memorable, the space and resonance, the heart and the soul. Forget the vocal delivery, too much has been said about that already and Lunche has his own style anyway but anyone who can capture such emotion and heart-on-(record)sleeve romance in such straight forward musical lines is going to be an artist that you will want to keep an eye on. - Dancing About Architecture

It has been a long time since we had a beautiful love declaration on Music For Your Heart. This is Simon Lunche, from California, with a ballad worthy of Ed Sheeran. Simon composed himself all the instrumental parts of his songs, from violin to cello, from trumpet to sax. In addition to having a voice more than mastered, this boy masters everything. From writing, to composition, from the paper sheet to the final production, Simon Lunche is a complete artist, who delivers us an honest, tender, and delicious track. We can add to this a simple but effective video, by Jeremy Stuart and Sam Rawlins, which shows the artist in what he does best: give us pleasure. "In My Arms" lasts almost 5 minutes but it seemed like it was too short! Available on Spotify and iTunes and included in our "In Love" playlist on Spotify and Youtube. - Music For Your Heart

Move over, Ed Sheeran, there’s a new heartbreaker in town: meet Simon Lunche, (former lead singer of The Blondies), who just released his new single “An Angel’s Love”.
Lunche has packed a near-lifetime of musical experience into just 19 years. Along with taking up guitar at age five—and soon becoming the youngest endorsed artist in the history of Gibson Guitars​—he’s built up a vast musical knowledge that includes composing all the instrumental parts to his songs, from violin and cello to trumpet and sax.
“An Angel’s Love” is reminiscent of singer-songwriter greats such as John Mayer and Jeff Buckley, creating the perfect soothing tune for a nice, relaxing weekend. We can’t wait to hear more! - Independent Artist Buzz

Simon Lunche embraces a sunny, summery sound with the intimate “An Angel’s Love”. Tenderness overflows throughout the entire piece for the melodies have a great richness to them. At times Simon Lunche’s tasteful yet creative arrangements recall the similarly thoughtful work of Grizzly Bear. With a poetic form of lyricism that explores the concept of love and compassion, the song unfurls with such grace. Vocals serve as the soulful center of it all from which all else flows.
Little time is wasted as Simon Lunche sets the tone for the track. Atmospheres linger about with a gentle spirit. Rhythms have a loose, almost jazz-like quality to them while they move forward with a great deal of patience. Yet even within the percussive elements Simon Lunche infuses it with a careful amount of emotion. Everything simply comes together into a gorgeous stream of color, as the whole thing has a stream of consciousness quality to it. Never rising his voice, Simon Lunche chooses a soothing approach as his voice has a great deal of comfort within it. Various flourishes help to further give the track an intricate, almost cinematic sort of quality to it. For the final stretch of the entire piece Simon Lunche lets loose, showing off the impressive guitar chops which give everything a bluesy quality.

https://www.facebook.com/SimonLuncheMusic/

With “An Angel’s Love” Simon Lunche delves into such a rich environment, one that emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and how it can build up a relationship in a most satisfying fashion.

By Cris Folkes - Skope Magazine

Bringing us into the weekend, singer-songwriter Simon Lunche impresses our ears with the new single “An Angel’s Love.” Spending some time in LA-rock band, The Blondies, Lunche takes a solo journey on the piece which prominently showcases his work as both a songwriter and musician. On the new track, Lunche channels influences such as Leonard Cohen and Van Morrison, which makes his lyricism and instrumentation deep, insightful, and gorgeously haunting. With a strong-piano weaving throughout the track, “An Angel’s Love,” with have you head over heels for Lunche. Be sure to give a listen to the track below, and fall in love. Simon Lunche’s forthcoming record is due out this year. - Modern Mystery

Singer/songwriter Simon Lunche has packed a near-lifetime of musical experience into just 19 years. Along with taking up guitar at age five—and soon becoming the youngest endorsed artist in the history of Gibson Guitars​ ​during his time as the lead singer of The Blondies—he’s built up a vast musical knowledge that includes composing all the instrumental parts to his songs, from violin and cello to trumpet and sax. We were lucky enough to chat with Lunche about his new single, “An Angel’s Love”, songwriting inspirations and more…
1. Congratulations on the release of “An Angel’s Love”! Could you tell us a bit about the writing and recording process?

Thank you! An Angel’s Love was a song that I toyed with for a long time. I went through a period last year where I completely changed the way that I played the guitar, and the intro riff from the song was something that came out of that. I had that riff for probably two months before any other part of the song came to fruition. Then one night i was sitting in my room playing chords off of my original riff and I sort of just started singing the chorus. It happened in about 5 minutes. The second I found the melody line, all the lyrics just fell into place. Over the course of the next week I went through probably ten different versions of the verse before finally combining three of the ideas to form the final verse and pre chorus.

In terms of recording, a lot of it was a discovery process. An Angel’s Love was the first song I produced start to finish for this record so I was really just trying to figure out sonically what “Simon the solo artist” sounds like.

2. Any particular person the track was inspired by?

You know, I really want to say yes, but I think that any concrete answer I give has the potential to take away from the listener’s own take on the song. I think it’s really important that I don’t get in my own way, and let people feel the song for themselves.

3. As the former lead singer of The Blondies, what’s the biggest difference between being in an indie band and being a solo artist?

I think the biggest thing would be the added artistic freedom of being a solo artist. The way I produce a record totally changed because all of a sudden I could make use of tons of fantastic players that I’d never worked with before. It gave me the freedom to pick and choose, based on the song, who would best fit the roll of bassist or keyboard player for instance. Since I act as producer, arranger, songwriter, guitar player, and vocalist I’m pretty much one hundred percent responsible for the success of the finished product in even more of a way than I was with the band. I like that responsibility.

4. Any plans to tour in the future?

Yes, definitely! The past 9 months I’ve been cooped up in my room, and in the studio, working on a record. I’m absolutely dying to get out on the road and play some shows. As of now, the timeline for that is all dependent on when I can get my record done, but i assure you, the second it is, i’ll be putting dates on my calendar!

5. Anything you’d like to say to your fans?

All I can say is that I am beyond grateful to all those supporting me right now. I spend every moment of every day working on myself as an artist and it’s incredibly special to be able to share that with all of you. Thank you for being so accepting of me, and for believing in my musical vision. Someday I hope I’ll make you all proud. - Independent Artist Buzz

From Pop-Rock rhythms, to hip hop baselines, the artists performing for the first annual Bay Noise concert on Saturday March 11th had audiences captivated from beginning to end. Held at Slims in the heart of San Francisco, the show was a brilliant display of up-and-coming Bay Area talent. With some help from local radio personalities Jackie Hollywood and Shan Berries from KMVQ’s 99.7 NOW hosting, the show had familial vibes not only between artists, but within the room, as all artists came out to greet their adoring fans after their sets.

The night began with the soothing tones of Gibson Guitar’s youngest endorsed artist, Simon Lunche a native of Berkeley, CA. Although I wasn’t previously acquainted with this artist, he definitely impressed his audience and is definitely a songwriter that I expect to see a lot more of in the future. Following Simon was an artist who is a personal friend of mine, a dance-music artist, writer, and producer, that had the crowd bouncing from start to finish. I’m speaking of none other than Lost Boy from Martinez, CA. Introduced by Co-Host, writing partner, and actual brother OMGKellz, his set began with balloons that spelt out his name, and ended with an ever excited crowd surrounding him in his every move.

Though there were only four artists on this lineup, many were surprised to find out about two exclusive performances that followed the upbeat dance music of Lost Boy. Local teen-heartthrob and rapper Adriel Diaz greeted a warm, welcoming audience with an unforeseen set of his greatest songs. Immediately after, the undeniably talented, the Sacramento-based singer-songwriter Jacy Leanne began to steal hearts with a short set of excellent pop-infused RNB singing. At 18 and 16 respectively, both of these artists have immensely bright futures, and are definitely setup to inspire a generation of fans.

The show continued with sets from 4-piece Pop/Rock/Alternative outfit Silent Pilot, and the catchy Hip-hop tunes of famed Bay Area X-Factor contestant Johnny Maxwell. With a fresh album to play and irresistible pop melodies, Silent Pilot had confidently taken the stage to create a new fan out myself and many other attendees. As always, Johnny Maxwell had also dominated his heartfelt performance, featuring an on-set appearance from local RNB singer Derek King, and his long-time adoring fans mouthing every word to his X-Factor audition song All These People.

Truly a night to remember, as all artists showcased were certainly never to be forgotten. Be sure to follow and check out all of the above mentioned on their personal pages below. - BAM Magazine

Statements aren’t just coming from female-fronted bands. Last year, the all-male The Blondies released Just Another Evening, the title track of which addressed the sexual assault and harassment lead singer and songwriter Simon Lunche said he witnessed at his high school.
The video for the song, which begins with a slate reading, “This video contains content that may be emotionally unsettling,” delves into the concept of consent while illustrating the dangers of rape and sexual assault.
“Honestly, it came out of a fear that something like that would happen to someone I really care about. The way that I dealt with that was by writing a song about it,” said Lunche, adding that he wasn’t even aware of how prevalent the issue was until the video’s release. “It really seemed to give people a voice. People seemed to connect with it, and it made them more comfortable sharing their stories and experiences.” - Riff Magazine

The incredibly talented Simon Lunche just announced the launch of his solo career in the midst of writing this article. Yes, we knew before we sat down to write it, but we had to keep it a secret before the official announcement! After the last performance of the band previously known as The Blondies led by Lunche, we chatted about his music career so far, what we can expect from the launch of his solo career, and his newest obsession with John Mayer. - One Avenue TV

We're talking to Simon after a killer show in San Jose. Find out what he's up to and his surprise move for 2017. - The Fog City Girls

The second band I want to feature is The Blondies. Shift your focus a bit from the 80s and go back another decade to Chicago from the 70s. That’s the best comparison I have for this intriguing band, who bring influences from a wide variety of places including The Beatles. “Just Another Evening” sounds like it could have been written by Paul McCartney. The melody and chord progression really sounds like the Beatles. The harmonies just punctuate it for me. It’s a cool song that you’ll have a hard time believing was written in the 21st century.

There’s a certain “factor” that can be hard to explain in music discovery, but when it’s there I am always taken by it. The Blondies song “The Doe” is one of those songs. It has a Cohen’s Hallelujah element to it. The music is contemplative and meaningful, but the lyric and vocal work together for a thoughtful, evocative piece. It’s more a piece of jazz folk than rock in the purest sense. It’s creative, for certain, and worth your consideration.

Check out “My Love” to hear the inventive character that I am trying to explain. There are some Queen and Beatles elements in this one for sure. The sonic structure is classic rock music with some really intricate chord changes in it. If you’ve listened to much Chicago, you’ll hear what I mean with these guys. I am really excited to follow their career further as they continue to hone in this radical songwriting style. - Ear To The Ground

The enthusiasm and motivation of one Simon Lunche – principal songwriter and lead singer of the rock band, The Blondies – is powerful and true; talking with this artist, it becomes clear that The Blondies will rise higher and higher, building a foundation out of equal parts music and accolades. Lunche and his band mates (Frank Klopotowski, Paul Davis, Jerry Feist, Isaac Roth, Elias Williams) The Blondiesunnamed-1collect much of their influence from The Beatles, and clearly others are taking notice – The Blondies are the youngest band ever to be named Gibson Guitar Artists.

And just because they’re young, doesn’t mean they lack content – the California natives just released their fifth record, a collection titled Just Another Evening. We had the chance to talk with Simon about the music – he told us, “Just Another Evening has been widely accepted by our fans. They got a very good feel for the last year of my life and challenges that I was up against. There is no substitute for the feeling and emotion of what I went through with friends and relationships, and they will see it all. It’s as raw and honest as it gets.” Click to http://www.theblondiesband.com to keep up with these music making machines and check out Just Another Evening while you’re at it. And keep reading. There’s still so much more to dive into in all the answers to the XXQs below.
XXQs: The Blondies

PensEyeView.com (PEV): How would you describe your sound and what makes you stand out from others in your genre?

Simon Lunche (SL): Most everything I’ve learned about song writing has come from listening to people like The Beatles, so the music is inherently infused with little things I’ve picked up from them. In that way the music that you hear on our records is sort of a resurrection of an older sound, with all the qualities of a song produced today.

PEV: What kind of music were you into growing up? Do you remember your first concert?

SL: When I was growing up it was all Beatles. So much so that I can still recite pretty much every lyric from every song off the top of my head. Their songs are super infectious, especially to a 6 year old kid getting into songwriting. They are still by far my favorite band to this day. My first concert was Coldplay when I was 10. I wasn’t necessarily super stoked on them at the time, but one of my friends invited me to go so I went along and had a good time. I was pretty in awe of the size of the whole thing. 14000 people all singing along. All I could think about was how great it must feel to be the one on the stage in that situation.

PEV: What was it like trying to break into the music scene when you first started? What was your first show like?

SL: Our first show! Man that was a long time ago. I think it was a benefit concert for one of our friends. It definitely wasn’t a great performance, seeing how I was about 10 at the time, but I’m pretty sure we still played all original songs that I had written.

Breaking into the music industry is definitely a tough thing. Honestly I think we’re still in the process of doing it. It can be hard not to get disillusioned thinking about all the other people trying to do the exact same thing as you are. The way I overcome that is to make sure that I’m always working harder than anybody else out there. I pick up the guitar in the morning and don’t put it down until 11 at night some days. I’m always writing, always playing for people, always thinking forward to the next song, and always believing in myself. That’s the only way I feel like I can get to the place I want to be in a few years.

PEV: What can fans expect from a live Blondies show?

SL: Well, the live show is always in motion, sometimes it changes from night to night on the road. But for the most part somebody at a Blondies show can expect almost 100% original content, a lot of fun energy, and a couple real intimate crowd moments when we slow down the set for songs like “The Doe”. It’s a fun time! Come out!

PEV: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you step on stage to perform?

SL: It varies night to night but for the most part I’m always thinking about how to get into my zone up there. On different nights that mental process is different, but I’m always looking to get comfortable and find a place within myself that really allows the music to come to life when I start singing and playing.

PEV: What is the best part about being on stage in front of an audience?

SL: Honestly it’s all a great freaking time, but my favorite moments are when I see a few people from the audience who are really feeling and vibing the music. If you’re out there in the crowd singing the lyrics of my songs with a big smile on your face, you’re making every little bit of work I’ve done super worthwhile :).

The Blondiesunnamed2PEV: What is the underlying inspiration for your music?

SL: Always a feeling of some sort. It’s the way I feel about somebody, or something, a situation, or even about a whole period of time in my life. When I write I really search inside myself and try to distill the most pure form of whatever feeling I’m trying to convey. Writing music is a great thing because it allows me to get everything out, and not leave anything that’s bothering me pent up inside. Rather than go to a therapist, or talk things out with a person, I have a conversation with myself through music. Don’t know what I’d do without it.

PEV: Thinking back to when you first started out, do you ever look back on your career and think about your earlier days and how you’ve arrived where you are today?

SL: I’ve definitely looked back a few times, but I don’t like to get caught up thinking about it too much. Truth is the thing that got us here was a whole lot of hard work, and we’ve still got a really long way to go before accomplishing a lot of the goals I’ve set. It’s important for me to always have an eye on the future so I can keep on writing that next song, and making smart moves that will lead to the place I want to be in my career.

PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about you?

SL: Here’s a pretty random one, but most people find it funny. Since I’m usually playing, and practicing all day now, I don’t have too much time for anything else, but when I do have a little time to relax before bed, you’ll always catch me watching some sort of Star Wars movie or show.

PEV: What happens when you hit a brick wall when writing? What are your methods to get over it?

SL: Writing is an interesting thing for me because there’s no formula that works every time. I sort of just sit down with a guitar, or on the piano and let things flow. When I’m just totally blocked and can’t seem to write anything, I usually find that it’s because I’m not allowing myself to open up enough to the music. For me a good song has to come from something real, an authentic emotion, or experience. If I can’t get something real to flow, a song never works out.

PEV: How do you think the industry has changed since you first started out?

SL: I don’t think I’ve really experienced enough of it to say, but definitely the internet has made music way more accessible, and allowed a whole new group of people to start sharing their music who wouldn’t have been able to in the past.

PEV: What can fans expect from your new album, Just Another Evening? What was the writing process like for this work?

SL: Just Another Evening has been widely accepted by our fans. They got a very good feel for the last year of my life and challenges that I was up against. There is no substitute for the feeling and emotion of what I went through with friends and relationships, and they will see it all. It’s as raw and honest as it gets.

PEV: With all your traveling, is there one area you wish you could travel around and play that you have not yet?

SL: Someplace I really look forward to going is Texas; I hear the music scene is super dope out there. Got my fingers crossed that we get to play SXSW this year so we can go check it out. That seems like it would be a great time.

PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your career?

SL: Let me just say, I’m surrounded by the most supportive people I could ever ask for. I’ve been lucky enough to grow up with two parents who fully support me chasing my dreams and doing music full time. When I graduated from high school this past year they were ready to help me in any way they could to start working 100% towards accomplishing my goals. My friends are also pretty amazing. Any time a new song comes out they go way out of their way to tell everybody they can about it, and spread the word. The Blondies surely wouldn’t be as successful without them.

PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?

SL: In the early morning or before I go to bed when I’m not practicing and writing you’ll catch me reading a book or watching some sort of Star Wars movie or show. Most people think it’s pretty funny that I’m such a big Star Wars fan.

PEV: Name one present and past artist or group that would be your dream collaboration. Why?

SL: If I could go back in time and collaborate with The Beatles that would be crazy. I’ve seriously had dreams about that before (laughing). In terms of today’s artists, I would probably have to say John Mayer. His music embodies a lot of the reasons I started playing guitar in the first place. The man is a fantastic guitar player, and he brings a real soulful, bluesy feel to modern pop music. I’m definitely really into that.

PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?

SL: I’m not exactly sure what they’re up to right now, but the other day I heard this great young band called Whitney. I totally dig their stuff, check it out!

PEV: If playing music wasn’t your life (or life’s goal), what would you do for a career?

SL: Couldn’t tell ya. That would be pretty weird though, I can’t really imagine a life when I’m not involved in some area of music.

PEV: So, what is next for The Blondies?

SL: Tour, Tour, Tour! The Blondies as a band, and brand, is pretty quickly approaching a crossroads right now. Two of the members really want to continue their education in the coming years which means that they won’t be able to tour, and really participate fully in the band. We’re all totally supportive of that but it does mean that some changes may be happening in the coming months. What is for certain is that the music of The Blondies will continue to be around for a long time, and will continue to grow in huge ways in the coming years. As the songwriter and lead vocalist of the band, I can assure you that this music is never going anywhere. I’ll be here writing, recording and touring until I’ve taken this music to the whole world. Hope ya’ll join me and us on the ride. It’s going to be fun! - Penns Eye View

Berkeley band The Blondies have returned with their riveting, raw second album Just Another Evening, following their 2015 release Beautiful Lie.

Title track, ‘Just Another Evening’, opens the album. Injected with piano chords and simplistic melodies resembling The Beatles, the considerably high vocal approach sounds similar to the younger McCartney’s. Introducing brass instruments collectively adds an extra energy, as guitar chords back up the dominant sound of the piano and we reach a crescendo towards the bridge.

Decreasing the tempo in next track ‘Sweet Delilah’ is a cocktail of Julian Casablancas and Luke Pritchard style vocals which reach considerable pitches. The powerful vocals are accompanied by a mix of groovy acoustic strums with added power from the electric, whilst drum solos take centre stage at parts.

blondies2
Album: The Blondies – ‘Just Another Evening’
Berkeley band The Blondies have returned with their riveting, raw second album Just Another Evening, following their 2015 release Beautiful Lie.

Title track, ‘Just Another Evening’, opens the album. Injected with piano chords and simplistic melodies resembling The Beatles, the considerably high vocal approach sounds similar to the younger McCartney’s. Introducing brass instruments collectively adds an extra energy, as guitar chords back up the dominant sound of the piano and we reach a crescendo towards the bridge.

Decreasing the tempo in next track ‘Sweet Delilah’ is a cocktail of Julian Casablancas and Luke Pritchard style vocals which reach considerable pitches. The powerful vocals are accompanied by a mix of groovy acoustic strums with added power from the electric, whilst drum solos take centre stage at parts.



In contrast, ‘The Prince’ opens with a much softer yet cheerier touch to previous tracks with lyrics to reflect the tone. Once the soaring vocals return, which shines through the apparent Spanish influences upon the guitar, electric riffs advance the track towards the bridge, before a blend of Spanish and indie guitar work collide.

Again, the mood changes within the melancholy lyrics matching the tone of the song within ‘The Doe’ – a musical form of a love letter. Beginning with haunting vocals, these continue for the remainder of the track. This eerie tone continues into following track ‘Love’s Regress’, where despite there being mismatched guitar strums to the vocals, it still seems to work.

‘Your Eyes’ is most certainly an uplifting track, faster bass beats contrasting with the present piano melodies leaves a positive vibe lingering. Multiple vocals empower the track to its utmost potential, furthered by the bridge seeing an earthy involvement in clapping and simplistic guitar and vocals.

This uplifting track is followed by my personal favourite, ‘My Love’. Showing off the band’s talents and musical influences, the raw guitar riffs, distorted vocals and use of string instruments resemble the almighty The Beatles once again.

Violins are again used in the final three tracks: ‘Long Time’, ‘Everyday’ and Beautiful’ – all of which interlink their endings and introductions before concluding the album overall. All three have a slight shift to their tones, however the overpowering lyrics stand strong through them all. - GigSlutz UK

THE BLONDIES

Young Berkeley mods on the rise and another excellent new Bay Area band to watch out for this summer!

Recommended if you like:
The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys, Finish Ticket, Keane, Ben Kweller

Social Media:
@TheBlondiesband - Live 105 San Francisco CBS

Not too long ago The Blondies left their home in the Bay Area of Northern California and headed to New York City. It was their own Simon Lunche’s first time as he and his boys headed east to play their record release show for their latest, Just Another Evening – which dropped in early June. Before leaving Simon hoped they’d have a chance to check out some of the places his favorites like Jeff Buckley and Bob Dylan once played back in the day. Their release show has come and gone, but he’s assured us that they’ll be playing in their home state throughout September from as far south as San Diego, as well as several states come the fall. Now before all those shows get underway, we’ll talk to Simon about his British invasion sound, where he likes to craft his tunes and more.


Kendra: You often draw comparisons to British bands, but you’re over here stateside in the Bay area. Other than being fans of bands like Arctic Monkeys, where did that style come from for you personally?

Simon Lunche: Ever since I was little there would be British records playing in my house. Once you listen to something that much, you sort of unconsciously take on a bit of that style. It’s funny, people tell me all the time that they think my voice sounds British when I sing, but I don’t even recognize it.

Kendra: An overseas sound but a west coast heart. Where in the Bay do you find the most solace when you want to just get away and work on music?

Simon: Honestly, probably my living room. I’ve always needed to write in a space that’s really comfortable for me mentally, and right now that’s my living room. Also there’s a Steinway grand sitting right in the middle, which makes it a perfect spot to really dial into the music.

Kendra: Is that where you put in the most work on your latest, Just Another Evening?

Simon: Yeah, every day I’d sit right there at the piano or on the guitar and go at it for a few hours. That’s actually something you see in the “Just Another Evening” music video. There are a few scenes where I’m planted at the piano with my journal. Pretty much every song off of the new album was conceived at that piano.
Kendra: Your video for the title track is quite the attention-getter. Just when you think it’s a run of the mill high school party, it turns into an episode of Degrassi with the topic of sexual assault on the table. Always a concern, how do you hope this video aids in that discussion?

Simon: I hope it is a real wake-up call for young people and helps them think more about the culture surrounding them. It’s rare to see teens engage in this discussion and I thought it was super important for me to do so. Music allows for an emotional outlet in which to talk about this kind of stuff, which makes it all the more powerful.

Kendra: Let’s go full circle and explore that Brit-rock aspect once more. If you had to make a mixtape of your favorite British bands, what five songs would have to be on it?

Simon: Oh man, only five? That’s real hard. I could spit out 100 without getting past The Beatles! Let’s see…
“Mr. Maker” – The Kooks
“Golden Slumbers” – The Beatles
“Piledriver Waltz” – Arctic Monkeys
“You Won’t See Me” – The Beatles
“Watching The Wheels” – John Lennon - Golden Mixtape

Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

So Good! We’re currently chilling on The Lower East Side for the New York launch of our new album “Just Another Evening”.

Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Just Another Evening”?

Well, there’s lot’s to tell. JAE was a track that we worked incredibly hard on. From the initial writing of the song, to the production of the track, every little intricacy was thought about. It’s definitely a track that we’re proud of. We felt we were able to bring the older Beatlesque sound that we all love so much to a new audience, and platform. We we’re honestly a bit anxious on release day. We’d put so much thought, and feeling into this track that it was hard to set free to the world. Once we finally did though, it was amazing. The responses that our fans had tothe track and video were like none of our previous songs. Rather than just saying, “I love this” or, “great song” people were writing us huge paragraphs about how the song made them feel. That was seriously special. The song came from a feeling, and to see other people getting such intense feeling out of it is the greatest reward we could ever get.

Did any event in particular inspired you to write this song?

Many events, not one in particular. We made the Just Another Evening video In response to the issues that, unfortunately, are incredibly pervasive in the culture we see around us. As we said when it was first released, the track came a lot out of fear. The anxiety that something like that might happen to somebody we know and care about.

How was the film experience?

It was super intense. Not only were emotions running super high, but we also only had one day to film the entire thing. Jeremy Stuart, our director, was amazing. He kept us moving, and did an amazing job of turning our vision into reality. It was a crazy thing to see the filming progress throughout the day although, It was definitely difficult for everyone to act out such a raw and realistic looking rape scene. We were all totally drained emotionally, and physically by the time we were done filming. We all really gave it our all, and it shows.

Why naming the album after this track in particular?

We felt like Just Another Evening was pretty much the most important track on the record. In addition to the impact of the video, the song definitely captures the emotion of what Simon was going through the whole time he was writing the album. Every song is really a part of thesame feeling, and story. The story of Just Another Evening.

How was the recording and writing process?

The recording definitely took a lot of hard work, and time. Up to this point we haven’t ever been quite so intimately connected to an album. We spent hours getting the tones dialed, and the drum sounds to properly represent what we heard in our heads. Every track was done over and over until we were as satisfied as could be with the result. At times it would definitely be stressful to think about the amount of time we were spending in the studio. Being an independent artist, the whole thing was paid for by us, so every time you do need to redo parts or spend extra time dialing in tones is more money out of our pockets. It can be tough, but we were all set on putting out an album that we were truly proud of. Despite this, the whole thing was really a pleasure to record. Every time you get that real tasty tone to sound like it does in your head, or finish a track up, the feeling is unexplainable. We already can’t wait to get back in the studio in Oakland with our engineer Scotty and start working on the next bigger and better track.

What role does California play in your sound?

Ya know, that’s a hard one. Its difficult to pinpoint exactly in what way California has influenced our sound but there’s no doubt it has been hugely important. When you spend your childhood years in a place as special as the bay area there’s no way it can’t affect you in one way or another. All of the things we have experienced here, and the places we have come to know and love all nurture feelings that eventually end up in songs.

What led you to blend classic with modern rock music?

There’s something real special about dancing through the house to an old Beatles record (and trust us that’s a common ocurrance). Its thestuff we’ve been listening to since we were little kids. We’d look at those pictures of the four at shay stadium laughing and playing their hearts out for all those screaming fans, and we’d say, “god i wanna do that”. No matter how crazy it seems, thats still what were shooting for. Anyway, It became a goal of ours to take all that was special about that older rock/pop and bring it back to a modern audience. At this point, we think it’ll be a refreshing change for the industry.

Where did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?

Haha, thats a real difficult one too. I mean of course we know the answers, but thats usually something we keep to ourselves, and let thelistener try and figure out for themselves. To say it vaguely, the inspiration comes a lot from the experiences of growing up, and learning about what it feels like to be a human being.

Any plans to hit the road?

Yessir! We’re planning to kick off our fall tour in September. We’ll be trying to get to all of our fans west of the Rockies (California, Washington, Oregon, Vancouver, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona). Next up, we’re going to SXSW and hope to hit the southeast. We also have some longterm plans to get to London, Spain, and Sweden. All of our fans over there in Europe have been so supportive of what we’re doing so we really want to get to them at some point. Coming soon!

What else is happening next in The Blondies’ world?

We’re already working on the next tracks, and planning the next moves. Always driving forward towards this crazy goal. It’s time to go 100% and take everything to the next level. We’ll be making waves all over the world. Watch for us, and tell your friends to tell their friends! - Vents Magazine

Bay Area rock band The Blondies have grown up together, working their way up from summer camp stages to venues like the Stork Club in Oakland and Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. The members, some freshly graduated from high school, are navigating the adult world, and it’s reflected in their music.

The Blondies released “Just Another Evening,” a self-described “coming of age album,” earlier this month. The title track is a comment on rape culture and the pervasiveness of sexual assault and harassment.

“Unfortunately, I see that kind of stuff going on around me all the time and I was really fed up with it,” said lead singer and songwriter Simon Lunche, who graduated from Berkeley High School this month.

The band members who are already in college were disturbed by the level of sexual assault and harassment on their campuses as well. The five members of The Blondies, all male, felt compelled to make a statement about it.

While the lyrics in the catchy “Just Another Evening” are not explicitly about the subject matter, the accompanying music video portrays a typical incident at a party. The band members’ friends acted in the video, and emotions on set ran high because the narrative was familiar to everyone, said lead guitarist Isaac Roth.

With “Just Another Evening,” The Blondies join a national conversation that is getting louder. There has been a surge of college activism surrounding sexual assault in recent years. High school students, including a group at Berkeley High, have been vocal about their own experiences. In 2014, Berkeley High students created the group BHS Stop Harassing to educate their peers and to push for changes to the school’s sexual harassment policy.

“People talk about it a lot at Berkeley High because of situations that have happened in the past few years,” Lunche said. The conversation is reactivated when there is a new public incident, but dies down after, he said. The song is The Blondies’ attempt to put out a message that will have lasting power.

The video elicited an outpouring of positive comments. Listeners have flooded the bands’ social media accounts with lengthy messages, thanking them and sharing their own stories.

The Blondies’ plan is to bring the message across the country. They will perform in New York later in the summer, and will tour the album locally and nationally over the next year. Meanwhile, they already have a few new songs in the works and expect to release another album within a year.

“We’re preparing to really go 100% with everything,” said Lunche, who was eager to finish high school and have more time to dedicate to the band.

The other Blondies went to different high schools in Oakland and San Francisco, but all studied under Berkeley-based musician Chris Solberg, a former Santana member. They record at 25th Street Recording in Oakland.

The band’s name is an abridged version of their original, the Artificial Blondes, selected when they all had bleached hair. “The Blondies” is not a reference to that other band with a similar name—but their influences are from past musical eras.

Like many before them, they draw serious inspiration from the Beatles, and the odd and varied noises and sounds sprinkled throughout their songs. The experimental beat on “The Prince,” a track off The Blondies’ new album, is evidence. On the same song, the band reversed the audio files for the guitar part so that the sound slowly swells to a climax then abruptly cuts off.

The band plans to incorporate more unusual rhythms and styles like jam rock into the new music they’re working on, and will continue to explore themes that resonate with them during their young adulthood.

“This album was our transition into putting some intense, real emotion into the songwriting,” Roth said.

Most of the members have been playing together since they were what Roth calls the “littlest of tikes.” They were the youngest band to be named Gibson Guitar Artists. But The Blondies transition into an adult band with its own identity has been an organic process, the members say.

It will still be a few years, however, until they’re allowed to indulge at the bars they where they headline. - Berkeleyside

Sometimes it’s the more simple songs that hold the most power. There’s nothing excessive about The Blondies’ ‘Just Another Evening’ but it induces the sort of emotion that leaves you speechless. - Mytacism Music UK

1. Introduce yourselves

Hey! We’re The Blondies! Simon Lunche on lead vocals and guitar and piano, Isaac Roth on lead guitar, Frank Klopotowski on bass and back-up vocals, Jerry Feist on keys, and Elias Williams on drums.
2. Describe your sound for someone that may not have heard of it before.
Ya know, you wouldn’t think it but, it’s really hard to describe your own music. Try taking The Beatles, Jeff Buckley, and The Kooks and mixing them all up and that’s kind of what you get in our songs.
3. What’s something people may not know about The Blondies?
We’ve been playing music together for almost 8 years!
4. At a really young age you’ve burst on to the music scene. What’s it like to be young?
There’s definitely ups and downs of being young in this business. It can be really frustrating when people don’t take you seriously because of your age. For the most part that doesn’t happen too much anymore. “I get it most when I tell somebody that I produce my own work. It’s like they don’t trust that a teenager knows the ins and outs of gear, and is capable of crafting a good recording. In regards to that, I want to be taken just as seriously as any adult.”(Simon) On the other hand, the upside of being young is that we’re fresh, bring good energy, and have long open roads ahead of us. Lots of time to keep getting better at what we do, play bigger better shows, and release more tracks.
5. Would you say it’s an advantage or a disadvantage?
Despite the few downsides, we definitely think it’s an advantage.
6. You recently released “Just Another Evening”. What was the process for recording and producing that album like?
It was almost 7 months in the making from the time the songs were actually written. We surely worked much harder on JAE than any of our previous albums. We came into the studio with a very clear production vision, and we didn’t stop recording and tweaking until the songs sounded like they did in our heads. We tried lots of new and different recording techniques as well that made this record much more refined than the last. The drums especially. We spent quite a while getting many of those sounds. Anyway, it was hard to finally walk away at the end. But it seriously felt great. We can’t wait to get back in the studio again, and bring y’all some more new material!
7. Music or lyrics first?
Whichever feels most natural at the time. Check out our earlier post on songwriting! We answer this question in lots of depth.
8. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
Our largest musical influence has got to be the Beatles. They’re a band that never really gets old. And there’s always something new to learn from their songs. The writing, and production is genius. Such a blast to listen to.
Non musical influences are pretty much whatever is going on in our lives at the time were writing songs. People, experiences, books that we read, and pretty much anything else that has an emotional impact on us.
9. What’s something you wand your fans to know?
We couldn’t be more greatful for all of your support so far. It means the world to us that you guys show up to shows hyped to see us and ready to sing along. Nothing could be more special for us. Let’s take this to the world!!!!
10. What’s next in 2016?
Lots, and lots of touring! We haven’t yet gone on a full nationwide show spree. Hopefully this fall we’ll start making the rounds. We can’t wait to see all of your faces - Beyond The Stage Magazine

This week, we’re bringing you a slight change in the schedule for Artist of the Week. California natives, The Blondies, are excited to release more new music, but also reflect on the song writing process. Read Simon, The Blondies’ principal songwriter,’s reflection below.
—
People often ask me how I go about writing a song, and the truth is, there’s no one way that works 100% of the time for me. Although, there are definitely a few fundamental things that most always aid the process.
First, let me start by introducing you to the environment that I usually write in. I’ve been lucky enough as a kid to grow up with my great grandmother’s Steinway model B sitting in my living room, so that’s usually where you can find me. If I’m not writing there, I’m up in my room with a guitar. Ultimately, each space is quiet, and comfortable for me, both mentally, and physically. This is important because usually I can’t allow myself to let loose in a space that I’m not comfortable in.
The common question is, which part of the song do you write first? The lyrics, or the chords? My answer is always, whatever feels natural at the time. Sometimes I build a song around a pre-existing poem, and other times lyrics are an afterthought. Both ways can yield the same result. Not one helps me excel, while the other fails. In fact, when I’m having trouble I often find that it has nothing to do with my process at all. The trouble always comes when I am not digging deep enough within myself. If I am not able to access a real feeling when I’m trying to write then I come up empty handed. The importance of pure emotion can’t be underestimated. When I recognize true feeling, and emotion, lyrics and melody follow naturally. Sometimes it takes a little time, and tweaking, but I always seem to know when I’ve found the melody that matches a particular feeling. So, I’ll play, and play, and play until I’ve got it. Eventually, the song sounds to me like the feeling I am trying to emulate. And that’s really it. Im done.
After this point, I usually try to get into the studio as quick as possible to record the track. I like the emotion to be ripe when the song is cut. I know that in a week, or a month I may not feel the same as I do in the moment the song is written. Therefore, the longer I wait to record, the less genuine the track becomes. If I succeed in recording the song while the feeling behind it is still present, I can always return to that track, and be reminded of how I felt at the time I wrote it.
When I re-listen to an album I’ve recorded, it is almost like a scrapbook full of emotions for me. A collection of feelings from certain moments in my life.
So that’s really my process. No formula, or repeated procedure. Only, do whatever it takes to get the feeling out.
Catch up with the Blondies on Twitter here. - Beyond The Stage

For me, being an artist is about showing the world that I’m only human. I’ve always felt that when I give people something that’s real to me, something that honestly reflects on my own humanness, they’ll take something real away from it. I think that’s why I’m so protective of songs while they’re in the writing phase. I don’t want anybody to dilute the work in a way that I can no longer feel honest about it.

It’s sad, and often frustrating to me that in today’s pop music industry many artists have given up the humanness of their art. What do I mean by that? By the time a song goes through a ghost writer, and a big label producer, it’s so diluted that the person actually singing the tune can’t genuinely connect to the song on the same level. Sure, they can sing the lyrics into a microphone. But can they really feel the words in the same way as if they were their own? It is the difference between people like, John Lennon, Brian Wilson, Jeff Buckley, and what is currently on popular radio.

The worst part of all this for me is that it all seems to be in the interest of money. The industry wants the next “hit” so bad that making a pop song has become more about doing what is proven to make money, than letting an artist create something real, and emotional to them. In this way, songwriting becomes a formula. Every song starts sounding the same, all of the lyrics start to relate, nothing is unique.

The way to move past this is to start trusting artists to control their own material. Write a song, and enter the studio with a vision, knowing in their head how they want it to sound. In this way, a producer can act as an aid to the artist, but not meld their work into something that it is not. And, if an artist really can’t do that for themselves, maybe they shouldn’t be signed in the first place. There are tons, and tons of people out there with great voices, there are far fewer that can write, and produce great songs.



Read more: http://www.infectiousmagazine.com/what-i-would-change-about-the-music-industry-taking-control-of-your-own-material/#ixzz4B7gzH9EM - Infectious Magazine

The Blondies are a buzzworthy band who hail from Berkely, California. The group have been making waves and winning over the ears (and hearts!) of adoring fans, across the board, with their infectious brand of indie-laced-garage-pop. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Arctic Monkeys to The Beatles, the group brings a charming twist to the table, honing a sound that is completely their own.

On the heels of releasing Just Another Evening, their upcoming album, the band took the time out to speak with Independent Artist Buzz for an exclusive Indie 5-0.



1. You often draw comparisons to The Beatles, The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys and The Black Keys. How would you say these artists have influenced your music?

The Beatles specifically have had a huge influence on the music I put out today because they’re who I’ve grew up on. Their music has this amazing quality to it that never wears out. Every time you replay an album its just as good as the last. Naturally, I’ve listened to every song hundreds of times. From a musical, and production standpoint there’s just so much to learn. A lot of the sounds that we ended up with on this new record came from studying old Beatles recording techniques. In a sense, the main goal was really to bring back a lot of the older Beatles sounds that aren’t present in today’s pop music and put them into a modern context. You’ll know what I’m talking about as soon as you hear the first track. In older material I’ve definitely been influenced by the likes of The Kooks, and Arctic Monkeys. Although on this album in particular the two big ones were The Beatles, and Jeff Buckley.



2. What was the main inspiration behind your upcoming album Just Another Evening?

Just Another Evening is very much a coming of age album for me. Although many of the songs still deal with love as they always have, they’re much more truthful. Much of it is happy, but it’s balanced by the sadness that accompanies it. There are some seriously dark things going on in a lot of the lyrics if you listen to them closely. A good example of such is the reoccurring theme of fear and loss that presents itself many times throughout the record. What I’m really trying to say is this was all inspired by very real things in my life. Many of which were fairly new to me. It’s a lot about the increased realization that comes along with growing up; that things aren’t as easy going and happy in the world as you think they are when you’re a little kid.



3. Is Just Another Evening a departure from your signature sound, or is it a continuation? Why?

It’s a little bit of both because there a so many different types of songs on the album. The title track is definitely different from anything we’ve done before. The mood is more serious and powerful because of the melodies and emphasis on piano and horns. There are also a couple tracks that sound more like our older material, which is pop-like and upbeat. Possibly the most exiting thing I’ve with this album was the orchestral accompaniment on a few of the tracks. Writing, and recording a string section is definitely new to me. It took the music to a whole new realm. The album overall is a lot more diverse than a lot of records out today, and yet all the songs really sound good together.


4. Starting out as a young band, who has already garnered some great accolades, where do you see The Blondies headed with your new release?

I’m always focused on moving forward. What we’ve already accomplished has certainly been exciting, but it’s nowhere close to where I want to and think we can go. I can’t say for sure exactly where this album will take us, but I’m very proud of the work we have put into it, and have gotten some really good feedback so far. Aiming for the sky.


5. There is also a video for “Just Another Evening,” the title track, coming up for the record. What can you tell us abut the making and storyline?

The new video was a fun one to make. We worked with Jeremy Stuart, an amazing director who truly made my vision for the filming come true. Be warned, this video definitely isn’t happy, and deals with some really heavy stuff. When I wrote the song “Just Another Evening”, and developed the world, it was never really a happy place. It was a lot about experiencing, and coming to terms with all of the very negative things that I was surrounded by at the time. As I get older I realize a lot of things aren’t as nice as they once seemed, ya know? I start experiencing lots of very negative stuff, and I begin to see that it happens all the time. It’s just another evening. - Independent Artist Buzz

California indie rockers The Blondies are releasing their emotionally powerful new music video for "Just Another Evening" today with The Prelude Press. Taken from the bands upcoming full length of the same name (out June 3rd) the song itself finds singer Simon Lunche crooning over stunning piano as the full band builds - it's a classically beautiful song, but even more signifiant is the message behind the song's accompanying video, which can be seen below.

The video starts with a very typical, or in other words awkward, high school house party. In the video Simon runs into an ex, and then the feel-good PBR haze dissipates completely when what was meant to be a consensually fun evening turns into a complete nightmare. Handling the very serious topic of sexual assault, The Blondies hope that their video will raise awareness.

“Just Another Evening is a critique on the culture surrounding many young people today. For me, the song came a lot out of fear. The anxiety I have as a teenager in a rape culture that something like that would happen to someone close to me” - Simon Lunche - The Prelude Press

The Blondies are an up an coming band hailing from California. About to release their new album, Just Another Evening, the group hones their garage undertone outfit and beyond. Drawing comparisons to the likes of The Kooks and Arctic Monkeys the band take a unique approach to the genre, proving they aren’t just a cookie-cutter band.

Simon Lunche’s vocals shine through each note they write, surrounded by steady and ambitious instrumentation from every angle. Hopefully this sets the tone for the new record to come, as I am already impressed; and in love.

The Blondies are here: https://soundcloud.com/theblondiesband - Modern Mystery Blog

There’s a a bit of pop classicism in The Blondies’ latest single “Your Eyes”. “Pop” in this sense being more of The Beatle-esque variety than what’s currently on the popular radio. The songwriting here is sharp and crisp, a perfect accompaniment for the sunny vibe of the song. Lead singer and songwriter Simon Lunche’s vocals are affectionate and sentimental without being disgustingly sweet.

“Your Eyes” precedes the group’s newest album, due out June 2016. For more info on the band, check out their site and listen to “Your Eyes” below. - Leading Us Absurd

The Blondies is a young group of five California natives who infuse classic rock & roll with their own personalities and modern techniques in Beautiful Life, the band’s third full length album. This overtly catchy record is The Blondies’ most ambitious effort yet, and possesses a charm that is hard to find in much of today’s music.

The album’s title track begins with an energy-packed choir of bouncing bass riffs, retro rock organ and electric guitars, and steady percussion, all with Simon Lunche’s velvety voice floating above the instrumentation. Occasional vocal harmonies add more layers to the tune’s very full sound, accentuating the brightness and optimism in the song’s spirit.

“Rusty Sunshine” is loosely based around classic blues form, and its relaxed pace alternates with sections of intense strumming and pounding of the drums. A swing rhythm takes hold in “Green Light”, a smooth ballad in which Simon’s vocals take center stage. Orchestral strings expand the song’s soundscape, making for a unique combination of instruments. This is highly contrasted by the simplistic “Bitter”, an acoustically-driven song that develops and builds its aura until the end.

The retro rock & roll vibe of the album is strong in “The Alps”, with elements taken from many of the greats in music history. Following, “When I’m Alone” and “Where You’re Going” once again demonstrate Simon’s ability to carry songs’ energies with only his voice and a guitar, without being taken over when additional instruments enter.

The album nears its end with “Daydreams”, the shortest and perhaps the most intrinsically lyrical piece on the record. The final anthem, “Our Love”, is a collectively triumphant song that includes a harmonious flute and reflects over the successes on the rest of the album. Beautiful Life is genuinely exceptional, and great music will surely continue to come from these talented band members. - No More Division - Andrew Westberry

Link to online article - Ellis Music Magazine

The Blondies are Berkeley and Oakland California natives. Their ages range from 16 to 18, and they have played music for eight years. The Blondies’ gigs include playing at popular Bay Area spots like The Freight & Salvage and The Regency Ballroom. One of their biggest achievements, thus far, is receiving the Gibson Guitars Artist award. They were the youngest band to ever get this honor. Another big milestone for The Blondies was being featured in BAM magazine.

Their third album, Sweet Nothings, blends jazz, rock and pop sounds, while tackling universal and personal stories of joy, love, tragedy and inspiration. In its simplest form, the album is about young love and the obstacles of inner city life. In its most complex form, Sweet Nothings is about the freedom to have dreams and to fight for them.

Some of the standout songs on the album are "White Girls," "Your Steps," "Let Me In Your Heart," "EWBA" and "All I Ever Wanted." "Your Steps" offers up the most interesting lyrical story, while "All I Ever Wanted" really shows the bands instrumental depth-especially with their fusion of jazz and pop. "EWBA" and "White Girls" tell vivid stories of life's greatest joy and pain. "White Girls" is about falling in love with someone for all the things that make them special. "EWBA," short for "Everything Will Be Alright" dissects all the pain of violence and loss.

All the songs have catchy choruses and fully energetic guitar beats. The guitars are the stars of many of the tracks on Sweet Nothings, but the glimpses and subtle nature of the other instruments, like the piano, saxophone, trumpet and drums, really add layers to the album

The Blondies have an old-school vibe that not only makes them a pleasure to listen to but a group to glorify for their talent. Sweet Nothings has all the ingredients that make music exhilarating. - The Equal Ground

Music
Berkeley’s The Blondies: youngest-ever Gibson artists
March 22, 2013 11:30 am by Berkeleyside Editors

Five teenage boys from Berkeley and Oakland make up The Blondies. They play “progressive post alternative retro rock core.”
The Blondies are five teenage boys from Berkeley and Oakland, ages 14 to 17. They are the youngest band to be named Gibson artists and recognized by BAM magazine for their incredible performance energy and original songs. Their harmonies and instrumental prowess are way beyond their years. The band consists of Simon Lunche (lead vocals and guitar), Frank Klopotowski (bass and vocals), Zak Meghrouni-Brown (lead guitar and vocals), Paul Davis (drums and vocals), and Jerry Feist (keyboards and vocals). They attend Berkeley High, Oakland Tech, and Head Royce.

They did a recent Q&A for Berkeleyside:

How did you meet and start your band?

We met through Bandworks, a band camp in Oakland, about six years ago. At that time we had a different bassist. After playing together for about six months, we took a short break and when we got back together our bassist decided not to continue. That’s when we brought Frank in, who Simon also knew from Bandworks. Some of us were already taking guitar lessons from Chris Solberg, formerly of Santana, so we decided to have Chris coach us.

How did you come up with your band name, The Blondies?

When we first started, several of us bleached our hair, so we called ourselves The Artificial Blondies. As we got older, we stopped bleaching and considered other names, but everyone knew us as The Blondies, so we just dropped the Artificial.

How often do you practice together?

Generally we rehearse as a band once a week. Some of us get together more often to rehearse our specific parts or work out a new song. If we have a show or recording session coming up we’ll get together about five times a week.

Do you find it difficult balancing music with your schoolwork?

No, we all have lots of other interests and really enjoy our music. Generally it all gets done. When we have finals we skip a practice session.

How would you describe your music?

Progressive post alternative retro rock core. It’s darn tootin’ good! Our music has been described by BAM Magazine as being a mixture of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Black Keys. It’s more of a classic rock style. If you have heard and like our EP but hope for a bit more sophistication, our LP will blow your mind!

What venues have you played?

We have played The Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, The Kensington Pub, The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, the Stand Down at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, several benefit concerts, and street fairs (Solano Stroll, Temescal Fair, Chocolate and Chalk Festival, Rockridge Out and About). We really enjoy The Freight & Salvage because the acoustics are amazing.

What are your aspirations for the future?

Our first priority is to raise the money to finish our LP. It has all of our new material on it. We have a Kickstarter campaign right now to help finish our recording. We’re giving several prizes, like free downloads of our new LP, concert tickets, and private concerts for various levels of donations. We have reached 57% of our goal, but need to get to the required 100% by April 4 in order to be funded. We’re also excited about booking our summer tour, starting in San Diego and working our way up the coast of California. Other than that, Frank wants to buy a house in Tuscany, Paul wants to be the first white male president, and Zak wants to live in a self-built cabin in the woods in the company of wolves.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

We’re motivated, devoted to our music, and we want to share it. Our dream is to play live and make people feel good.

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Berkeley Natives, The Blondies, who are all under age 15 are already veterans of the Bay Area music scene and have rocked the stages of the Freight & Salvage along with their share of street fairs, school concerts and benefits. They're currently in the studio with Santana guitarist Chris Solberg.
The kids are alright in our book because their heroes are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Kinks. And of course we couldn't help but notice they are also fond of Epiphone. We can't wait to hear their new record.
The Blondies stopped by our San Francisco Office to say hello. Thanks to Pat Johnson for the photo. - Gibson/Epiphone News

The Blondies are veterans of the Bay Area music scene, and not one of them is over 15 years old. These kids are already Rock Dogs, playing The Freight & Salvage, other clubs and fairs, and playing their own songs. Songwriter/session player Chris Solberg, formerly of Santana, is working with them in the studio recording their first CD.

The Blondies are lead singer and guitarist Simon Lunche; lead guitarist Zak Meghrouni-Brown; bassist Frank Kloptowski; drummer Paul Davis; and keyboardist Jerry Feist. The kids have been playing for six years.

How cool is that? Just when you think rock music is nothing more than over-blown spectacles like Lady Gaga, here comes the next generation of kids weaned on Cream, The Kinks, and The Beatles. Whew, a breath of fresh air. Thank you, boys. To show how small a world we live in, I coached Frank's cousin in high school baseball. When these guys came in for their photo shoot, I was blown away by their prowess.
This kind of stuff makes it all worthwhile.


- Bam Magazine