Merry Cherry Bomb embodies the swirling sounds of bedroom pop, 60’s baroque pop and Motown. Her soaring vocals laid over 70s-inspired instruments in a perfect marriage between the sapphic and the psychedelic. The instrumental and vocal duties fall on Allie Gardner in her immaculate upcoming release. If her pervious work has somehow failed to convince, then let this; an album split into 4 EPs, one for each season, catapult Merry Cherry Bomb into the recognition she so clearly deserves. The SPRING EP will be released on January 17th.
1. How did the band form and what does the band name mean?
Merry Cherry Bomb started after a band I was in for a long time broke up. I wasn’t sure what to do next, I had a bunch of songs but was having trouble finding bandmates so I ended up starting to record everything myself. Being a bit of a firecracker and being obsessed with anything cherry flavored, a friend started calling me Cherry Bomb, adding words that rhymed and once came out with Merry Cherry Bomb!
2. Previous musical projects? How'd you first get into music?
I previously was part of a project called Buddy Love Goes Coconuts, and a Boston based retro band called The Jab Robins. I first got into music I grew up watching Beatles movies, courtesy of my Dad.
3. First concert that you ever went to?
First concert I went to was seeing Bobby Boris Pickett and Tiny Tim at Spooky World haha
4. What's your writing process like?
I usually get with the music first, either on a guitar or piano. Because I record it all myself, I start with a good drum track (often provided by my brother, Ryan) and build up from there.
5. What other artists or songs inspire your music?
I am an obsessive Beatles nerd. I love a lot of retro stuff like 60s/70s, Motown etc and a lot of punk like Wavves, Bratmobile, or Bikini Kill. Modern things like WHY? and Andy Shauf but most importantly was Tame Impala. Especially the album Currents. I thought…or knew that if he could record everything himself and create a masterpiece like that, then I could and would too!
6. What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be it's own thing?
Playing live is amazing because it allows you to reach your audience up close and personal. Recording is amazing but playing live really brings the music to life. and I think it really depends on the song and even the band, I mostly try to stick to how a song was recorded but some songs lend themselves to be jammed out a bit more.
7. Has the band toured? What has the touring experience been, best shows?worst shows?
The band has been just me for so long that I haven’t really been able to play out besides small acoustic sets!! But with the support of my label -Mint 400, it’s time to get a touring band together!
8. What's up next for the band?
A little more than an albums worth of material that I’ve split into four EPs, one for each season! The first, SPRING, will be out on January 17th!! Beyond that a touring band is being formed and work is already going into whatever my second album release will be!