13 Questions With Derek Bloom of From First To Last/If I Die First/The Color Of Violence
Hiya and welcome, we're fortunate to have Derek Bloom, drummer extraordinaire and we're going to pick his brain with some questions today.
Ryan: Thanks for joining me Derek, guess we'll just blast straight into it. What are some of your musical influences growing up that got you into the type of music you play?
Derek: Growing up I guess there were a few phases. First was Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson, then in middle school punk music came in, bands like FYP, Screeching Weasel, and the Queers along with more staple stuff like Dead Kennedys and Black Flag. After that, I got super into crust punk like Dystopia and Disrupt and from there straight into black metal. I played in black metal and crust punk bands all through high school pretty much until I met the FFTL guys in 2002/2003.
Ryan: What were the first shows you can remember going to when getting into the scene?
Derek: There's a few that stick out. Recess Records did a fest at the whiskey when I was like 12 or 13 that was something like 15 bands for 3 dollar door price. That was awesome at the time. I also was at the PCH club down in Wilmington every weekend through high school even if there wasn't a show going on. It was a really desolate part of town at the time so even when shows weren't going on we would go down there to drink beers or get into other mischiefs.
Ryan: What are your aspirations as a musician in the scene now as a drummer for multiple bands?
Derek: I would just like to be able to spend all of my energy on music. I think through the years I have gone in and out of a lot of professions and I've liked parts of many of them but I am getting frustrated having to split my focus constantly so I guess it would be nice to have the luxury to focus solely on writing and rehearsing.
Ryan: What is the most rewarding aspect you've found when listening to your own music?
Derek: It's cool to see your growth over the years. The records are like a snapshot of you in that time and that is really cool to have to reflect on. See how far you have progressed between the releases/projects.
Ryan: What is the greatest piece of advice given/could give to a fellow musician?
Derek: Just be yourself. You're never gonna be the people you're trying to imitate and even if you get close you will always be 10 steps behind them having to play catch up to someone who is just doing what comes naturally to them. Everything in music is cyclical so If you stay true to yourself eventually what you're doing will be in vogue. Just don't waste your time trying to follow trends.
Ryan: You're a huge book lover! What are you currently reading?
Derek: Yes! I love to read, although that too goes in phases haha. Currently, I am reading The Pine Barrens by John McPhee and Ulysses Guide to The Los Angeles River by U.L. Zemanova.
Ryan: What is your favorite record you've had the pleasure of working on in your career?
Derek: “Heroine” was an amazing experience so probably that record. Just meeting Ross Robinson and Wes Borland, going up to Sylvia Massey's studio in Weed, CA, and spending a few weeks there then going back to Venice to finish. Was a really magical time.
Ryan: From First To Last's Dear Diary just recently turned 17 this past June 29th, with record store day drop fast approaching any fun memories from recording this album?
Derek: I remember helping build and paint the studio we recorded in so it would be done in time for us to record haha. It was a buddy's studio in Georgia and we needed to get it all set up to really make our budget work for us haha. It was a lot of fun. We stayed in an extended stay hotel a few miles away and every morning it was the same few videos on MTV2 Kanye West through the wire, Yeah Yeah Yeahs maps are what I remember the best. Those and the self-titled blink album were still pretty new I think because I remember the guys blasting it a lot while we painted the drum room.
Ryan: If I Die First has just released their split EP with SeeYouSpaceCowboy which sees your debut into IIDF. How did you get the offer to join the group?
Derek: Travis knew a bunch of those guys from his work at 1720. I think they were starting to think about touring and realized that their drummer had other obligations that were gonna make that a difficult thing to get done so they reached out to see if I was interested and I had just lost my job because of the pandemic so I figured why not.
Ryan: What are some differences between being in If I Die First, From First To Last, and The Color Of Violence?
Derek: It's hard really to compare at this point since IIDF hasn't even played a show yet. But that will change VERY soon.
Ryan: The Color Of Violence released an album in 2009 on Epitaph and there was a long drought of new music. You guys came back with Dreadophile and began releasing Halloween Mixtapes and eclectic genre-bending music that has shown many different sides of you and Travis' musical palette. Is the project kind of an outlet for getting stuff out that doesn't fit your other bands?
Derek: Yeah COV has been a project where I and Travis experiment a lot. Over the years we have played around with where we want to take the sound but until fairly recently I think we were still kind of pulled in a bunch of different directions with no clear dominant angle. Right now I think we are pretty close to having a full record in the bag as well as a lot of supplemental stuff and I am hoping to get that stuff out as soon as possible. We are just slow methodical workers and since COV has always been kind of a side thing it didn't feel like there was really much pressure to be quick and just throw anything out there.
Ryan: What do you feel are the differences in social media now compared to the MySpace days?
Derek: The corporate takeover is complete now. Everything is an ad or an attempt at manipulation.
Ryan: Any parting words or potential for future shows/music on the horizon for you?
Derek: Check out IF I DIE FIRST at Furnace Fest and on tour this September. We will be posting more dates ASAP. We also have a lot in the works this year for IIDF and COV so keep checking in <3
Thank you for your time, Derek, you're always welcome back!