As Kid Bloom, Lennon Kloser makes wickedly catchy, psychedelic dance music that’s indebted to ’80s pop heroes as much as modern luminaries like Kevin Parker and MGMT, the latter of which serve as two of his biggest inspirations.
Read more: The metamorphic bass playing of Anna Butterss
Today, he’s back with the slick, tripped-out cut “Dead Butterflies” from his new EP, Inner Light Part 1, out Feb. 16 via Position Music. The track deals with the feelings that can leave you numb after getting back together with an ex and sounds like a B-side from The Slow Rush. The video, premiering below, captures a more intimate feel as Kloser strums an acoustic guitar while balancing a butterfly on his finger. It marks another step forward for the LA multi-instrumentalist, who’s been experiencing profound growth by spending more time with himself and reaching toward the light after emerging in 2016. Next month, you can catch him on the road as he embarks on his biggest run yet, kicking off at The Roxy in Los Angeles on Feb. 18.
Below, we caught up with Kid Bloom about the great new track, EP, and dream collaborations.
There’s a real dance-floor feel to your new song “Dead Butterflies,” but the lyrics sound more like an inner monologue. Can you explain the making of the song and that contradiction?
This song was inspired by me having moments to myself, in my room dancing to the instrumental of the track. The words just kind of came out of me — I sang the words “dead butterflies,” and it just made sense. Then, all week after writing it, I saw dead butterflies on the ground around Los Angeles, so I stuck with it, and this is what came from it. Also, the dead butterflies signify the feeling of pity and hurt you feel when you sleep with your ex.
Butterflies also imply transformation. What did you discover about yourself while making your new EP Inner Light?
As far as transformation goes, this [release] definitely feels that way. Even in relation to my last EP, there has been so much growth musically in a short amount of time, so “Dead Butterflies” is the gateway from the old to the new. That’s why I am starting this next part of the rollout with this song and keeping it on the album. It feels like an aggressive release. Almost like I had to get one more out that sounded that way. And funny enough, the spiritual definition behind seeing a dead butterfly is “you should spend more time with yourself,” so that’s what I did.
What got you into synths and dance music in the first place?
I would say my biggest influences when it comes to synth-led music would have to be Tame Impala and MGMT, but the way Kevin Parker implements synths and this dance feel is unmatched.
With your shows starting soon, is there anything you learned from your headlining run last year that you want to do on the upcoming tour?
I learned to do less. Less is more.
Who would you love to work with this year?
Kevin Parker is the dream, always.
