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1.) We’re super-excited to be speaking today with indie pop band extraordinaire, Boston Flowers; greetings and salutations, gang! Before we dive into the Q&A, could you say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive readers?
Hello! I’m Brad Flowers, creator, vocalist, and instrumentalist of Boston Flowers. It’s great to meet your team!
2.) Major congratulations on your freshly minted new single Man On Mars which is set to premiere on August 15! What was the inspiration behind this gem of a tune?
Thank you! Feel it’s been a long time coming. Wrote the main/intro riff back in 2017, put it on the back-burner for a while. But the lyrics came to me after I started working in NYC. Originally from Long Island, I moved to Brooklyn 5 years ago for work. I realized you need thick skin to work in this city, but I’m a quick learner. Even more quickly, I learned the importance of making and holding onto friendships that elevate you. This song is a testament to that struggle.
3.) Who was the producer on Man On Mars and what did the collaboration between band and producer look like in the studio?
I produce many demos myself. And with Gary Cioni (from Sound Acres Studio, producer for notable bands such as Free Throw, Hot Mulligan, Grayscale), we developed the songs to be album-ready, easily digestible in the mainstream rock world while staying true to my own personal brand of rock roots.
4.) What differentiates Man On Mars from the Distinguished Competition on the 2023 music scene?
I named the band Boston Flowers because it rhymes with Austin Powers, and the single Man On Mars most closely identifies with the groovy nostalgia that I want my sound to capture. I combined my 2000’s rock roots with today’s new rhythms that bop, which people are craving–the return of engaging grooves from disco and 80’s pop eras.
5.) How is Man On Mars similar to some of the past music of Boston Flowers? How is it different?
This is my first release. The music is similar to my previous work in various bands in that it explores my 2000’s rock roots with a more mature sound that I developed while listening to music my parents listen to. They were actually contest-winning disco dancers, so this song is a tribute to that retro groove that lives inside my bones.
6.) Word ‘round industry campfire has it that on the heels of the August 15 release of the new single, fans can look forward to an LP release later in 2023! Can you give us a hint or three as to what we can look forward to with the new album?
You heard correctly! My LP, titled Mondegreen is set to release on the date of my first live show at Arlene’s Grocery in NYC, 9/13/2023. A mondegreen is a word or phrase in the lyrics of a song that is misheard/misinterpreted. That’s how these songs were created. As I listen to music in the shower (typically after a long night shift at the hospital) while my head is underwater, I sometimes hear an interesting riff or chord progression that I learn is really a song I have known for a long time soon after my head comes out of water. However, what I heard was a different song altogether. I jump out of the shower and start playing my guitar immediately, thus creating most of these songs (notably including “Go in the Shower,” the first song on the LP). The album walks you through the journey of a life led through young adulthood, including a series of real-life misinterpretations culminating in the final product of an individual’s unique narrative. There are 10 songs coming from several core music influences including pop, indie, and alternative rock. This includes 1990’s and 2000’s inspired sounds that are etched in my brain from listening to music growing up in those decades.
7.) What does the touring/performing dance card for Boston Flowers look like in the wake of the release of all of this amazing new music?
I have one show at Arlene’s Grocery on 9/13/23, but I plan on playing everywhere I possibly can in NYC, and then extending that radius exponentially.
8.) Who inspires you musically?
I developed my indie rock music style through listening to bands such as American Football, Minus the Bear, and As Tall As Lions. My 90’s alternative rock style was strongly influenced by Third Eye Blind. However, my parents loving/listening to classic rock and Motown hits shaped my early musical ear. And then I learned much from listening to life itself.
9.) Boston Flowers is based out of Brooklyn. How do those roots inform the sound of the band?
After moving to Brooklyn 5 years ago, my writing style grew and matured. Additionally, observing the struggle of other local artists to reach their potential, I was inspired and moved to create. Brooklyn and NYC, if anything, remind me that anyone can reach their full potential if you put yourself out there in a vulnerable way. I’m ready to be vulnerable with the world that chooses to listen to my music.
10.) How did Boston Flowers come together as the extraordinarily tight band that we hear on Man On Mars? Is there a VH1-Behind the Music secret origin story you could share with us?
Boston Flowers fosters a sound created purely from within my brain, however I must mention my drummer CJ Kostaras. His flawless drumming, live and in-studio, really tied together any loose ends. I had these 10 songs written almost 2 years ago and when I decided they deserve to be heard by the world, CJ (drummer) and Gary (producer) helped me fulfill the sounds I’ve been cultivating.
11.) At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving copious spins on their turn-tables to Man On Mars?
I hope this song will encourage its listeners to take on each day with a sense of community, to pursue their passion, and to treat every second of life with utmost value.
