INTERVIEW: Boston Flowers
Boston Flowers has bloomed from the groovy gardens of Brooklyn with a vibrant bouquet of indie, alternative, and pop-rock sounds. Though new on the scene, the group has already captured critical acclaim as one of Brooklyn’s most exciting up-and-coming acts.
Brad Flowers, the lead guitarist and vocalist, decided on the band’s name after spontaneously watching Austin Powers. He played around with words that rhymed and ultimately planted the first seeds of Boston Flowers. Cultivated by his artistic whims, they sprouted into songs, eventually blossoming into a 10-track debut, Mondegreen, released on September 13.
The album’s title cleverly blends the nostalgic vibes evoked by the group name and the record’s thematic roots. The band shares, "‘Mondegreen’ is a misunderstood or misinterpreted word or phrase resulting from a mishearing of the lyrics of a song. 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.” Noisescape sat down with Brad to learn more about the inspiration behind the album, how he used obstacles as flourishing fuel, and where the sun will shine next on Boston Flowers.
Photo by Justin Von Braun
What events or experiences influenced you to start the band?
I’ve been in bands since I was 12 and mostly played bass guitar and did some backup vocals. After a breakup last November, I felt a little lost. I let my idle mind wander and wrote so much music, and I didn’t do anything with it. One night at a bar, I started talking with the bartender— who I’m actually still friends with, and she gave me the push I needed to do what I love. So, I contacted a producer I’ve worked with, and we got the ball rolling. After writing out the song structures, I didn’t feel like I had the skills to do the drums justice. I reached out to my drummer, CJ Kostaras, who I played with in a previous band, Persona, for 6 years. We’ve always had such good chemistry, so it was a no-brainer going to him, and he dominated it.
Are there any unique sources you draw musical inspiration from?
Yeah, there’s an interesting dichotomy between pursuing my passion for music and the world of medicine. When I was 19, I had a traumatic brain injury as a pedestrian hit by a car. I didn’t have a short-term memory for those first two weeks – the doctors weren’t even sure I would have viable brain function. I also broke both legs and spent about 3 months in a wheelchair. So, after months of occupational and speech therapy, I was very fortunate to regain my mental and physical faculties. I was back in school five months later and even took organic chemistry [laughs]. But it did take me a year to get back to music. That experience inspired me to do music therapy for patients with traumatic brain injuries one summer. Now, I’m a nurse practitioner working in a hospital. In April 2020, I worked alongside a pulmonologist – a lung doctor, and it was the most eye-opening week of my life. So, that really shaped and influenced me to write music differently.
That is such an encouraging recovery story; thank you for sharing! What do you hope people take away from your music?
I feel like the music scene seems a bit stale right now, and I really want to bring a different flavor to it. I believe everything you create should come from your core— whatever is in your bones, and my songs reflect mine.
How did you develop the concept of your music video for “Man On Mars?”
I wanted to give the video an old-fashioned look, kind of like the Ed Sullivan Show. With a cool little trick and help from the filmmaker James Morano, I played each role as a different band member. The drummer is CJ; he came up from Florida for the shoot. But the other band members are me playing different instruments I outsourced from some good friends. Then I changed my look and got a haircut while filming to play the lead singer role. It’s a product I’m super happy with, and the song really resonated with me. And like any good parent, I love all my songs equally, but I felt this one needed a moment to shine.
What is the perfect place for someone to listen to your new album, Mondegreen?
I would say it’s best to listen to it while driving with the windows down, whether it’s summer and you're going to the beach or autumn. I love going on road trips during autumn and blasting my favorite music. This is definitely one of those types of albums.
Can you elaborate on your creative process?
After the breakup, I had a lot of time to reflect on my priorities in life and realized music was a huge one. Many of the songs came to me after long night shifts at the hospital. I’d get home and “Go in the Shower”— the name of the first song— and listen to music. Whenever my head was submerged underwater, I thought I heard the melody of whatever song was playing, but when I came out, I realized it was something completely original. So I’d jump out of the shower and start writing.
Do you have any remarkable or memorable moments from writing?
Nature was another big muse for me. My mom’s family has acres of land by a lake in upstate New York with these cabins and cottages they built; it’s just beautiful. We went to my aunt’s house up there last year, and I wrote most of the lyrics for “Go in the Shower” during that time. The line, “patches of purple astor and marigolds,” was inspired by these beautiful huge patches and fields of purple aster and golden rod— not marigold, but marigold sounded better phonetically.
How does “Go in the Shower” set the tone for the rest of the record?
The song is really just a testament to my procrastination. Sometimes, it’s hard to get the day going, and to me, getting in the shower signifies that you’re ready to start the day. The song’s lyrics explore what happens when you break out of that procrastination shell and get things done – something I think we can all relate to.
What can we expect next from Boston Flowers? Is there anything you’re excited about?
I’m excited to play another show at the Paramount in Long Island in a few weeks and at Arlene's Grocery again in November. I’m also working on new music and am well into finishing another 10 songs. My family was recently upstate again to celebrate my mom’s birthday, and it was so nice to relive the cabin days. I wrote some new lyrics while I was there, so that experience will shine through in the new stuff I’m working on. I definitely plan to release another record around this same time next year.
WHERE TO FIND BOSTON FLOWERS
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