Unsigned Spotlight: Mara Bloom
Emerging from Honolulu, deep in the heart of the island of Oahu, progressive post-hardcore crew Mara Bloom stitched themselves together from the island's local heavy scene.
Please list all band members and their roles in the band.
Tyler Hauser – Guitar
Sai Moody – Guitar
Mason Ancheta – Bass
Stephen Erhardt – Vocals
Feid Israel - Vocals
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Mara Bloom? How long has the band been around?
Stephen: we were all in smaller projects scattered throughout the island, but this is the first big project any of us have been a part of.
Tyler: there is a scene on the island, but it’s small. But there is heavy music here.
Sai: People like raves and techno here.
Stephen: It’s indie stuff, mostly.
What’s the origin of the band’s name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Mason: Yes we did. We used to be Meraki.
Tyler: But there were too many other artists with that same name, so we changed it to Mara Bloom. The word Mara has a lot of translations but MegaTen fans will find a deeper meaning.
Who writes your songs? What are the main topics or themes for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Tyler: We all write, dude. We usually start with a baseline riff, write that out, and then go from there. That’s how we do it. Then Feid and Stephen come up with a concept and then write the lyrics and vocals for it.
Feid: We found we like doing conceptual stuff. It’s something we didn’t do on the EP but we had a lot of fun developing the concept for our first album.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Tyler: Periphery.
Stephen: Hot Mulligan.
Mason: Blink-182.
Feid: The Mars Volta.
Sai: Hail the Sun.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Feid: I’ve kind of always wanted to be in a band.
Tyler: I never wanted to be in a band, I wanted to be a producer. I was producing this band originally, but this was the music I always wanted to make and I realized I wanted to utilize it as an outlet. So I ended up joining.
Mason: I was into the whole 2010s scene metalcore, the whole “crabcore” thing… I grew up going to shows and it wanted to make me start a band.
Stephen: Taking Back Sunday, because I love their raw energy and I want to do something like that.
Sai: By the time I started thinking about starting a band, August Burns Red was my biggest influence.
How do you prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc…
Stephen: I drink a little bit before the show to help with the nerves.
Mason: Me too. I talk to my friends and the crowd.
Sai: Kinda the same thing. I kinda just hang around my friends and take a moment to relax, or else I get nervous energy.
Feid: I try to make sure I’m hydrated. I also don’t like performing on a full stomach.
Tyler: We practice every week. I drink a little water, I have sex and I’m ready to go.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Stephen: Releasing the first single of our new album!
Sai: Seeing our first single get released, yeah.
Feid: Seeing that there are other people out there that truly enjoy our music and connect with it.
Mason: Playing at the Republik in Honolulu. Biggest venue in town.
Tyler: Yeah, just talking to other people not in Hawaii. Making connections with other bands and musicians.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Sai: Erra. Jesse Cash is a big influence on me.
Feid: A tour with Closure in Moscow would be amazing. I’ve always wanted to meet those dudes, they seem like they’d be fun.
Tyler: Periphery. Because they play Final Fantasy. And Tricot.
Mason: I’d love to tour with Killswitch Engage.
Stephen: I’d love to tour with Electric Callboy. Because I think it would be fun. I think their shows would be a blast.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Tyler: Thanks for your support. I love you.
Stephen: Come see us when we tour on the mainland!
Feid: We have three singles available, check them out! Dirty Deeds feat. Dylan McBride, Yomi, and Hateful Little Things feat. Properties of Nature! Our first full length album They Who Invite is releasing October 9th.