The Bourgeois are an alternative rock band from Tulsa, OK. Musically, the band draws inspiration from a wide variety of artists; the sonic rush of Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, the disenfranchised melodicism of indie rock stalwarts like The Smiths and Violent Femmes, and a dash of aural post-punk weirdness, a la The Talking Heads and The Pixies, are all keys to the band’s signature sound. The band prides themselves on their ability to channel their influences without sounding antiquated or derivative.
The group hit the ground running with their first single, Perverting the American Dream, which was accompanied by a video produced by Delo Creative (The Flaming Lips, Miley Cyrus, Broncho). Perverting the American Dream has since racked up over 200,000 plays on music streaming service Jamendo.
They followed with the Steve Haigler (The Pixies, Brand New) produced album, We’re Still In The Gutter, But Some Of Us Are Looking At The Stars. The Bourgeois have steadily built a following through their energetic live performances, creative music videos, and sardonic sense of humor.
In this interview, we chat with The Bourgeois about their newest project, influences, and much more.
Full Q&A, links, and a stream of their EP Designer Genes below.
https://soundcloud.com/thebourgeois/sets/designer-genes
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
My goal when I write songs is to make music that I enjoy. The genres that we borrow from are the ones we enjoy listening to.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
When I was a teenager, punk rock really had a profound effect on me. Ideally, I’d like to hope that maybe something I write could stir up that kind of emotion in someone else.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Caffeine. Lots of caffeine. I’d like to think that I’m a little more open-minded about certain genres of music than I used to be.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
I’ve been in bands for over 10 years and released many projects, but the Designer Genes EP is easily the best thing I’ve ever been a part of. It sounds cliche, but I think we finally “figured out our sound” on this EP.
What was the last song you listened to?
“Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies” The Association
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Vinyl at home, MP3’s elsewhere
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Spotify. The sheer size of the catalog is amazing. I find great new music on there constantly.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
Patience. Not second-guessing yourself when you don’t achieve overnight success.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram – Our whole catalog is available on Spotify
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
We’re going to be one of the AP Recommends bands in the September Issue of Alternative Press. Snag a copy next time you’re near a newsstand.
