Rebellious Rockers Bruvvy
Interview Conducted on July 07, 2021
By Dan Locke
Bruvvy is spicing up the South Florida rock ‘n’ roll scene (literally) in their unruly restaurant takeover for the “U Think This Song Is About U” music video. The track is a trailblazing introduction to the band’s upcoming EP available in August 2021. The video tells the story of vocalist Liz Varum’s emotionally destructive stint in the service industry. The setting is more than just a backdrop – it is the exact muse that inspired this punchy track. The storyline follows Varum’s humble beginnings in the kitchen to the full circle moment of filming a music video in her previous employer’s eventful dining room. Behind the powerhouse vocals and groovy guitar melodies is a universal message of greed tarnishing work ethics:
Liz, you were from Moscow. What is your upbringing?
I grew up primarily with my grandparents after moving to the US in ‘05. I was not raised in a strict household, unlike most Russian children. I never got grounded or severely punished for any mistakes I had made, no matter how big or small. I did receive some stern talks, though. That sort of freedom definitely gave me more room for creative expression, though it completely shattered the boundary that most kids develop between themselves and authority figures. I had a really smart mouth as a kid, I still do.
How did you end up in Miami FL?
My family moved here after my grandfather got sick. The US is the only place he could have received proper care for his conditions, and since my parents worked primarily in Russia, I stayed here with my grandparents and uncle. I’m so happy it turned out this way.
How did you discover music?
My family is filled with musicians, so it was only a matter of time before it piqued my interest. My uncle played every new CD he bought for me when he’d drive me places – I grew up on albums like “Songs About Jane”, “Stadium Arcadium”, “Viva La Vida’, and “In Rainbows”.
How did you start to write music?
Before an art or a skill, songwriting was a means of release for me. When I was a kid, I would get very overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts, and creating something was the only thing that helped.
Liz and Nelson -How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it
Liz – I got my first guitar when I was 12, it was a Fender Stratocaster. I only play Gibson now, but I still have my old Strat.
Nelson- i was given a Squier Stratocaster by my uncle when i was around 12 as well but i hardly ever touched it. It wasn’t until my mom got me my dream guitar, a Gibson Les Paul, where I started actually learning guitar in my sophomore year of high school, so I’ve always been torn on what really was my “first” guitar since the Stratocaster felt more like a prop in my room. My mom would’ve also killed me if i didn’t actually learn how to play guitar after such a big purchase so there was definitely some motivation there.
Liz and Nelson – What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model? And does it have a name, Liz?
Liz – My main guitar is a Les Paul Junior. I’m officially naming him Kenny.
Nelson- My main guitar is a Les Paul Studio
Paula – How did you get your first bass?
My first bass was a red 100-dollar Yamaha that my dad got me. I was probably around 11 or 12, and I was going through a really deep emo phase. Music pretty much became my identity at that time and I really wanted to try to play an instrument, so my first instinct was to choose bass.
Juan – What was the first band you were a drummer for?
When I was in high school, I played for a local metal band named Xempt made up of myself and 3 friends from school. We got our start doing Metallica covers in my school’s battle of the bands.
Liz, you played your first show with a band 8 years ago. Do you remember that day?
Vividly, I remember the venue, everyone that attended, everything that I felt.
Liz – What was The Goode Moode?
The Goode Moode was a solo pop-jazz project I started when I was 18. It really helped me develop my songwriting, though I think I took myself a little too seriously at that point in my life.
How did your band form?
Three of us (Liz, Paula, Juan) had played together in a band when we were all in high school. After going our separate ways for a few years, we reconnected to just spend a day playing together to reminisce on old times. There were no plans at the time to actually form a band but our chemistry was still there and we decided to have a few more practices, Nelson was brought along and suddenly we were playing our first show.
How did you get your band’s name?
We needed to come up with a name so that we could play live. We were all sitting in Paula’s car going back and forth until Liz suggested Bruvvy, it felt good to say and represented us well in terms of the types of friends that we are with each other.
What is messy rock n roll?
It’s in your face, high energy, unapologetically fun music.
Describe your music.
We write our songs thinking first and foremost about how they would feel to listen to. There is a solid groove to drive the song forward, tasty guitar riffs and licks that give the songs their life, and powerful vocals and unique melodies to tie it all together. For us it’s more than anything about sounding together and having each part complement the others so that it feels right to play and feels great to listen to.
What was your first performance like?
We played our first show in the crusty yet legendary Churchill’s Pub. We were opening the show that night and had a great turnout which gave us the confidence we needed to put on a great show. What made the night unforgettable was that not everything went smoothly, but the crowd didn’t care in the slightest and their energy kept driving us forward. At the end during our encore, despite being down a guitar as Nelson’s strings couldn’t handle the pressure, we managed to improvise our way through a song as an unexpected hero stormed the stage and took over the microphone with an unwavering passion that capped off the experience that would push us forward to where we are today.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Juan – BMI
Nelson -BMI
Liz – BMI
Paula – BMI
What makes a good songwriter?
A good songwriter stays true to their musical identity while also crafting a product with qualities that can be enjoyed by any person who comes across it.
A good songwriter can make the listener feel.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
The first original song we came up with as Bruvvy was called NGL, it was a great live song but when it came time for our first studio session, we had other material that we felt should be prioritized and unfortunately, we never got around to recording it.
What is the process of writing your music?
It varies song to song. Sometimes one of us will bring in a riff or beat we’ve been working on, other times we will just be messing around at rehearsal together and a song will materialize over a few minutes. We’ve found that if we are headed in the right direction with an idea, we all seem to know how to piece it together.
Your EP comes out on August 13. Tell me about it?
This EP is ridiculously fun. We knew as soon as we tracked that it would be a summer EP. These are actually some of the most powerful and meaningful songs we’ve ever written.
Tell me about the backstory about your song “U Think This Song Is About U”?
I wrote the lyrics while I was working at the very restaurant where the music video was eventually filmed. I worked 60 hours a week, I was underpaid, emotionally abused by my bosses, and yet I felt like I couldn’t leave. I wanted to capture and share this feeling with everyone, because I knew an experience like this was all but uncommon amongst people in the service industry.
Why U instead of You?
It looks more symmetrical (also cool).
How was it to work with Fernan Lauro Gregorio on the video?
It was a great experience. There’s nothing like working on something with someone who shares the same vision and passion for the final product. The whole crew brought a genuine fire and interest that was intoxicating and that couldn’t be replicated with anyone else.
Tell me about your new release which is coming out soon (Not for Sale)?
It is by far the heaviest song on the EP. It’s very abrasive and powerful – a song about know who you are and what you have to give, and not sharing the fruits of your labor with those who tried to change you, and those who didn’t support you.
You released a video for “Sarandon” a year ago. Are you redoing the video?
No, we think it’s representative of the time that the song was released. It still warms our hearts seeing all of our friends participating. It’s perfect the way it is.
What is your favorite track on your album?
Juan: Personally, I love Not For Sale, it’s a song that just rocks really hard and has a ton of power behind it.
Liz: Not For Sale is definitely the most meaningful to me; when we recorded, I felt like I was speaking to everyone that ever wronged me. It helped me release a lot of anger, and the process of putting it out into the world is so healing.
Paula: Proof would be my favorite. I can’t wait for it to come out. I feel like it highlights all the pent-up angst I had as a teenager, and I think Liz did a great job on the lyrics. I feel like I interpreted those lyrics to mean something personal to me, which is the beauty of that song. I feel like those lyrics can relate to anyone.
Nelson: Fake it! It’s super fun to play and I love the groove of that song.
What are your feelings about streaming music?
Juan: I’m a big fan. As a consumer I love how much it facilitates access to music, and as an aspiring artist I love that it brings our songs to people who may never have gotten the chance to hear it before in any part of the world
Digital vs. vinyl?
Juan: I am a fan of digital mainly because when I listen to music I am usually on the go, but there is also a huge vinyl collection in my house and the richness of that sound can’t quite be replicated on a digital track.
Liz: I’m a fan of digital, though vinyl has a similar magic to radio, where you can appreciate each song more because your kind of stuck with it. The way vinyl teaches you to sit and listen to the B-sides, radio shows you the excitement of finally hearing a song that you like. The chance encounter makes it that much more magic, and it makes you want to sing along.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus is going to affect the music business in the future?
Absolutely not. Live music is coming back full force.
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
It definitely has been for us. It reinforced our passion for what we do. Not to mention, we have doubled our following over quarantine, and we’re coming out of it more rehearsed and self-assured than we ever were.
Whose idea was it to make Sarandon (official quarantine music video)?
It was Paula’s idea. We were all pretty bummed that we couldn’t go through with recording the in-person music video we originally had planned. So, Paula suggested we make one ourselves.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Liz – A lot of cooking. I’m vegan, so creating new recipes is always so exciting for me. Quarantine has been extremely uninspiring in the songwriting arena, so I put that on the backburner for a little bit.
Paula: I’ve actually been doing a graduate program throughout quarantine, so I’ve been keeping myself busy with that!
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
Liz – There is nothing more important than keeping your mental health in check. Reach out to your friends and family, it makes you feel like there’s still a world out there.
Paula: it was definitely hard to stay healthy at first as we were not sure of the scope of the pandemic. I was probably at my lowest mentally and physically, but I picked myself up by making sure I was talking to friends every day through video chatting and going on jogs.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Liz – New hobbies, no. I have rediscovered Zoey 101, though.
Paula: I feel like I tried to start hobbies that have all ended since quarantine has ended. I bought like 12 plants in the middle of the pandemic, but they have all unfortunately died. I also bought a jewelry making kit which has not been touched since I realized how hard it is to make jewelry…
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will includes [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Liz – Create interactive content and sell merch online. I don’t know how many times I’ve used the “Ask me anything” feature on our stories. It keeps you updated on how your supporters are feeling, what they’re thinking, what they wanna know. That’s the most important thing to me.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like playlists on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Liz – It is absolutely still a thing, though in the case of opening up for bigger bands, it seems so disingenuous. I’ve always been so adamant about not tying another person’s finances into the progression and success of this band. We can break through ourselves – no need for an investor.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
I mean, yeah, I would love to see Royal Blood in my living room. But the magic of live shows is always 50% act and 50% crowd.
How was your show at the Boombox on June 26th?
It was absolutely insane. The crowd there is always super unhinged and knows how to show us a good time. Absolute symbiosis.
In the past if a musician stopped doing music, they found a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
Liz – I’d probably charge people to come to my house for vegan dining experiences. It’s a joke amongst my band that I always talk about my mac and cheese, but it’s actually THAT GOOD.
What is your happy place?
Liz – On stage. Second place would be our merch table after a show.
Paula: Definitely playing shows, and then going to this amazing grilled cheese place in Wilton Manors. Nothing is better than that combination.
Danny Wimmer Presents just announced their 2021 Festival Calendar: Which includes the following live shows:
DWP Partners with Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, OH
Louder Than Life Set for September 23-26 with Newly Added Thursday Night Celebration in Louisville, KY
Welcome To Rockville Expands To 4 Days and Shifts from Spring to November 11-14 in Daytona Beach, FL
Aftershock Set for October 7-10 in Sacramento, CA, Almost Sold Out
Would you be willing to play these shows and what precautions would you like to have in place?
Absolutely! Get vaccinated!!
Anything you would like to say in closing?
The most precious thing this band continues to bring all of us is the ability to make new friends wherever we go. Please don’t be a stranger, come to one of our shows and party with us!
Thanks,
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