What are your names?
Tim Bernard, Tom Scofield, and Dan Lopez
What is the band’s name?
Mudflower
How did you come up with the band’s name?
The band name represents beauty from ugly. There is a type of Lotus flower in Asia that grows from the mud known as the Mudflower. Simply put, we love creating something good from something ugly. We believe ugly is required to have beauty. One should use the struggle, the darkness, the ugly, and from there create light.
What is your genre of music?
Rock and roll! We pull from many genres to create what we call “Soulrock”
Give us a little bio about you.
Hailing from the Chicagoland area, Mudflower was conceptualized in August of 2019 when Tom and Dan, friends and band-mates, had the idea of venturing on their own to create new original music. After holding auditions for a singer and guitarist, they met their answer in the form of Tim Bernard. Tim brought a gritty, bluesy, and soulful sound which the band would eventually describe as “Soulrock”. Fortunately, Mudflower was able sneak into the studio before a lengthy lock down to record their first EP, Sleep Tight. From there, Tim and the guys crafted their next set of songs which would eventually be a part of their latest EP titled “Flore”. Mudflower has cut their teeth playing shows in and around the Chicago land area and prides themselves on showcasing their original music in the rawest of formats.
What made you go into music?
I was always drawn to music from an early age. I learned the guitar in my early teens and found my singing voice later in my 20s. Music became a release and an escape for me. I treated music as a therapeutic fix. I’ve always been passionate about music and feel very thankful that I get to create and share music with other people.
Who are your influences?
I have many many influences and they are constantly evolving. But, I would say I was shaped by grunge and blues. I loved the heavy sound of the 90s, but also developed my musical taste and style by hanging out at the blues clubs around Chicago. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other genres I enjoy. It isn’t uncommon to find pop, metal, rap, folk, indie, and many other styles of music living on my playlists. Below are some specific influences I would say were very important to my development:
Pearl Jam, Buddy Guy, Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Deftones, Neil Young, Junior Kimbro, Drive by Truckers, Black Keys, 2pac, Bob Marley, Band of Horses, Muddy Waters, The Black Angels, Bon Iver, Stone Temple Pilots, The Rolling Stones, Cream, Royal Blood, Florence and the Machine
Are you a signed?
No.
You released your new single ‘Another Way’, tell us more about the single.
This song is a straight forward rock and roll song that has a “take no prisoners” attitude. We wanted to keep the structure of this song simple and raw. This turned into a healthy outlet to express our frustrations and desire for change and adaptation to a utopia world. If blues and punk met up at a dive bar, Another Way would be the song blasting on the juke box. We hope the listener will slam a shot of Malort in honour of what we consider a pure rock and roll song. Another Way should be your escape from the uncomfortable.
Describe the track in two words.
Raw, Greasy
Who did you work with on the single?
Daniel Farnsworth and Doug McBride of Gravity Studios in Chicago, IL
What was the writing and recording process like?
The writing process was quite easy. We found a riff we liked and most of the song fell into place. We were very careful not to over-complicate the song or add too many parts as we feared it could take away from the energy. Recording the song was a bit more challenging. Luckily, we had Daniel Farnsworth of Gravity studios give us some ideas to sharpen up the backing rhythm. Also, Tim nearly threw his voice out while singing this song. He was down to his last few takes before throwing in the towel. Luckily, 3 or 4 takes was all it took.
Will we see a music video for the track?
Not sure yet.
Give us an idea!
The single comes from your Upcoming EP ‘Flore’, can you tell us more about it.
Flore is Latin for “Flower or blossom”. This particular collection of songs came at a time when we as a band were growing and finding our sound. We felt we had to adapt and overcome during a very challenging time for the world. The songs were certainly a reflection of this time period. The music Mudflower created for this EP were particularly emotional songs born out of frustration, anger, and loneliness. Yet, the band used these songs as therapy during a very challenging time for the world. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how deep and dark that tunnel may seem. Music saves.
What else can we expect in 2022?
It is very hard to say. Everyone in the band is very busy with grown up responsibilities. We will be forced to manage our time wisely. But, we have a few brand new songs we are currently writing that will most likely be released as singles. The first song we plan to release will be titled “Goin to War”.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
On stage or in a studio. This is where we belong. The real world will certainly hit, we all have families and jobs to support our families. Whether we make a living off of this or not, we will always be playing music. Believe it or not, we don’t expect to make money. We do hope we can share our songs and passion for music with as many people as possible.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Let the song write itself.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
A set list, our instruments, masks, merch, and tip jar.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes, we have most all of it. The accounts we update most frequently are below:
Facebook
Instagram
Soundcloud
Website
Spotify
Youtube
ReverbNation
