Premiere: "Strange Actress" by Uma Bloo

Photo by Monika Oliver

Today we’re honored to be premiering the single “Strange Actress” from our friends in Uma Bloo. The Chicago-based outfit of songwriter and vocalist Molly Madden, Uma Bloo was originally Madden’s moniker as a burlesque performer before she started performing as a solo musician with the same name. Nowadays, the Uma Bloo project has blossomed into a full band lineup consisting of Mike Altergott on guitar and keys, Steven Rutledge on drums, and Luke Blanco on bass and keys.

The new track “Strange Actress” comes from the group’s upcoming debut album entitled Don't Drive Into the Smoke. Talking about the song, Luke Blanco describes it as “a piece containing the most quiet of moments; a piece containing the loudest,” adding that “Strange Actress” is exemplary of Uma Bloo’s wide dynamic range. “The drums and bass maintain the beat in lockstep during the second verse without sacrificing the subdued mood. Guitars blare in increasing intensity as the song progresses, overdriven guitars blanketing the listener in a warm, yet heightened emotional state. Uma projects her voice with strength - you can hear her diaphragm hard at work through the speakers - yet it falls into the most beautiful of falsettos as the song concludes,” Blanco says.

The entirety of the upcoming album was recorded over a period of just three days at Chicago’s JAMDEK Studio and co-produced by Madden, Altergott, and Doug Malone. The origin of some of the songs on the record dates back to Madden’s late teen years, when she moved to Chicago to explore her artistic potential and broke free from a conservative and religious upbringing. “The emotions I wanted to express in my art didn’t tie in with my family’s values, but once I accepted the fact that I wanted to create, these songs started pouring out of me,” she says. “In a lot of ways, this album has been in process since I was eight years old without me fully knowing it, unpacking the life I had and what I wanted to build.” While many of these songs have been a long time coming, Madden also credits the collaborative nature of the band and her co-producers with pushing her to expand beyond her comfort zone more than ever before. “There were many moments of trying to express an idea or question without knowing the right language or terminology, which felt lonely at times, but that challenge also created a lot of innovative choices on all of our parts. There was a silent acknowledgement of the very intimate place these songs came from that resulted in very intentional communication between the three of us,” Madden says about the group’s collaboration.

Don't Drive Into the Smoke releases March 23, 2022 via Earth Libraries. Pre-Order your copy here, and tune into the premiere of “Strange Actress” below.

Earth Libraries · Strange Actress - Uma Bloo

Don't Drive Into the Smoke - TRACKLISTING
1. Never Know Me
2. Annie
3. Marguerite's Novels
4. Coming Home
5. Strange Actress
6. Your Pussycat
7. Was I Ever
8. The Actor's Last Question
9. Don't Drive Into the Smoke
10. To Be Vast

ANCHR's Artist of the Day: Uma Bloo

Started in 2016, the Chicago-based project Uma Bloo embodies the evocative and moody narratives crafted by singer-songwriter Molly Madden. Throughout the last few years, Madden has played both solo and full-band shows as Uma Bloo, but regardless of the set up, Uma Bloo shows always feel like an immersive, theatrical experience because of Madden’s captivating stage presence.

While Uma Bloo’s discography currently comprises of just a handful of singles, 2020 looks promising for the release of the project’s first full-length album. Uma Bloo dropped their first single of the year just last week, titled “Marguerite’s Novels,” which you can listen to below. Make sure to follow Uma Bloo on Instagram for the all the latest news on upcoming music and shows, and you can also catch them live at Bloo Valentine this Friday.

PREMIERE: Uma Bloo "Meow"/"Lullaby"

Chicago singer-songwriter Molly Madden has been playing shows all around the city under the name Uma Bloo for just over a year now. This week, she has blessed us with her official debut release, and instead of just putting out one single, she's offered up a B-Side. "Meow" and b-side "Lullaby" combine dreamy and melancholy melodies with Uma Bloo's signature alluring vocals and vulnerable lyrics. 

Offering some insight into the lead track, "Meow," Madden says, "[It] was inspired by desperation, by how deep into self-degradation we'll go to try and hold onto something we think we need. I had been listening to Libby Titus's 'Love Has No Pride' a bunch and around the same time I started noticing how a lot of us want significant others for the same reason we want pets. So it all became very funny to me and I got a song out of it." The b-side, "Lullaby," closely trailed "Meow" in the creative process, Madden says, "I couldn't sleep one night because I was missing someone... I write songs a lot when I am missing people. I guess it wasn't inspired really, it was just another night when someone felt far away."

Take an exclusive first listen to both tracks below, and keep an eye out for the official release on Friday, January 12th!

Keep up with Uma Bloo on Social Media:

Facebook // Instagram

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Thumbnail photo by Asia Shelton