New single Empty takes the top spotBy Katelyn Boulanger
Local Selkirk band The Bloodshots has been releasing new music and making waves all over the world through performances as well as their many award wins. Their latest triumph comes courtesy of their song Empty which took the top spot on the Indigenous Music Countdown from March 21 to 28.
The band has a style that they call grunge, punk and roll.
“We have a lot of classic influences. We love the grunge era— Nirvana or Alice In Chains and those kind of things— but we also have a lot of modern influences. Lots of people who come to us, they like seeing a good classic rock show (with a band) who is really strong in their roots,” said Ben Hodges, the band’s drummer and a Managing Member of The Bloodshots.
Hodges explained that Empty was recorded about two years ago just after he joined The Bloodshots and was finished last February.
“It just came out not too long ago, and lots of people are really enjoying it. It’s obvious that fans really took a liking to it. It’s a little bit of a different speed than what we usually play, we play usually a little bit more of a fast paced rock. But this is definitely on the slower side. Lots of people have been interpreting it in many different ways. Some people interpret it as like the common feeling of when you’re feeling empty, and in more like a depressive state, and it’s more like they use it as an anthem for uplifting their moods. Some have (thought about it as) that rush feeling we get when you’re driving your car and you’re riding on empty at the bottom of your fuel gage, and you’re just saying, ‘Hold on a little bit longer, hold, a little bit longer,’ and just that little bit of adrenaline spike. Some people have connected with that. But yeah, it’s great. Many people are loving our song,” he said.
The song was inspired by the need for change.
The Bloodshots’s CJ Loane explained that, “Empty is about taking yourself out of unfavorable situations. Sometimes you get so comfortable with someone that you don’t realize how happy you could be if you were in a better suited situation.”
The band had been watching the song climb the charts since last December when it first appeared on the Top 40 list.
“I’d like to say we were surprised, but also it kind of wasn’t a surprise, just because we knew we had a good song in our hands. We debuted into the countdown at number 37 and pretty quickly from there, we would jump four or five spots at a time, continuously all the way to number one. We did a little bit of word of mouth and spreading that message to go vote for us on social media, but the fans really took off with it. Generally speaking, a lot of the music that is on that Indigenous Music Countdown is not always hard rock, and so it was nice and refreshing to give rock its due to see it climb up the countdown. We were pretty impressed with how we got to number one very quickly. But the people have spoken. They like it and that’s what matters for me,” said Hodges.
Hodges believes that the lyrics are really what connected people to the song.
“It gives a lot of room for your own interpretation, kind of like I mentioned before, some thought Empty was a feeling, some thought Empty was some kind of goal. People always kind of interpret it in many different ways. It gives people lots to think about and that’s why I’ve always liked that song. It’s sparked a lot of emotion and joy and different feelings. Even myself, every time I listen to it, I take in a very different message,” he said.
He recommends that anyone who likes a good rock song or a song with inspirational lyrics would probably like to check out Empty.
“I think everybody’s going to find something along there that strikes a chord with them,” said Hodges.
Being a band with Indigenous roots making it to the top spot on the Indigenous Music Countdown was a great achievement and recognition that the song connected with their listeners.
“The fans are what’s most important to us, we all share the same common value as everything we do in our band, whether it’s writing music or performing, we do it for the fans. The songs that we play, we choose specifically for every venue and cater to everybody. So even with the songs, that goes into songwriting, we give people stuff that we think that they’d like to hear, and we really keep track of what people are into and in common interests. We’re very, very proud to be part of the Indigenous Music Countdown,” said Hodges.
Up next for The Bloodshots is getting ready for the summer festival season as they are finishing the details for upcoming performances.
“We’re actually going to be heading into Pennsylvania, in the States at the end of April as part of a music conference and festival called Launch. We got invited to come play down there, and I believe we’re the only Canadians that are coming down for that conference and that festival. So, we’re very excited to be going down there. As well, we’ve got quite a few local shows planned, but we’re going to be planning to hit Western Canada on tour in late summer and fall,” said Hodges.
As for new music, there will be a few more singles released this year and the band is planning to bring all of their recent singles together in the form of an album.
To keep up with new music releases as well as venues that they will be playing at, check out The Bloodshots’s website at thebloodshots.ca.
Residents can also check out Empty on Spotify.
“If you’re looking for a song to connect with in your soul, with your spirit, listen to Empty. Everyone, I’ve found, is finding something within that song that sticks with them,” said Hodges.
