Bloom(ing) into the Punk Scene

Inside an average suburban home in Geneva, IL, students from Loyola, DePaul and Eastern Illinois University fill a room with sounds of chaos and catharsis.

Three-piece punk band Bloom transcends the constraints of distance through their love of making music together.

Em Vela, guitarist, vocalist and Loyola student. (Courtesy of Nasser Rabadi)

Loyola second-year anthropology major Em Vela said the band has metamorphosed since its initial conception in 2022. She said the group originally consisted of five members — all of whom met at the Naperville School of Rock — and fizzled down to Vela, guitarist and vocalist, and DePaul student, Summer Allen, bassist and vocalist.

For Vela, giving up the band wasn’t an option.

“It kind of became like a safe haven for me — because I was going through so much — and it was kind of the one place where I could find joy,” Vela said.

Continuing the band meant they needed to find a drummer. An Instagram post led to Nolan Herbert, EIU student, rounding out the trio.

The three rehearse when they can find time, which is rare, according to Vela. She said if they’re preparing for a gig, the group usually meets only once or twice before the show. But lack of group practice doesn’t affect their ability to perform.

Summer Allen, bassist, vocalist and DePaul student. (Courtesy of Nasser Rabadi)

“It comes together so easily when it’s all three of us,” Vela said.

The group came together to write “D. Bite,” the only currently released song they have all contributed to.

Allen said the title of the song came from mishearing lyrics at a Mannequin Pussy concert where lead singer Marisa Dabice sang “loud bark / deep bite.”

Mistaking “deep bite” for “D. Bite,” Allen said they instantly wanted to use the phrase in their own music. Originally written as a folk song, Allen said “D. Bite” was written for marginalized groups.

“It’s standing up for yourself and not giving a fuck about men,” Allen said. “And the lyrics are about basically biting their dicks off.”

While Allen wrote the lyrics, Herbert concocted a guitar riff that launched the once-folk lyrics into a genuine punk piece.

Bloom takes key inspiration from punk and “riot grrrl” music. (Courtesy of Nasser Rabadi)

The song has an intentionally imperfect production, Vera said. She said when Bloom was a duo, the group recorded their EP “mudd” at Treehouse Records, but the band produced the new track at home to achieve the less polished, more punk sound they desired.

“D. Bite” producer Sam Kazenko said he offered to produce the track because he and Vera were co-workers at the School of Rock. Kazenko said his lack of experience in production was the incentive for the rate he charged — zero dollars.

“Bloom is definitely not a professional recording studio kind of band,” Vera said. ”We really like the DIY sense of it all.”

During the academic year, a typical month consists of one to two shows, according to Vera. She said each member usually leaves a gig with $80, a significant increase from their first paid performance where they each made $14.

But shows aren’t about the money they make. Allen said it’s about the tight-knit feel of performances.

“It kind of feels like a big weird hangout with your friends,” Allen said. “You’re all just running around and kicking and screaming and smiling.”

Bloom aims to make punk more femme. (Courtesy of Nasser Rabadi)

Shows are a culmination of energy exchanged between performers and fans, often resulting in mosh-pits, Vera said.

Regardless of where Bloom plays, Herbert said their goal is to make the punk scene one where femme people feel welcomed.

Taking inspiration from the “riot grrrl” movement — a feminist movement focused on using punk music to push against gender inequality and the constraints of sexual identity — Herbert said Bloom serves as a platform to speak out against the toxic masculinity in the punk scene.

“We’re really talking about issues that matter,” Herbert said. “It would just be really nice to see a scene that is more dominated by girls than a bunch of dudes.”

For Herbert, it all comes down to more women in punk.

Recent shows have ended with girls approaching Bloom expressing their gratitude for bringing a femme presence to an otherwise male-dominated scene, according to Vera.

“It’s a lot harder to be a femme person in the scene,” Vera said. “It kind of feels like they don’t really take us seriously sometimes.”

Bloom is currently working on new music and their next show Nov. 8 at Ashbury Coffee House. Tickets will be sold at the door.