By Jana Angeles
In preparation for their Australian tour this week, post-hardcore outfitters, Emarosa are gearing up to what could be the most intimate shows yet. It has been an eventful ride for the band but since releasing ‘Versus’ last year, Bradley Walden has been the right fit with his soulful vocals and amazing talent.
“It’s definitely made me more successful and it’s kinda given me the opportunity to sit back and pretty much look at everything in a bigger picture and see what I’m capable of.” Walden explains.
As a vocalist that has garnered an RnB influence in his craft, he speaks highly of Michael Jackson, feeling nostalgic of his days growing up. Walden claims that Jackson is someone he admires and respects but emphasises that being famous and having a strong legacy isn’t important to him.
“I never really have much of a desire to be as big as he was. The idea of being revered like him is enticing but I started doing music for myself and to kind of get through things that bothered me,” he truthfully explains. “I’d rather continue to do it that way because I think once you start trying to do music for other reasons, you lose sight of it and then you start to compromise your integrity as an artist.”
Before Emarosa, Walden fronted Rock band, Squid The Whale and he claimed that the transitions gave him perspective on what he wanted to achieve. He states that maturity played a crucial part to his progress as an individual and as a musician.
“I think with any real artist comes growth and the person that I was when I was in Squid The Whale at the time was completely different than the person that I am now being in Emarosa full-time,” he says. “You have a different outlook on life; you have a different outlook on what you want to accomplish.”
Since ex-vocalist Jonny Craig’s departure from the band, bad blood is amongst the minority of fans that can’t look past the fresh new vocals of Walden. Even then, he begins to elaborate the frustrations that came along with that and admits that some people will overlook things without even giving them a chance.
“Some people just don’t know how to appreciate the music and move on. If you don’t like it, it’s just wasted energy to express how much you don’t like it, “ Walden continues. “There were people that were so negative at first and once they actually listened and paid attention, they found themselves enjoying it and they apologised for being so close-minded. I think fans in general are too critical of other people’s art.”
The conversation then continues as he speaks about how the back catalogue of albums will always exist and be appreciated but the vocalist believes that to evolve as an artist, you need change. “If the band isn’t progressing as people or as artists – in my opinion, I don’t see the point.” Walden explains.
It took the vocalist a while to figure out his passion for music but since then, it taught him a lot about not working yourself to the point of overkill, realising that things take time.
“I think I’ve grown more patient because before, it was more quantity over quality rather than taking the time to appreciate it. You have to get through a lot of bad songs to get to the ones that feel right,” He says. “I think I’ve grown to the point where I wanna make something that feels more special and timeless rather than just putting some kind of canal for the sake of being relevant.”
Although there were times Walden felt overwhelmed, he makes a point that everyone goes through hurdles in life. From there, all he needed was constant reassurance that pursuing a career in music was something meaningful to him.
“Sometimes it feels a lot harder but those are the moments where you push through and remember why you do what you do. Music is a disease and there’s not really a way to cure it,” continues the vocalist. “You can’t really help but accept that you’re always gonna have that inkling in the back of your head. It’s really a matter of figuring out how much you can take and what it’s worth to you and so far, I kept going and it seems to be worth a lot.”
Tour Dates with Awaken I Am
THURSDAY JUNE 4th –LAST NIGHT, PERTH – 18+*
Tickets available at the door
FRIDAY JUNE 5th – BLACK MARKET, ADELAIDE – 18+
Tickets available at the door
MONDAY JUNE 8th – (PUBLIC HOLIDAY) –WRANGLER STUIOS, MELBOURNE AA
With guests Belle Haven, Renegade Armada and Brighter At Night
Tickets available at www.oztix.com.au
WEDNESDAY JUNE 10th- ENTRANCE LEAGUES CLUB, BATEAU BAY– 18+
With Guests TBA
Tickets available at www.oztix.com.au
FRIDAY JUNE 12th –NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB, SYDNEY – 18+
With Guests Far Away Stables and Dear Seattle
Tickets available at www.oztix.com.au | www.newtownsocialclub.com
SATURDAY JUNE 13th –BRIGHTSIDE, BRISBANE– 18+
With guests Take Us To Vegas and Skies Collide
Tickets available at www.oztix.com.au
SUNDAY JUNE 14th –THE LAB, BRISBANE– AA
With guests Serene + More TBA
Tickets available at www.oztix.com.au
* AWAKEN I AM not appearing
