We spoke with Bellhead about “Threats” and more!

Q: Bellhead has been described as blending post-punk, goth, industrial, and dance-punk elements. How do you manage to keep your sound cohesive while pulling from such diverse genres?

Ivan – There is a way that Karen and I play off each other that sounds like us. When we do a cover it still sounds like BELLHEAD. Our fingerprints are dirty and they are all over everything we touch. I do not want to write the same song twice so I keep moving. My concern is writing the best songs we can that we are excited about whatever shape they take.

Q: Your dual bass setup is pretty unconventional. What inspired you to build your sound around two bass guitars instead of the typical guitar/bass pairing?

Ivan – We are both bass players and there was never any question about giving up our preferred weapon of choice. Karen plays low and I play mid high. Not dissimilar to playing a piano with two hands. Plenty of bands have two or even three guitars and no one seems to pay it any mind. Two basses come naturally to us.

Q: The energy and atmosphere in your live shows are highly praised. What’s your approach to creating such an immersive experience on stage?

Ivan – We are first and foremost a live band. We live and die on that stage. I want to engage with each and every member of the audience both collectively and individually. If I can see them in the crowd I am going to make sure some part of the show is for them. I am going to put my all into every show till I grind my bones to dust. Karen is such a great foil. Some nights she gets feisty and I have to keep an eye on her. We work together as much as we keep each other on our toes.

Q: Your music videos have been recognized at multiple film festivals. Can you tell us about your creative process when translating your music into visual stories?

Karen – similar to our music, we don’t want to use the same tools in music videos twice. We like unconventional items like secret locations and unusual filming techniques to make a product that is interesting. We start with a small idea: for Bad Taste it was “let’s use real film”, for Unicorn Bones it was the location- then we molded our stories from there. We will be having a video for “Threats” come out in the future and for that process we started with the storyline first.

Q: You’ve shared the stage with iconic bands like Stabbing Westward and Clan of Xymox. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from touring with these established acts?

Ivan – show up on time and be prepared for everything.

Karen – Be flexible and humble. You’re the lowest man on the totem pole when you play support shows, so sometimes you won’t have a sound check, large merch space, or even room on stage to move around that you’re used to. So you need to go in prepared for anything- but first and foremost go into these shows with the intention of having fun. 

Q: The EP ‘Threats’ is confrontational and raw. What was the driving force behind this release, and what did you hope to express?

Ivan – Death. We went through personal losses that resulted in emotional outbursts. Mourning has a way with word and song. The record is not about death. It’s not that one dimensional. Death, she is the progenitor of the work. We took big swings. Grab life by the throat and scare the shit out of it.

Q: Your lyrics often feel dark and poetic. Where do you find inspiration for these narratives?

Ivan – I like unreliable narrators. When there is a sole survivor of a shipwreck, do you take him at his word? I wanted to go all in on song lyrics that were open to interpretation. Are the intentions truly good or is there something else unseen?

Q: As a Chicago-based band, how has the city’s music scene shaped your sound or provided opportunities for growth?

Ivan – This City is woven into the fiber of BELLHEAD. All our releases say MADE IN CHICAGO on them. 

Q: You’ve done remixes for other artists and had your music remixed by big names. How do these collaborations influence your own music and live performances?

Karen – It’s always fun to hear what other people do to your songs. When we approached Chris (from Stabbing Westward) to do a remix for us, we had no idea what the return would be, and it was a pleasant surprise. Hearing him sing “Bad Taste” in the choruses was a delight. 

Q: Looking ahead, what’s next for Bellhead? Are there any creative directions, collaborations, or tours you’re particularly excited about?

Karen – briefly mentioned above, but we are going to have a music video for “Threats” come out in the upcoming months. We’re also hitting the road for a few summer dates, with a final fall (October) tour announcing soon. 

BELLHEAD Tour Dates
06/27  Coles’s – Chicago, IL w/ King Sans / Braince / Wet Chain
07/26  TBA
08/08  Lamplighter Lounge – Memphis, TN w/ Ego Likeness
08/09  Healer – Indianapolis, IN w/ Plague Garden / In A Darkened Room / Grave Love / Final Girl / Broken Nails / Waiting for Meteors / Twice Dark
08/10  Livewire – Chicago, IL w/ In a Darkened Room
09/11   Burlington Bar – Chicago, IL w/ Feyleux
09/12  Turnstiles – Grand Rapids, MI w/ Feyleux
09/13   Historic Masonic Temple – Bay City, MI w/ Feyleux