Page 9 - RockRevoltMagazine-Summer2019

AN INTERVIEW WITH JOSH KATZ

by Alice Roques
n 2019, if you haven’t been moved or been made uncomfortable by the music of Badflower, you’ve been
Isequestering yourself purposefuly. With some of the most soulbaring and jarring lyrics of this decade,
Badflower is changing the playing field and the game in terms of modern rock. With bold lyrics broaching
difficult subjects, opening dialog in terms of suicide, addiction, and mental health, Badflower is pushing the
envelope that needs to be ripped open and discussed heartily. We had the very wonderful opportunity to
have such a discussion with Josh Katz, lead singer and guitarist of the pioneering band, Badflower.

derived from truth. Everything The reason I ask is because I
Tell me about OK, I’m is derived from truth, but then know for some folks, things
SICK. The album really there’s others (like “Ghost” aren’t real like to deal with
pushes the envelopes on all and “24”) that are like literal like say alcoholism, it’s
fronts: musically, lyrically, and direct -- and “x ANA x”, not real until you actually
emotionally. Where did all there’s a handful of them on say “I’m an alcoholic” and
this come from? there. then it becomes part of your
It just came from me. I don’t reality. I wasn’t sure if there
know -- I sort of lost interest What life altering events led was any truth to that in your
in this sort of like bland basic you to write those songs? experience.
rock and roll riff-rockstar sort Panic disorder. Dealing with Well, I think it sets a different
of like thing. Which I felt we that smack dab in the middle thing though because I think
sort of were in the beginning. of a tour out of nowhere, and being an alcoholic, people
We were looking at bands like this sort of back and forth of perceive that as a real
Blackheath and Jack White hating, touring, and hating weakness and as like a really
and like those types of like and loving it at the same time, negative thing. Like somebody
things as to like what we were but like dreading it; being can be mad at you for being
pointing at. It’s what we wanted terrified of going on stage and an alcoholic. They shouldn’t,
to be and then we realised it terrified of talking to people. I but like they could within the
BAD- Got you. Is there a song Was there a difference thing. And so as soon as I felt
fell pretty deep into this pit of
confines of society and how
was really unsatisfying. I think
as soon as I started writing
mental confusion and I sort
we deal with things. With
lyrics that were really personal
panic disorder and depression
of like -- I guess I sort of like
and really intense and raw, is
and stuff, it’s a very different
climbed out of it in the writing
when I discovered my calling
process. It was helpful for me
it and started to experience
to be able to put pen to paper
in that and I sort of ran with
and to analyse exactly what
it, I was immediately honest
that and this album is a really
with myself about what was
I was feeling and say what I
a testament to how that was
happening. Like, I knew
wanted to say.
done.
FLOWER on -- you said they’re very and actually saying the There’s true physical pain

exactly what it was and I was
very vocal about it right from
between putting it on paper
the beginning. I admitted
personal to you, is there one
it right from the beginning
because it was too apparent
words?
that’s a lot more soul bearing
No, it’s the same. As soon as it
than others?
not to.
I mean they’re all pretty soul
pops into my head, it’s like a
bearing. There’s a couple in
real idea, it’s a real thing. And Did you seek medical
there that aren’t necessarily
also when I say, pen to paper, attention for it? I mean there’s
direct true stories through
I’m referring to the iPhone a big physical aspect of it.
and through. They’re fictional
notepad.
9 // RockRevolt Magazine
Photo by Jordan Wolfbauer to some degree, but they’re associated with panic and