Meet ‘Pretty Bleak’: a band that ‘sounds like everyone and no one at the same time’
By Sara Garrity
The 1975, beabadoobee, All Time Low. Alternative and indie music lovers all over the globe will recognise the names of these bands and musicians. But what makes them similar to the likes of Nirvana? The Cure? And even Prince?
Let me introduce you to rising band out of country Victoria, PRETTY BLEAK. Taking inspiration from musicians spanning from Charlie XCX to Blink-182 to Nirvana, PRETTY BLEAK writes music that ‘abandons labels and comparisons’ to ‘just make sounds that seem cool to us at the time’.
The band consists of four self-proclaimed ‘flamingly introverted people’, with the goal of creating music with meaning. Lead vocalist Sam Thomas and friend Kyle Charleston have played in bands together since they were 15-years-old, both sharing a dream of having a career in the music industry. In 2019, PRETTY BLEAK was formed with additional members Sanji Aneja and Cherie Bridgeman, and have since found a natural aptitude for songwriting and performing live.
Lead vocalist of PRETTY BLEAK Sam Thomas said that what really makes the band stand out is their willingness to take risks artistically, and how they aren’t tied down by genre.
“I feel really lucky to be able to accept a good idea and make it fit with different stylistic elements that might not traditionally go together, like a blaring 80s-inspired guitar solo and modern-rap inspired auto tuned vocals,” he said.
“I think our music sounds like a culmination of all the music I’ve ever heard in my life. We sound like everyone and no one at the same time.”
After spending the first half of the year recording new songs in the studio, the band have big dreams for their future. Sam said the ultimate goal is to take PRETTY BLEAK as far as they can possibly go.
“Our focus is to work hard on releasing new music consistently and expand our growing little fan base that we have cultivated,” he said.
“Ever since the beginning, we’ve always been committed to making music our lives and our careers and that commitment has only grown stronger as we move forward.”
“We’d love to play our first festival here in Australia, do a few bigger multiple date tours, and eventually play overseas. But as of right now, our focus is to make the best of music, and put on the best live shows we are capable of.”
PRETTY BLEAK recently released their newest single like you know better, a song inspired by a conversation with the reflection in the mirror, and questioning yourself introspectively.
“Lyrically, I wanted to portray what seems like a critical conversation between two closely intimate people, however, the underlying reality of the narrative is that it is really a portrayal of the thoughts someone might have about themself,” Sam said.
“The song is definitely inspired by the difficult but necessary task of observing yourself and asking the question ‘do you actually know what the f**k you’re doing?’.”
Listen to PRETTY BLEAK’s new single at this link. The band are also regularly active on Instagram @prettybleakband.