HumDrum: The Beauty of Life Alongside Music

Photography by Ed Strelling (@eds_photos_)

According to The Musicians' Union, over half of independent musicians in the UK rely on external work or side projects to sustain themselves financially. With the cost of living constantly on the rise, it has become increasingly challenging for musicians to find the time, effort, or drive to focus on their creative passions without constantly facing the fear of burning out.

That being said, there is definitely beauty in the mundanity of everyday routines, and I would like to think that living in a creative city with a flourishing music scene makes a musician's life worthwhile. I would even go as far as to say that every nook and cranny in Bristol is packed full of creativity, whether that be a jam night or pub gigs — there’s always something bustling in the woodwork.

Being a regular attendee at events such as these, there was one name lingering from the crowds, and that was a band called ‘HumDrum’. Dreamy, poetic and blanketed in soft lulls whilst the band carefully dances around the vocals — ethereal is the only word that can pinpoint the sound of HumDrum. In true grassroots fashion, I had gotten the pleasure of meeting bassist Ben at The Old England’s Community Jam Night, and then soon after, it was made clear that the band found strength with their roots in Bristol through local live events. Wanting to experience a day in the life of HumDrum, I spent a sunny afternoon with them.

“All I'm thinking about at work is music. So what the fuck am I gonna do if that doesn't work? I've got nothing else.” - Hunter Greensmith

Lively, witty, and charming, the band told me that, outside of music, the majority of them work in the hospitality industry. Guitarist Hunter revealed that “a good sixty percent of the chefs that [he] meets are practicing musicians,” which perpetuates the idea that people are desperately trying to squeeze their passions into whatever will financially facilitate them. However, he then expressed that “[he] kind of enjoy[s] that there are other outlets out there to keep [him] busy on the side,” which is something that aligns with keyboardist Saul, as he believes “it's nice to have a job that you don't despise so that you can think about things apart from music.” Adding advice to any struggling musician trying to find a job, Hunter asserted that “you have to find a job that almost feels like a hobby, like a little game so that your professionalism stands in music.”

Front-woman Palo shared that her experience in hospitality is something that has actively impacted her “music because every single minute that [she’s] there, [she’s] thinking about every single project [she] could be doing,” which subsequently pushes her drive to make her dream become reality. Whilst Ben and drummer Simone focus on playing in function bands to earn a steady income, Palo now feels like she’s “really reached the end of [her] tether” in hospitality; therefore is actively looking for alternative avenues in the music industry, which is no easy feat.

With the band forming their early connections with each other at DbS Institute of Music and Community Jam Collective’s music nights, it was evident that the grassroots scene had a special place in the beating heart of HumDrum. When asked the question, “How did growing up in the grassroots music scene change your idea of the music industry?”, they were all very keen to talk about their individual experiences. Hunter believes that the music industry as a whole should work like the grassroots scene as “it feels a lot more organic and things just happen because people are around… whereas the bigger industry feels a lot more like you have to do your rite of passage, but anyone can end up in that position”, which unfortunately echoes the thoughts of a lot of musicians in the 21st century, as it becomes exceedingly harder to ‘make it’ as an independent artist due to gatekeepers.

“It's not very comforting to think that you're like an image and your art is in the hands of people that are dealing it like cards.” - Hunter Greensmith

Growing up in Glastonbury, Ben told me that he’s been fortunate enough with his origins in music as he’s been able to express himself in music from a young age, due to a supportive grassroots scene. Attending open mic nights quickly led to some of his first gigs, and after moving to Bristol, he feels like it's been “an extension” of his local scene with the city welcoming him with open arms. With that, Ben revealed that the great thing about Bristol’s music scene is that it “seems to shift and change every year; it’s always new and exciting.”

With inspiration from her family’s “underground taste in music,” Palo found herself craving more creativity in her local scene, Kent, after moving there from Argentina at a younger age. Swiftly discovering Bristol meant that she “had the chance to taste that very organically,” and expressed that by the time that HumDrum formed it “highlighted the DIY nature of the grassroots scene because [she] didn't know what a tech spec was, or all that stuff like, [she] learned it on the job.”

Their music carries underlying themes of surrealism and escapism, and I was eager to find out what inspired the band and how Bristol’s music scene has moulded their sound as a band. Being a city in celebration of multiculturalism, it is safe to say that Bristol's spark comes from the varying types of artists and genres alike. Hunter confirmed that, and expressed that if you explore the city, it is likely that you will find “25 different subgenres of one genre,” and that it’s been easy for them to draw inspiration from “a bit of everything” due to the city’s nature of being a “melting pot” for many different artists. With “the amount of people that blast music unapologetically from their speakers,” it is hard to ignore Bristol’s love for the arts, which has a positive impact on any aspiring musician.

“I think the music scene is so much more than just music. It's all the art” - Palo Faingold

The band praised a large portion of local bands in their scene, carrying an enormous appreciation for Bristol’s grassroots artists. Despite being grounded in their roots, dreams are one of Palo’s main influences in songwriting, stating that she fails “to see the difference between reality and [her] dream world.” Mental health and introspection also play a huge role in her lyricism, stating that “it's changed [her] perspective on life,” alongside her interpersonal relationships.

If money wasn't such a big issue for many bands in the UK, there would be more space for the opportunity for success and stability in the arts. HumDrum hopes that one day they’ll be able to “finish building [their] studio,” as it’s become a special place for the band as of late. If it were up to Palo, she’d “take [the band] to [her] hometown in Argentina up in the middle of nowhere in the mountains and write a whole album,” and I can only hope that one day we’ll get that album!

As a recent fan of Humdrum, I can say that their single ‘Collision’ has been a song that I have personally been obsessed with as of late. And with talks of a five track EP due to be released this autumn, I urge you to stay up to date with them via instagram @hum_drum__!