The Bedside Morale: Unveiling the Raw Emotion Behind Their Powerful Debut EP

Since their formation in 2014, The Bedside Morale has been on a journey of musical exploration, evolving through different forms and identities to finally arrive at their authentic sound. Their debut single "Safeword" burst onto the scene in September 2023, quickly followed by the powerful "Bitter Things," both earning praise from influential outlets like XS Manchester, BBC Introducing, and Wonderland magazine. Now, with the release of their debut EP *Still Life*, the band offers a raw, heartfelt glimpse into their creative soul. Vocalist Tim Kazer describes this work as a return to authenticity, with lyrics that are deeply personal and resonate with the highs and lows of life. As they prepare to drop their third single "Yours Sincerely," we sit down with The Bedside Morale to delve into the stories behind the music and the emotional journey that brought them here.

1.    The Bedside Morale has gone through various monikers over the past decade. What about this current iteration feels the most honest and authentic to you as a band?

Musically we’ve been in various bands both collectively and individually that span various genres. We decided to focus on music that felt close to the heart and with a slight nostalgia for the music we grew up with. We really wanted to focus on feeling, making sure everything we do comes from a genuine love for our craft rather than fitting ourselves into a niche like we had with previous projects. The Bedside Morale has really allowed us to spread our wings and explore sounds that genuinely excite us.

2.    Tim, you mentioned that with 'Still Life,' you wanted to write songs that reflect life and its various aspects. Can you delve into specific life experiences or emotions that particularly inspired this EP?

I think this is EP is about those small things in life that make it so wonderful to me. Even the heartbreak. Everything is written from my point of view so largely it brings in my own life experiences. Bitter Things is about a real person/s, Safeword reflects on my view of trying to hide in the comfort of the past, Early Morning Sonnet comes from the excitement of love that makes you push past your comfort zone and Yours Sincerely… well.

3.    'Yours Sincerely,' the latest single from the EP, has been described as a heart-wrenching number with profound emotion. Can you share the story or inspiration behind this track and what it means to you personally?

Yours Sincerely is a very personal and a very difficult song for me. I still feel uncomfortable admitting the word abuse or trauma even to myself. In all honesty I had no idea if this song would be at all relatable to anyone except myself because it’s very specific to my experiences. In some ways it breaks my heart that people have found anything relatable in it, because no one deserves to be in that situation, not me, not the person I was with. No one. But it’s a song about trying, trying to love someone who can’t be loved even as they tear you down time and time again. And it’s a song about admitting that it’s not your fault and trying to take some of what was stolen from you back. If anyone can focus on anything in this song, I hope it’s the comfort in a shared experience and the truth of the first chorus. So long as you keep trying and love yourself then you’re doing pretty good I think.

4.   Having worked together for so long, how has your creative process evolved over the years, and what unique approaches did you take while creating 'Still Life'?

It’s always a real collaborative effort. Quite often someone will come to the table with a cool idea such as a riff or structure and we’ll just workshop it in the room. Everyone feeds off of each other meaning there’s a real fluidity to the creative process. It’s a genuine pleasure to be creating music in this way as it feels pure and unadulterated, making the results more meaningful to us and we hope that this is reflected in the end result.

5.   The EP's title, 'Still Life,' suggests a focus on capturing moments in time. How does this concept manifest in your music and lyrics, and what do you hope listeners take away from this collection of songs?

That’s exactly what Still Life is. Little vignettes of the past, future and present. We always wanted our music to be honest and sincere and we really tried to cement that with the EP. As a mission statement we feel the EP really impacts. We’ve worked hard to convey a sense of nostalgia within the music and lyrics to really capture the sensation of a snapshot in time, like a tattered Polaroid stuck to the wall, drawing you in o the memories contained within. It’s sincere music without limits.