Start Listening To: Bloodworm
A Nottingham trio shaping dark, goth-leaning post-punk around tension, instinct and late-night momentum.
There’s a certain clarity to what Bloodworm are doing. It’s not polished or overthought, and it doesn’t try to soften the edges either. The Nottingham three-piece lean into tension, mood and atmosphere, pulling from the darker corners of post-punk without treating it like a museum piece. Their latest EP Blood & Lust feels like a statement of intent, rooted in late-night writing sessions, local scenes, and the kind of spaces that shape a band before anyone’s really paying attention. We caught up with them to talk about duality, Nottingham’s influence, and the moments where everything starts to click.
For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
We are Bloodworm, a three piece based in Nottingham that makes music that’s dark, goth-tinged post-punk.
What inspired the title 'Blood & Lust,' and how does it connect to the themes explored across the EP and in your upcoming music?
We liked Blood & Lust because when it split from the song title, it takes on a totally different meaning. That tune has themes of duality and contradiction which are spread throughout the EP and so it was fitting to name the EP after that.. I think so anyway!
Can you describe your songwriting process for the single 'Bloodlust'? Did you collaborate closely, or was it more of an individual effort?
Bloodlust was written in a single late night sitting on my own. It was an attempt at defining what I wanted Bloodworm to sound like, taking inspiration from the darker side of the late 70s post punk scene and combining it with how I was feeling at the time. The song was written in a simple form, based around four chords which was done to build a sense of tension that climaxes at the end of the song into chaotic aggression. I think we really captured that tension on the recording, especially on the outro where it takes off on a path of its own.
How did the band’s experiences in Nottingham influence the sound and lyrical content of your music, especially on your upcoming EP?
The constant dark clouds! … Luckily we have some of the best music venues in the country, especially in Rock City, where we have had the chance to see some of the greatest bands in the world roll through. The scene in Nottingham is also seriously good, so we’ve been able to bounce off that and mould our path as such. Nottingham also feels very ‘real’. It’s not massively commercial and there’s no massive sky scrapers, it’s just people getting on, which I feel is channeled in some of the sounds.
The video for 'Bloodlust' was created by Seth Lloyd; how involved were you in the visual direction and overall concept
To match the atmosphere of the tune, we wanted somewhere quite gritty, tight and grey. It was all inspired by our roots from starting out in Euan’s shed and how that song started out and the energy it gave off. Luckily our manager has the dustiest cellar in the world, so we loaded everything down there and Seth just nailed the shots.
Can you tell us about a memorable moment from your recent performances that really resonated with you or your bandmates?
The whole Suede tour but particularly that last gig at the Brighton Centre. The room was ENORMOUS. We sort of came off stage and felt like we’d completed something monumental and it rounded off the best 3 weeks of our lives. We’d come so far from that first night in Folkestone and we really tried to take it in after coming off stage on that final night.
What’s the most significant lesson you’ve learned about being part of the music industry since forming Bloodworm?
You never know who is watching!
What do you love right now?
Sitting up way too late watching old school David Bowie videos and releasing tunes.
What do you hate right now?
Going back to work and not being on tour.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?
The Cure - Pornography is just perfect to me. It’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember and is the reason I’m in music today.
When someone hears your music for the first time, what do you hope?
I want people to feel something. Whether that’s musically or lyrically I don’t mind, I just want it to have an impact.
Photography By: Jacob Harris and Rachael HalaburdaThe band will tour in support of their debut EP, with headline dates beginning this week:
April
29 Glasgow SWG3 The Poetry Club
30 Newcastle Zerox
May
01 Sheffield Sidney And Matilda
02 Manchester Yes (Basement)
06 Bristol The Croft
07 Brighton Green Door Store
08 Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach
09 London The Grace
