Boldened Drumming Roots: An Interview with Derek Bloom

Derek Bloom is undoubtedly best known as the drummer for the iconic Post-Hardcore band From First to Last, with his work spanning over to other bands such as The Color of Violence and and If I Die First. His eclectic drumming style makes him an absolute staple of any band he is performing in, and his sound is something you won't find elsewhere. His well-catered and focused drumming sets him apart from countless other drummers within the same genre styling as him, and he is without a doubt one of the most important figures in Post-Hardcore and Grindcore. 

Bloom continues to work alongside the newest lineup of From First to Last, with a major focus being on his personal side projects as well as performances with the band. The activity that the band has been keeping up with in the modern day is an exceptional feat, and Bloom has managed to showcase that being a lover of Post-Hardcore is never just a phase. 

Making such an iconically memorable name for yourself as a drummer is no easy feat - as drumming is without a doubt one of the most physically demanding tasks of any band. Bloom has managed to consistently give his all into his craft since he was a child, and his work starting from such a young age gave him the boost he needed while emerging on a larger scale with From First to Last - which eventually led him to working on his own side projects; which leads us to where he is today.

His extensive discography of classic albums as well as his genuine love for what he does and has been doing for the majority of his life is astonishing to see on the scale in which he has achieved personal success in his career - and it was more than an honour to sit down and interview him, which allows for me to share exclusive insight about him and his career on a scale that is much more intimate than many other classic interviews with the band - the focus is on him, and you won't want to miss out on reading below the cut.

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1. What is your background, and what do you do currently for those who do not know?

I grew up in Los Angeles going to punk and crust punk shows and starting playing music pretty early. Have been playing in bands probably since 5th grade or something. I’ve also worked a lot of jobs since music isn’t exactly a lucrative industry for most people doing it. I currently am one of the building engineers at a building in Los Angeles and try to balance that out with still making music etc.

2. How have your experiences shaped you?

I’ve had a lot of big things in my life happen from what felt like small decisions. To message someone online, to move across the country to go to school etc.

3. What is one of the most memorable experiences you have had while playing in various bands?

Being able to spend my late teens and twenties touring around the world and seeing places I never thought I would get to go to was a tremendous gift and I am grateful to have been able to have that experience

4. What is your favorite memory from a live performance that you have played?

We played a show in Spain for MTV Europe with The Cure and HIM and I think there was 80k people there. That was really insane. There were ads for the show at baggage claim when we landed at the airport

5. What inspired you to become a musician?

I’ve always been banging on things since I was a baby. My parents got me a little Care Bear drum set when I was 2 or 3 and I played it to death the first day.

6. What was it like starting out for you?

It was definitely exciting and overwhelming and all of that. It was fun to be able to travel around really freely and kind of be little menaces everywhere and feel that freedom and autonomy and to be playing music every night and meeting people it was really amazing.

7. For the present-day, what can fans expect to see from you? New music? More performances?

I have a few projects that I am trying to consistently do releases for right now like Color of Violence, Cholera Violins and Enterrado. I am still working with FFTL but it’s hard for me to be able to make the one off festival shows and other appearances like that. It is hard for me to do shows unless it is a full tour or something like that. Just gets too complicated with work.

8. What has it been like playing with From First to Last again?

It is always fun working with the FFTL guys we have been through so much together over so many years I will always have love for that band and those guys but I also am at a place in why life where i don’t have the luxury of being able to do everything that I want to do and I have prioritized making new music projects and my own things as opposed to focusing solely on doing FFTL stuff.

9. Over the years, who are some of the most interesting people that you have worked with?

It was amazing to meet and work with Wes Borland. Getting to tour with him and learn from his experiences was really amazing. He was such an amazing guy and such an insane talent and presence to have on stage with you. Every show was amazing

10. If you could describe your life in one word, what would it be?

Whoops

11. And lastly, what is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring artists?

I would say to figure out how to be yourself in your art and work. It’s easy to be pressured to fit in with what is going on around you but the best art comes from that truer expression of the self in my opinion rather than doing your best to imitate what is popular at the moment.

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Never stop sharing your dreams and never give up. Unify with your community and keep at the things that you love most. Shine in your abundances and let new experiences heal you. 

Unity