Interview: BOLDEN. Dive Into a Pool of Their Influences and Beginnings as Jazz-House Pioneers

Combining jazz and house music, UK duo BOLDEN. have quickly carved out a space in the instrumental scene, with an upcoming debut album, Would appear to be jazz., that’s sure to send waves. What began as a solo project for multi-instrumentalist Reuben Barrett in 2023 later expanded when fellow multi-instrumentalist Catherine Rannus joined Barrett the following year. But the two share a lifetime of experience playing everything from the guitar to the saxophone. The talents between them makes it no surprise that their singles released thus far are wide-reaching when it comes to genre, leading to impressive live shows where they often switch between instruments depending on the song.

Barrett and Rannus took the time to go into how BOLDEN. began, as well as their creative process ahead of the release of Would appear to be jazz. on Aug. 29. The duo has two upcoming shows in Los Angeles. Their show at The Moroccan Lounge on Nov. 21 is already sold out, but they just added a second performance at The Echo on Nov. 22. Grab tickets while you can.

The covers for your singles are reminiscent of the work of artists like David Hockney. When you’re making music, what influences go into the atmosphere(s) you want your songs to convey?

BOLDEN.: The artwork is definitely inspired by David Hockney, as well as Hiroshi Nagai. When it comes to the music itself, we tend to imagine warm, laid-back scenes – like lounging by the beach or pool, or sipping a cocktail in a bar. At the same time, there’s a danceable energy to what we create. Our sound blends jazz and dance music, so we want people to feel both relaxed and moved literally to dance.

The two of you have described your music as jazz-house. What were your earliest memories with both genres and how did they inspire you to start making your own music? Of course, your namesake comes from Charles “Buddy” Bolden. Are there any others?

BOLDEN.: We both draw from a wide variety of musical influences. Reuben grew up listening to jazz legends like Oscar Peterson and Miles Davis, as well as artists like Van Morrison, which ties into his Northern Irish roots. Catherine, on the other hand, is classically trained and has performed in rock, pop, and jazz settings. Jazz is at the heart of it all, especially in its spirit of improvisation, which is central to how we approach our live shows – we’re improvising much of the time, creating something unique each performance.

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Considering Bolden. has existed as a duo for a relatively short amount of time, what has it been like to see the attention you’ve accumulated already? Has it felt quick, or was there a longer journey beforehand that’s led to all of this?

BOLDEN.: We’ve both had very different paths leading up to this. Catherine studied classical music, then earned a degree in jazz, and has been working as a professional musician ever since. Reuben, meanwhile, had a variety of careers, including working as a high school maths teacher, before fully diving into music in recent years. The rapid rise of Bolden. has been a bit of a surprise for both of us, but we think it’s a result of our contrasting yet complementary backgrounds, and the way they come together creatively.

Compared to when you first founded Bolden., what has the creative process been like for you now that the project is a duo?

BOLDEN.: Reuben originally started Bolden. as a solo project, working with different session musicians. But it quickly became clear that he didn’t enjoy working alone. That’s when he started looking for a local musician to collaborate with, and was incredibly fortunate to find Catherine. She’s not only a fantastic pianist, but also plays saxophone, flute, and sings at a very high level. Together, we’ve found that our collaboration pushes us creatively in ways we wouldn’t reach on our own. We’re constantly exploring the boundaries between jazz and dance music, and we’re really excited about what we’re making now.

With both of you being multi-instrumentalists, do you consider live performances when making your music? Or is that something that comes later in your process?

BOLDEN.: When we’re in the studio, we don’t typically think about how we’ll perform a track live, it usually comes later. Our music blends a lot of styles, and sometimes we even wonder whether certain tracks can be played live at all. Since we incorporate electronic elements – especially in the percussion for that house feel – we’ve had to get creative. For example, we use a surdo, a Brazilian samba drum, in place of a kick drum during live sets to add a more organic, performative energy. Figuring out how to translate our studio recordings into something live and dynamic is one of the parts we love most.

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Where do you see house and jazz music heading in the next five to 10 years?

BOLDEN.: House music has traditionally been DJ-driven, but we’re seeing a growing demand from audiences for something more live, more human. People want to see musicians actually creating and playing music in real time. Our improvisational style means no two shows are the same, and we think that uniqueness is something audiences are really responding to. We wouldn’t be surprised to see more groups taking a similar approach, blending the spontaneity of jazz with the energy of dance music in a live setting.

If your latest single “In The Shade.” could be a drink at a travel destination, what drink would it be and where?

BOLDEN.: This song would be best paired with a martini at sunset, in a breezy evening bar somewhere beautiful. It’s got that kind of feel – smooth, stylish, and perfect for winding down the day.

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Listen to BOLDEN.’s new single off Would appear to be jazz. “In the shade.” Keep up with the duo on their Instagram for the latest music drops. Get tickets to their show at The Echo on Nov. 22.