by Kirby Lindsay, posted 3 February 2015
Creativity in Fremont extends far beyond the public art displayed around the ‘hood, and the spectacle of the Solstice Parade in June. In fact, it extends to the youth of our community, and some of that incredible talent and artistry will be on-display at the EMP Museum Sound Off on February 13th. There, Bleachbear, a ‘dream pop/grunge/folk rock trio’, will compete to in this Premier Northwest 21 & Under Battle of the Bands.
‘Something I Want To Be Doing’
Bleachbear is sisters Tigerlily Cooley and Annabella Cooley, and their cousin Emiko Nakagawa-Gantt. “I’d say it was my idea,” about starting the band, explained Tigerlily, “We’d all been taking lessons since we were young.” She had a recital to perform, and didn’t want to go before the crowd alone – so she enlisted help of two of her closest relatives.
All three girls shared credit with Lacey Brown, of the Fremont Abbey Arts Center, who encouraged them. “She just said, ‘let’s get you out there! Go out there and do it, and it’ll get easier,” recalled Grace Cooley, mother of Tigerlily and Annabella. “Now it is a lot easier,” Annabella acknowledged, “This is definitely something I want to be doing.”
Tigerlily provides lead vocals and guitar for Bleachbear, while her sister plays drums and provides harmonies with cousin Emiko, who plays bass, piano, bells, keyboard and, even, the glockenspiel. “We thought it sounded good with the songs,” Emiko said of this last, “and I was the one who could play it.”
According to Tigerlily, while their parents don’t play instruments, “we grew up with a lot of music around us,” and it influenced them. “I love music,” Emiko said, “I would love to see what I can do with it. I want to keep playing and see where it takes me.”
As for Annabella, she recalled taking violin, then piano, then voice lessons and finally drum classes, “and drums in the [Fremont] Abbey is what I stuck with.” Emiko can also play oboe and the flute, which she credits with teacher her the basic music knowledge she brings to Bleachbear.
Tigerlily also brings the songs. Bleachbear plays original music. “I usually come up with words, melody, chords,” Tigerlily explained, and the band then works out arrangements, or their parts. “I really like writing songs,” Tigerlily said. She’s been writing songs, and rhymed poetry, most of her young life – including winning a poetry contest in the 4th grade, “but it’s easier to do songs.”
When working on a new composition Annabella observed, “we talk about it, and try to personalize it.” The three discuss the images, and stories, behind the words, and what influenced the composer as well as what images the song evokes for the other two band members, including what a video of the music would look like. “I consider song writing a form of poetry,” Emiko observed, “you can interpret it and personalize it to you.”
‘School’s A Priority’
The Sound Off competition, at EMP, is not the first spotlight to shine on Bleachbear. In 2013, they released an album, called ‘Lost Parade’, and in 2014, Seattle Weekly readers voted Bleachbear ‘Seattle’s Best Underage Band.’ The band still remains honored at the accolade of being asked to participate. “I feel really lucky,” Tigerlily said. While still attending local public high schools, they perform publicly about twice a month, when asked. “We’ve had to turn down things without a strong connection,” to the band members, Grace Cooley said, “School’s a priority.”
All three young women plan to attend college, and seek careers – maybe in music, and maybe not. “I’m very practical,” Tigerlily explained. She has already thought about studying the music business at university, or mental health, criminalistics, or culinary arts.
Her bandmates aren’t as fixed on settling the future, a few years away, yet. Emiko likes sports – cross country, soccer, basketball – and science, but as for a career, “I haven’t thought about it too much,” she said, “I definitely want to do music.”
Annabella also plays sports, specifically basketball, and knows that she wants to go to college, but she also admitted, “It would be cool if [music] worked out.” She is interested in language arts, and English, but she also likes playing music – and playing with family. “I think it’s fun,” Annabella said, while her sister and cousin listened.
“We love playing music,” Emiko said, and they hope their neighbors will turn out to listen to them at the Sound Off competition – the semi-final on February 13 and (when they make it) the finals on March 7th – and give them the support they need to win the showcase.
After all, creativity in Fremont deserves not only awareness, but also our enthusiastic support of one of our local bands!
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©2015 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.