Q&A: BOLDEN. Turn Chance Into Sound with New Single “Where are our voices.”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
UK-BASED DUO BOLDEN. ARE CARVING OUT A DISTINCT SPACE IN THE MODERN JAZZ LANDSCAPE, where improvisation, house rhythms, and spontaneous creativity collide. Their latest single, “Where are our voices.”, is a testament to that ethos - a track that began as a fleeting voice note lost in the haze of late-night recording, and transformed into one of their most compelling pieces yet.
Rather than polish away imperfections, BOLDEN. lean into them, using accident and instinct as fuel for their process. The result is a sound that feels alive and unfiltered, jazz at its core, but reimagined through a contemporary lens that invites dance floors and quiet reflection in equal measure. With their debut album Would appear to be jazz. out now via Artist House, “Where are our voices.” offers a glimpse into the duo’s ability to balance groove, vulnerability and experimentation, creating music that’s as unexpected as it is emotionally resonant.
LUNA: Your new single “Where are our voices.” started as a happy accident. Can you walk us through how that late-night moment turned into the track we hear now?
BOLDEN: We were working on the track and had recorded some of our voices to layer in. Reuben sent an early edit to Catherine, but she couldn’t hear them and sent back a voice message saying, “Where are our voices?” That message ended up making its way into the song, and it also became the title. What’s funny is that it started as an accident, but the phrase really resonated with us – it speaks to a bigger feeling in the world right now, where so many people don’t feel heard and are raising their voices just to be acknowledged.
LUNA: The phrase “Where are our voices” carries both a literal and a deeper meaning. What voices, personal or societal, do you feel are often missing from the conversation?
BOLDEN: All over the world you see people protesting because they don’t feel heard. On one hand, social media gives everyone a platform, but turning that into actual change is much harder. With so many urgent issues being ignored by governments and leaders, it’s easy to understand why people feel frustrated and keep asking, “where are our voices?”
LUNA: Your debut album Would appear to be jazz. is out today. What does that title mean to you, and how does it represent the album’s vision?
BOLDEN: The title’s a play on words. It comes from Catherine’s college dissertation on sexism in the music industry, where she wrote that it “would appear to be jazz” that had some of the worst working conditions. But it also works for us because our music would appear to be jazz. There are always the so-called “jazz police” online ready to say, “that’s not jazz,” so in a way we beat them to it – we’re just saying it ourselves.
LUNA: You both come from very different musical backgrounds, so how do those worlds collide when you’re writing and performing together?
BOLDEN: Our backgrounds are really complementary. Catherine’s classical training brings structure and deep musical knowledge, while Reuben, who learned mostly by himself with a few great teachers, brings a raw, instinct-driven approach. Put together, it creates a balance of knowledge, taste, and feel that really works.
LUNA: Catherine, you’ve spoken about being one of the few women in jazz house, particularly on the instrumental side. How has that shaped your perspective and approach in this project?
BOLDEN: It hasn't made a massive difference to how I approach making music. Yes, I am usually in the studio or in rehearsals and play many different bands as well, and I am often the only female and I'm just used to it now. I suppose I don't even think about it. Sometimes it doesn't even register that I'm the only girl out of a 16-piece big band, for example. I'm just used to it after all these years and I don't mind it at all. I think it's fun to work with anyone. It's all about the music. It doesn't matter if you are a girl or a boy.
LUNA: The live show is clearly central to Bolden., with the two of you jumping between instruments and improvising in real time. How do you keep the energy fresh and unique every night?
BOLDEN: Improvisation is at the heart of jazz, and that’s what keeps our shows alive. We follow the outline of each track so people recognize it, but then we improvise and play off each other to keep it exciting. That back-and-forth creates energy, and no two shows are ever the same.
LUNA: Jazz house is still a relatively niche lane – who or what inspires you as you carve out this sound?
BOLDEN: Even though people call it jazz house, our music already stretches across a pretty wide range. We’ve done everything from fast, high-energy tracks to slower ones, instrumentals to vocal tracks – even one with a rapper. What excites us is pushing the boundaries, not sticking to a formula. That’s how we keep the creativity flowing.
LUNA: You’re about to head out on your Would appear to be jazz. headline tour, with dates already selling out. What can fans expect from these shows?
BOLDEN: We’ve already sold out shows in New York, LA, Toronto, Amsterdam, and Leeds, which is incredible. We’re so excited to bring this music to people around the world, and the energy at the shows is going to be really special.
LUNA: The name Bolden. pays tribute to Charles “Buddy” Bolden, an early jazz innovator. How do you see yourselves continuing his legacy while pushing jazz into new spaces?
BOLDEN: We didn’t set out to play in Buddy Bolden’s style—it was a different time and place. But naming ourselves after him is a way of honoring jazz’s roots. We see ourselves as part of the long tradition of musicians building on what came before, fusing styles, and creating something new. That’s how the music keeps moving forward.
LUNA: Looking ahead, what’s your hope for Bolden?
BOLDEN: At the moment, we are very focused on the upcoming tour and it has been hard to think beyond that! Although we do have a few tracks ready to go and we are looking forward to sharing that music with everyone soon!
