{"id":2084675,"date":"2026-08-09T10:13:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T07:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2084675"},"modified":"2026-08-09T10:13:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T07:13:59","slug":"blossoms-on-the-playfulness-of-album-six-as-they-reflect-on-10-years-of-their-debut-resting-on-our-laurels-was-never-on-the-agenda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2084675","title":{"rendered":"Blossoms on the \u201cplayfulness\u201d of album six as they reflect on 10 years of their debut: \u201cResting on our laurels was never on the agenda\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_1.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Blossoms on the \u201cplayfulness\u201d of album six as they reflect on 10 years of their debut: \u201cResting on our laurels was never on the agenda\u201d<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>As the indie heroes returned to Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute to celebrate 10 years of their debut album, frontman Tom Ogden told NME about the \u201cpure joy\u201d of revisiting their early days, getting in the hot tub to write new music with Declan McKenna, and why arenas \u201cfeel like where we should be\u201d for sixth album \u2018Songs From The Wedding Cake\u2019\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Rishi Shah<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-08-09T11:13:59+01:00\">9th August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- .\/block --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure>\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_1-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden\" title=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Blossoms live at Manchester&#8217;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Blossoms frontman Tom Ogden has spoken to <em>NME<\/em> about commemorating a decade of their self-titled debut album, the band\u2019s rise from those early days, and their upcoming collaborative single with Declan McKenna. Check out our full interview below.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday (August 5), the band celebrated 10 years of their Number One debut album by playing it front-to-back at Manchester\u2019s 260-capacity Deaf Institute. Marking their first show at the venue since 2014, the Stockport five-piece also brought out deep cuts, fan favourites and previewed songs from their upcoming sixth album \u2018Songs From The Wedding Cake\u2019. The one-off gig was recorded for an accompanying live album titled \u2018Live At The Deaf Institute\u2019.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Having launched the upcoming LP in June with a pop-up van gig outside 42nd Street Nightclub, vocalist Tom Ogden spoke to us after the Deaf Institute gig about the magic of intimate shows. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to do these moments that feel more grounded, in a way,\u201d he said. \u201cThe first time we played The Deaf Institute, a photographer called Debbie Ellis shot us, and we invited her back to come and shoot us again. We had a nice email from a fan called Joe, who we stopped seeing, the bigger we got, because he obviously prefers the smaller shows.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe exchanged email addresses with Charlie [Salt, bassist] back in the day, and he emailed saying, \u2018I still follow the band, it\u2019s great to see how much you\u2019ve risen, but to see you in this venue again would mean a lot to me.\u2019 In 2014, we gave out little carnations to every person who came to the show \u2013 Charlie\u2019s aunty was a florist \u2013 and he was like, \u2018I\u2019ll wear the red carnation again!\u2019. Little things like that, there is a real old-school togetherness with the fans, and it was a really special night.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>The buzz upstairs at the sweatbox of The Deaf Institute was palpable, as <em>NME<\/em> entered through armies of teenagers piled outside the Oxford Road venue, begging for spare tickets. With The Lottery Winners\u2019 Thom Rylance spotted in the audience, Blossoms took to the stage shortly after 9pm and exploded straight into \u2018Charlemagne\u2019, their traditional show closer, promoted to pole position as the opening track on their debut album.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was Joe\u2019s [Donovan, drummer] 22nd birthday the last time we played here,\u201d recalled Ogden, after asking if anyone else here was in attendance 12 years ago. \u201cI still can\u2019t grow facial hair!\u201d An elastic \u2018At Most A Kiss\u2019 and guaranteed sing-along \u2018Getaway\u2019 kept momentum sky-high, while Ogden pre-warned the crowd before the first outing of \u2018Onto Her Bed\u2019 in a decade: \u201cIf I fuck the words up, I have an excuse!<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cWe thought we\u2019d give you an authentic 2014 experience where there\u2019s loads of silence in between the tunes, and it\u2019s not as slick,\u201d he joked. \u201cIt\u2019s nice, a bit of nostalgia every now and again, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961587\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961587\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961587\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_2.jpg\" alt=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961587\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blossoms live at Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018Texia\u2019 had echoes of The Last Shadow Puppets, and the outro of \u2018My Favourite Room\u2019 turned into a crowd rendition of Oasis\u2019 \u2018Half The World Away\u2019. Things soon descended towards full-blown story time, as Ogden recounted keyboardist Myles Kellock\u2019s audition for the band plus the occasion The Coral\u2019s James Skelly gifted him a guitar.<\/p>\n<p>Returning for latest singles \u2018Joke About Divorce\u2019 and \u2018Meet Me In Love\u2019 in the encore, the latter saw Declan McKenna \u2013 who seems to be gearing up for a new era himself \u2013 pop up on stage to contribute backing vocals, before picking up a guitar and quipping \u201cHere\u2019s \u2018Wonderwall\u2019!\u201d Introducing unreleased newbie \u2018Additional Driver\u2019, Ogden explained on stage that the collaborative track is about a \u201cminor collision in a car at the Apollo roundabout.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DbsxWzxFfCL\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI was pulling out and somebody cut me up, but the police were right behind us, so we had this whole exchange of, \u2018Just making sure you\u2019re insured.\u2019 As it happened, some lad tapped and asked for a selfie.\u201d The track had art-rock, funk and disco influences, also briefly nodding to The Beatles\u2019 \u2018Drive My Car\u2019 as Ogden and McKenna traded vocals. As for the song\u2019s title, Ogden told the crowd: \u201cI was an additional driver on the insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his interview with <em>NME<\/em>, Ogden said the song came about in the same AirBnb in Anglesey where they wrote 2024 single \u2018I Like Your Look\u2019 with CMAT. \u201cI had to give a little disclaimer of what it was about, because it is ridiculous, but a lot of fun\u2026 the whole thing felt like a fever dream,\u201d he reflected. \u201cWe wrote with Declan for a week. One day, it got to 9 o\u2019clock, we had a few drinks, and we started getting that groove of what the song is, and that bump \u2013 it wasn\u2019t a crash, it was a bump \u2013 had just happened a couple of days before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe started spitballing these ideas and ended up doing the vocals in the hot tub. It was, as you\u2019d imagine, ridiculousness, but it ended up being fun the same way as [2024 album] \u2018Gary\u2019 was fun. I knew it had something, because \u2018Gary\u2019 gave us licence to do whatever the fuck we want\u2026 it was an element of trusting our gut. The video is ridiculous \u2013 which makes me want to do it more \u2013 we had the 192 [bus] going down the A6, and we recreated the scene outside the Apollo with fake police. It was a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961588\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961588\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961588\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_3.jpg\" alt=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961588\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blossoms live at Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Check out the rest of our interview below, where Ogden spoke about the legacy of their debut, similarities with Wolf Alice, and what to expect from \u2018Songs From The Wedding Cake\u2019.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NME: Hi Tom. What were the feelings on stage as you pressed pause on your upcoming album campaign to indulge and celebrate 10 years of debut album?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tom Ogden:<\/strong> \u201cPure joy, really. For the vast majority of our career, and as a person, I\u2019m always looking forward, but it is nice to take it in and actually appreciate the moment. Them old tunes, there\u2019s a rawness, the youth of making them songs. You couldn\u2019t do it again now because you\u2019re a different person, you sing about different things. We\u2019ve never been \u2018punk\u2019, but there\u2019s a youthful energy to it, an aggression in the singing, which is charming, in a way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>While you\u2019ve been so busy evolving over the past decade, have you kept an eye on what your debut album has grown into, and what it means to so many people?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnly of late. [When you] have success off one album, people might take their foot off the gas and think, \u2018Oh, we\u2019ve made it,\u2019 whereas I never felt like that, so I was constantly like, \u2018We need to stay in the mix.\u2019 After \u2018Gary\u2019, I had a moment where I felt like I could take stock. Up until that point, I was always restless\u2026 I\u2019d beat myself up about things and kept a barrier on how much I could let myself enjoy it. Seeing people take to \u2018Gary\u2019 made me take stock a little bit and go, \u2018We\u2019ve done all right here. We\u2019ve got a new album and arena tour on the way.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you contend with the idea of Blossoms existing only as an arena band? When some bands make that jump, they never look back\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of fans online have said, \u2018You should be in arenas,\u2019 but we\u2019ve choked it to a point where we\u2019ve got a catalogue to do those shows now. If we\u2019d made that jump too early, we\u2019d have been out of our depth. I think we\u2019re a better live band, I\u2019m a better frontman, I\u2019m way more comfortable. I know who I am now, I\u2019m 33. For many years, I felt a bit lost with it, self-conscious, whereas I\u2019ve evolved into that role and I love it now. It feels like the right time to go to arenas, and it\u2019s not daunting. It feels like where we should be, in a way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you think your debut album would fare if it were to be released in 2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d like to think it would stand up! On the second album [\u2018Cool Like You\u2018, 2018] there are a few stinkers \u2013 maybe because I had less time and that \u2018second album\u2019 thing \u2013 but that first record, there\u2019s no songs I\u2019d get rid of. Playing them 10 years later, none of it felt outdated, it felt timeless, to me. I think if we put out \u2018Charlemagne\u2019 tomorrow, people would still jump on it. Maybe not \u2013 maybe we\u2019d stay at The Deaf Institute and never evolve! It\u2019s hard to say, but I\u2019m going to back myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking back at other British indie bands who released exciting debut albums around 2016, you have acts like Wolf Alice who are flying, but others like Sundara Karma have split, and The Hunna are about to. Blossoms have so much still ahead of them, but what does it mean to be so creatively stimulated as you hit the 10-year mark?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom the start, we wanted longevity. Resting on our laurels was never on the agenda for us, to be honest. Maybe because of where we\u2019re from, once we got that opportunity with the record deal, we thought, \u2018This is it. We\u2019re going to grab it with both horns and go for it.\u2019 It\u2019s nice to see we\u2019re still in there. It feels like the biggest we\u2019ve ever been, which [doesn\u2019t] often happen \u2013 like you said, you can fall off \u2013 and I think that\u2019s because we are so hungry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a huge Wolf Alice fan, we know them a little bit, and seeing them backstage does remind me of us \u2013 on a friendship level. They go to the pub together, hang out and live and breathe it the same way we do. Obviously, making great songs, you have to do that and keep evolving, which they have done, and I think we\u2019re doing that as well, in our own lane. From that era, maybe the friendship is an important thing within that. There are parallels with the creativity. I can see they\u2019re over every element, and you\u2019ve got to be like that these days.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s sad to see other bands not make it. Maybe back in the day, it would have been enough to not be [artistically involved across] every element. But unless you are, I don\u2019t think it always works out. I love The Magic Gang, but they didn\u2019t manage to stay together, and it\u2019s sad to see that. But I think it\u2019s down to the hunger, and maybe a bit of luck as well. We\u2019ve got a lot of great people around us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961589\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961589\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961589\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_4.jpg\" alt=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961589\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blossoms live at Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Alongside Declan, we\u2019ve heard Rick Astley doing backing vocals on \u2018Joke About Divorce\u2019. What role did Inhaler\u2019s Elijah Hewson have on your new album?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn an album track, this middle eight section, I was singing like Eli and thought, \u2018This bit would sound great with Eli singing it,\u2019 so Joe was like, \u2018Well, let\u2019s just fucking message him.\u2019 He sent us the vocals back the next day, he did it remotely at his place in London. In hip-hop world, for example, you\u2019re always getting features and people jumping on each other\u2019s tracks, so at this point we\u2019re like, \u2018Why can\u2019t we do a bit of that?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>You mentioned how \u2018Gary\u2019 unlocked the door for things to get even more unserious on \u2018Songs From The Wedding Cake\u2019 \u2013 the track listing mentions songs about the Kardashians and Uma Thurman. What would the Tom of 2016 think of the new album, and the style of songwriting you\u2019ve grown into?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think he\u2019d like it! I don\u2019t know whether he\u2019d have the foresight to fully understand it, but writing the song \u2018Your Girlfriend\u2019 was a game-changer for me, in terms of narrative-based songs where you have licence to have fun with it and go elsewhere. But I think he\u2019d like the playfulness, because that sense of humour has always been there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Blossoms\u2019 new album \u2018Songs From The Wedding Cake\u2019 is out October 2 via ODD SK \/ Distiller Records. Visit here to pre-order, including an exclusive live double CD edition featuring \u2018Live At The Deaf Institute\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961590\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961590\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961590\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_5.jpg\" alt=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961590\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blossoms live at Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Their upcoming UK headline tour dares are below. Visit here for tickets and more information.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOVEMBER<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>26 \u2013 Cardiff, Utilita Arena<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>27 \u2013 London, Alexandra Palace<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>28 \u2013 Manchester, Co-op Live<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>DECEMBER<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>4 \u2013 Birmingham, Utilita Arena<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>5 \u2013 Glasgow, OVO Hydro<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>11 \u2013 Manchester, Co-op Live<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Blossoms<\/li>\n<li>Declan McKenna<\/li>\n<li>Inhaler<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<div 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Festival\u2019 and making \u2018GTA\u2019-inspired rap<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NME-HERO-SAILOR-HONEYMOON-CREDIT-ANNIE-CHUNG@2560x1707-400x267.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NME-HERO-SAILOR-HONEYMOON-CREDIT-ANNIE-CHUNG@2560x1707-800x533.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Sailor Honeymoon conjure up a world of defiant, irreverent imperfection<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ricky-Gervais-Alley-Cats-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ricky-Gervais-Alley-Cats-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">\u2018Alley Cats\u2019 review: look what Ricky Gervais has dragged in<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-custom_ad_1  tdi_94 td_block_template_2\">\n<p><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-sidebar-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_95\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_96  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_98  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_100  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_102  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_104 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_105 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_105\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_105\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dwayne_johnson_moana-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dwayne_johnson_moana-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Film News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Dwayne Johnson on poor reviews for \u2018Moana\u2019 remake: \u201cThat\u2019s just the way it goes\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/NMEAR_NME-READING-2024-FONTAINES-D-C-LIVE-17-CREDIT-ANDY-FORD@2000x1270-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/NMEAR_NME-READING-2024-FONTAINES-D-C-LIVE-17-CREDIT-ANDY-FORD@2000x1270-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Watch Fontaines D.C. debut new songs \u2018Marianne\u2019 and \u2018Six Shot Morning\u2019 in first full headline show of 2026<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/tyga_live_2025-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/tyga_live_2025-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Tyga admits he used AI on new album \u2018$tarface\u2019: \u201cI don\u2019t care\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Joseph_Okpako_Kayla_Bartkowski-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Joseph_Okpako_Kayla_Bartkowski-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Watch Charli XCX join The Strokes for \u2018Take It Or Leave It\u2019 at Outside Lands 2026<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Billy-Strings.-CREDIT_-Gary-Miller_Getty-Images-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Billy-Strings.-CREDIT_-Gary-Miller_Getty-Images-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Billy Strings performs in protective headgear after being hit by object on stage<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-image-container\">\n<div class=\"td-module-thumb\"><span class=\"entry-thumb td-thumb-css\" data-type=\"css_image\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Perez-Hilton.-CREDIT_-Denise-Truscello_Getty-Images-for-BOA-Steakhouse-Las-Vegas-400x254.jpg\" data-img-retina-url=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Perez-Hilton.-CREDIT_-Denise-Truscello_Getty-Images-for-BOA-Steakhouse-Las-Vegas-800x508.jpg\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Perez Hilton\u2019s family say he \u201cwill require surgery\u201d after live stream incident<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>                    <span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span>                <\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Blossoms frontman Tom Ogden has spoken to <em>NME<\/em> about commemorating a decade of their self-titled debut album, the band\u2019s rise from those early days, and their upcoming collaborative single with Declan McKenna. Check out our full interview below.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday (August 5), the band celebrated 10 years of their Number One debut album by playing it front-to-back at Manchester\u2019s 260-capacity Deaf Institute. Marking their first show at the venue since 2014, the Stockport five-piece also brought out deep cuts, fan favourites and previewed songs from their upcoming sixth album \u2018Songs From The Wedding Cake\u2019. The one-off gig was recorded for an accompanying live album titled \u2018Live At The Deaf Institute\u2019.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Having launched the upcoming LP in June with a pop-up van gig outside 42nd Street Nightclub, vocalist Tom Ogden spoke to us after the Deaf Institute gig about the magic of intimate shows. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to do these moments that feel more grounded, in a way,\u201d he said. \u201cThe first time we played The Deaf Institute, a photographer called Debbie Ellis shot us, and we invited her back to come and shoot us again. We had a nice email from a fan called Joe, who we stopped seeing, the bigger we got, because he obviously prefers the smaller shows.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe exchanged email addresses with Charlie [Salt, bassist] back in the day, and he emailed saying, \u2018I still follow the band, it\u2019s great to see how much you\u2019ve risen, but to see you in this venue again would mean a lot to me.\u2019 In 2014, we gave out little carnations to every person who came to the show \u2013 Charlie\u2019s aunty was a florist \u2013 and he was like, \u2018I\u2019ll wear the red carnation again!\u2019. Little things like that, there is a real old-school togetherness with the fans, and it was a really special night.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>The buzz upstairs at the sweatbox of The Deaf Institute was palpable, as <em>NME<\/em> entered through armies of teenagers piled outside the Oxford Road venue, begging for spare tickets. With The Lottery Winners\u2019 Thom Rylance spotted in the audience, Blossoms took to the stage shortly after 9pm and exploded straight into \u2018Charlemagne\u2019, their traditional show closer, promoted to pole position as the opening track on their debut album.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was Joe\u2019s [Donovan, drummer] 22nd birthday the last time we played here,\u201d recalled Ogden, after asking if anyone else here was in attendance 12 years ago. \u201cI still can\u2019t grow facial hair!\u201d An elastic \u2018At Most A Kiss\u2019 and guaranteed sing-along \u2018Getaway\u2019 kept momentum sky-high, while Ogden pre-warned the crowd before the first outing of \u2018Onto Her Bed\u2019 in a decade: \u201cIf I fuck the words up, I have an excuse!<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cWe thought we\u2019d give you an authentic 2014 experience where there\u2019s loads of silence in between the tunes, and it\u2019s not as slick,\u201d he joked. \u201cIt\u2019s nice, a bit of nostalgia every now and again, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961587\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961587\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961587\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_2.jpg\" alt=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961587\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blossoms live at Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018Texia\u2019 had echoes of The Last Shadow Puppets, and the outro of \u2018My Favourite Room\u2019 turned into a crowd rendition of Oasis\u2019 \u2018Half The World Away\u2019. Things soon descended towards full-blown story time, as Ogden recounted keyboardist Myles Kellock\u2019s audition for the band plus the occasion The Coral\u2019s James Skelly gifted him a guitar.<\/p>\n<p>Returning for latest singles \u2018Joke About Divorce\u2019 and \u2018Meet Me In Love\u2019 in the encore, the latter saw Declan McKenna \u2013 who seems to be gearing up for a new era himself \u2013 pop up on stage to contribute backing vocals, before picking up a guitar and quipping \u201cHere\u2019s \u2018Wonderwall\u2019!\u201d Introducing unreleased newbie \u2018Additional Driver\u2019, Ogden explained on stage that the collaborative track is about a \u201cminor collision in a car at the Apollo roundabout.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DbsxWzxFfCL\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span>  <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-article-2\" class=\"lazy-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI was pulling out and somebody cut me up, but the police were right behind us, so we had this whole exchange of, \u2018Just making sure you\u2019re insured.\u2019 As it happened, some lad tapped and asked for a selfie.\u201d The track had art-rock, funk and disco influences, also briefly nodding to The Beatles\u2019 \u2018Drive My Car\u2019 as Ogden and McKenna traded vocals. As for the song\u2019s title, Ogden told the crowd: \u201cI was an additional driver on the insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In his interview with <em>NME<\/em>, Ogden said the song came about in the same AirBnb in Anglesey where they wrote 2024 single \u2018I Like Your Look\u2019 with CMAT. \u201cI had to give a little disclaimer of what it was about, because it is ridiculous, but a lot of fun\u2026 the whole thing felt like a fever dream,\u201d he reflected. \u201cWe wrote with Declan for a week. One day, it got to 9 o\u2019clock, we had a few drinks, and we started getting that groove of what the song is, and that bump \u2013 it wasn\u2019t a crash, it was a bump \u2013 had just happened a couple of days before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe started spitballing these ideas and ended up doing the vocals in the hot tub. It was, as you\u2019d imagine, ridiculousness, but it ended up being fun the same way as [2024 album] \u2018Gary\u2019 was fun. I knew it had something, because \u2018Gary\u2019 gave us licence to do whatever the fuck we want\u2026 it was an element of trusting our gut. The video is ridiculous \u2013 which makes me want to do it more \u2013 we had the 192 [bus] going down the A6, and we recreated the scene outside the Apollo with fake police. It was a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961588\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961588\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961588\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_3.jpg\" alt=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961588\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blossoms live at Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Check out the rest of our interview below, where Ogden spoke about the legacy of their debut, similarities with Wolf Alice, and what to expect from \u2018Songs From The Wedding Cake\u2019.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NME: Hi Tom. What were the feelings on stage as you pressed pause on your upcoming album campaign to indulge and celebrate 10 years of debut album?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tom Ogden:<\/strong> \u201cPure joy, really. For the vast majority of our career, and as a person, I\u2019m always looking forward, but it is nice to take it in and actually appreciate the moment. Them old tunes, there\u2019s a rawness, the youth of making them songs. You couldn\u2019t do it again now because you\u2019re a different person, you sing about different things. We\u2019ve never been \u2018punk\u2019, but there\u2019s a youthful energy to it, an aggression in the singing, which is charming, in a way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>While you\u2019ve been so busy evolving over the past decade, have you kept an eye on what your debut album has grown into, and what it means to so many people?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnly of late. [When you] have success off one album, people might take their foot off the gas and think, \u2018Oh, we\u2019ve made it,\u2019 whereas I never felt like that, so I was constantly like, \u2018We need to stay in the mix.\u2019 After \u2018Gary\u2019, I had a moment where I felt like I could take stock. Up until that point, I was always restless\u2026 I\u2019d beat myself up about things and kept a barrier on how much I could let myself enjoy it. Seeing people take to \u2018Gary\u2019 made me take stock a little bit and go, \u2018We\u2019ve done all right here. We\u2019ve got a new album and arena tour on the way.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you contend with the idea of Blossoms existing only as an arena band? When some bands make that jump, they never look back\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of fans online have said, \u2018You should be in arenas,\u2019 but we\u2019ve choked it to a point where we\u2019ve got a catalogue to do those shows now. If we\u2019d made that jump too early, we\u2019d have been out of our depth. I think we\u2019re a better live band, I\u2019m a better frontman, I\u2019m way more comfortable. I know who I am now, I\u2019m 33. For many years, I felt a bit lost with it, self-conscious, whereas I\u2019ve evolved into that role and I love it now. It feels like the right time to go to arenas, and it\u2019s not daunting. It feels like where we should be, in a way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you think your debut album would fare if it were to be released in 2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d like to think it would stand up! On the second album [\u2018Cool Like You\u2018, 2018] there are a few stinkers \u2013 maybe because I had less time and that \u2018second album\u2019 thing \u2013 but that first record, there\u2019s no songs I\u2019d get rid of. Playing them 10 years later, none of it felt outdated, it felt timeless, to me. I think if we put out \u2018Charlemagne\u2019 tomorrow, people would still jump on it. Maybe not \u2013 maybe we\u2019d stay at The Deaf Institute and never evolve! It\u2019s hard to say, but I\u2019m going to back myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking back at other British indie bands who released exciting debut albums around 2016, you have acts like Wolf Alice who are flying, but others like Sundara Karma have split, and The Hunna are about to. Blossoms have so much still ahead of them, but what does it mean to be so creatively stimulated as you hit the 10-year mark?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom the start, we wanted longevity. Resting on our laurels was never on the agenda for us, to be honest. Maybe because of where we\u2019re from, once we got that opportunity with the record deal, we thought, \u2018This is it. We\u2019re going to grab it with both horns and go for it.\u2019 It\u2019s nice to see we\u2019re still in there. It feels like the biggest we\u2019ve ever been, which [doesn\u2019t] often happen \u2013 like you said, you can fall off \u2013 and I think that\u2019s because we are so hungry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a huge Wolf Alice fan, we know them a little bit, and seeing them backstage does remind me of us \u2013 on a friendship level. They go to the pub together, hang out and live and breathe it the same way we do. Obviously, making great songs, you have to do that and keep evolving, which they have done, and I think we\u2019re doing that as well, in our own lane. From that era, maybe the friendship is an important thing within that. There are parallels with the creativity. I can see they\u2019re over every element, and you\u2019ve got to be like that these days.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s sad to see other bands not make it. Maybe back in the day, it would have been enough to not be [artistically involved across] every element. But unless you are, I don\u2019t think it always works out. I love The Magic Gang, but they didn\u2019t manage to stay together, and it\u2019s sad to see that. But I think it\u2019s down to the hunger, and maybe a bit of luck as well. We\u2019ve got a lot of great people around us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961589\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961589\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961589\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_4.jpg\" alt=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961589\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blossoms live at Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Alongside Declan, we\u2019ve heard Rick Astley doing backing vocals on \u2018Joke About Divorce\u2019. What role did Inhaler\u2019s Elijah Hewson have on your new album?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn an album track, this middle eight section, I was singing like Eli and thought, \u2018This bit would sound great with Eli singing it,\u2019 so Joe was like, \u2018Well, let\u2019s just fucking message him.\u2019 He sent us the vocals back the next day, he did it remotely at his place in London. In hip-hop world, for example, you\u2019re always getting features and people jumping on each other\u2019s tracks, so at this point we\u2019re like, \u2018Why can\u2019t we do a bit of that?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>You mentioned how \u2018Gary\u2019 unlocked the door for things to get even more unserious on \u2018Songs From The Wedding Cake\u2019 \u2013 the track listing mentions songs about the Kardashians and Uma Thurman. What would the Tom of 2016 think of the new album, and the style of songwriting you\u2019ve grown into?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think he\u2019d like it! I don\u2019t know whether he\u2019d have the foresight to fully understand it, but writing the song \u2018Your Girlfriend\u2019 was a game-changer for me, in terms of narrative-based songs where you have licence to have fun with it and go elsewhere. But I think he\u2019d like the playfulness, because that sense of humour has always been there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Blossoms\u2019 new album \u2018Songs From The Wedding Cake\u2019 is out October 2 via ODD SK \/ Distiller Records. Visit here to pre-order, including an exclusive live double CD edition featuring \u2018Live At The Deaf Institute\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3961590\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3961590\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3961590\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_5.jpg\" alt=\"Blossoms live at Manchester&apos;s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden \" width=\"2000\" height=\"1270\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3961590\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blossoms live at Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute. Credit: Ewan Ogden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Their upcoming UK headline tour dares are below. Visit here for tickets and more information.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOVEMBER<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>26 \u2013 Cardiff, Utilita Arena<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>27 \u2013 London, Alexandra Palace<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>28 \u2013 Manchester, Co-op Live<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>DECEMBER<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>4 \u2013 Birmingham, Utilita Arena<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>5 \u2013 Glasgow, OVO Hydro<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>11 \u2013 Manchester, Co-op Live<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/blossoms-interview-10-year-debut-album-declan-mckenna-songs-from-the-wedding-cake-3961377&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blossoms_deaf_1.jpg&#8221;] News Blossoms on the \u201cplayfulness\u201d of album six as they reflect on 10 years of their debut: \u201cResting on our laurels was never on the agenda\u201d As the indie heroes returned to Manchester\u2019s Deaf Institute to celebrate 10 years of their debut album, frontman Tom Ogden told NME about the \u201cpure joy\u201d [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2084675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2084675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2084675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2084675\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2084675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2084675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2084675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}