Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Badflower’s Josh Katz Talks Writing New Music, ShipRocked Moments And His Cat Sanctuary

Badflower is a rock band founded in Los Angelos, California. The band is composed of singer and guitarist Josh Katz, lead guitarist Joey Morrow, bass guitarist Alex Espiritu, and drummer Anthony Sonetti. The group formed in 2015 as young music school students, and evolved into the multi-award winning band they are today.

Back in their first days together, Badflower played several shows in Los Angeles including a weekly residency at The Key Club, which gained attention from radio personality and former NSYNC member, Lance Bass. After a performance at The Troubadour, opening for the group Kongos, the band signed their first record deal. They went on to record their first EP Temper, released in 2016 with fan favorite single “Animal.” The latest album Badflower has released together is This Is How the World Ends, in 2021.

Over the years, Badflower has shared the stage with bands like Pop Evil, The Veronicas, Billy Talent, Goodbye June, Of Mice & Men, and Greta Van Fleet. The band is currently getting ready to tour across Australia and New Zealand and is finding the inspiration to write new music. They also just released a new single, “Teacher Has A Gun” that uses the idiom of guns to explore the idea that phones are dangerous. 

We had the chance to talk with lead vocalist and guitarist, Josh Katz, on ShipRocked about his farm in Nashville, favorite support band, and how he copes with anxiety.

Badflower's Josh Katz Talks Writing New Music
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

What’s your favorite ShipRocked moment? You guys have done it a couple times now.

Well, definitely the deck show that we just played. We just played three songs, and the rain hit us so hard that all of our gear shut down. I have no idea if the equipment is okay. We’ll find out. It was very fun. 

When can we expect some new music?

We’re working on it. It’s tough. Writing songs is hard. There are things popping out here and there, but it’s like digging for treasure. 

What does your perfect day in Nashville look like?

Oh my goodness. Sunny, 75. The seasons are pretty extreme. When it’s hot in the summer, it’s really hot. We just had a snowstorm recently and it dropped to negative six. I was stuck at my farm.

I would be on my farm. I’m an hour south of Nashville. I love the woods versus the city. I’m not a city person. I grew up in LA. I feel like I’ve always been in the city. I’m not a people person. 

Badflower's Josh Katz Talks Writing New Music
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

So what do you do on the farm? Do you have animals?

I have animals. I’m slowly developing a cat sanctuary because cats keep showing up and I’m taking care of them. Initially, I got the place because I wanted a cow sanctuary. Now the cow sanctuary has to be put on hold because there’s a lot of stuff to do on the farm and a lot of money to be made to set up the infrastructure properly. But cats keep showing up, so I keep rescuing cats. I built a little studio there, I live there. It’s just all the things.

Do you record there with the guys?

Yeah, we did half of our last album there. As long as I put my phone on silent, nobody’s yelling at me about turning in music. 

You guys have an Australia and New Zealand tour coming up. Two of the prettiest places in the world. What are you looking forward to? Any cities you love?

I’m just looking forward to it. I’ve never been to New Zealand. I’ve spent a lot of time in Australia. I’m excited to be back there. I’m just excited to see New Zealand. Make fun of all their accents, hang out with kangaroos. It’ll be great.

Badflower's Josh Katz Talks Writing New Music
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

You’ve toured all over the world. Any hidden gems you would tell people to visit?

I’ve had some of the best times in Florence, Italy. It’s nice. Wild place, but it’s not hidden. I mean, everybody knows where it is. There’s something magical about it though. It’s cool there. 

What are the travel items you have to have with you? 

Advil. Adderall. At least some socks that are clean. Socks. Socks are crucial. I need socks. Socks matter a lot. Phone chargers.

What was a highlight of the Asking For A Friend tour?

We had two parts to that tour. We had a first half and a second half. I would say just the hangs with the other bands that we had on with us. We really, really enjoyed the time we had with our support bands. 

Badflower's Josh Katz Talks Writing New Music
Josh Katz of Badflower performs at the Welcome To Rockville Music Festival on Friday, May 19, 2023, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Favorite support bands?

We did our This Is How The World Continues Tour in the spring with ‘68. We actually met that band on the ship here. I’d never heard of them before. I wandered into the little bar where they were playing, and I was like, ‘Who the hell is this band?’ I texted my agent immediately, and I was like, ‘This is the band we want to support us,’ and they did it. 

Another ShipRocked connection. ShipRocked fans are everywhere. I’m sure they come support you at every show.

Every show. There’s at least, like, five people in the audience who say ‘ShipRocked!’ They yell it out. 

Badflower's Josh Katz Talks Writing New Music
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

I know you’ve struggled with anxiety over the years, and it’s hard. Have you found mechanisms or things to do that help you cope with it better?

I think just not giving a sh*t. Not taking it too seriously. Just constantly reminding yourself that everyone who’s in the room is there to have fun. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that, and you feel like all these people are here to judge you. If you can keep that in mind, it doesn’t matter what you do, it doesn’t matter if you f*ck up. They’re there to have a good time and support you. 

Like, let’s say you’re the support band and nobody knows who you are. They’re not really there to support you. In fact, some people are there to judge you, but mostly they’re there to have fun, to make a good memory. So as long as you can contribute to that in some way, which is so easy to do, it’s so easy to contribute to something positive for someone that’s there, then everybody’s happy and that positivity spreads throughout the whole room, including yourself.

Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

What are your best and worst parts of touring?

The best part is meeting lots of people, feeling validated, playing shows. The worst part is just being away from home, being away from loved ones, being away from the cats and dogs.

Do you have a favorite cat? 

I currently have a favorite cat, but I don’t want to say because I don’t want to make the other cats jealous. What if they listen to this?

What’s your perfect vacation? 

ShipRocked. I don’t like vacations. My perfect vacation is one that has a pretty view and good weather and I can still work. A good internet connection and my laptop and some instruments and whatever else. That’s my perfect vacation.

Badflower's Josh Katz Talks Writing New Music
Photo Credit: Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

I’ve been asking people about Buc-ee’s. I discovered it last year. What’s your favorite truck stop purchase?

Fritos and bean dip. Ten-foot phone charger. There’s no power outlets near our bed, at least in our room. 

What’s in store for 2024?

Writing mostly, but then touring at the end of the year. Like you said, the Australia thing’s already booked. There’s another tour that we haven’t announced yet, but we will be announcing soon towards the end of the year. Most of this year we’re trying to just get music out, get music finished. 

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Amy Harris
Amy Harris is a writer and photographer who has been traveling for 20 years and flown over 2 million miles to visit over 80 countries on 6 continents. She is a freelance photographer for Invision by Associated Press, AP Images and Rex/Shutterstock. Her work can be seen in various publications and websites including: Rolling Stone, AP Images, National Geographic Books, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Forbes.com, Lonely Planet Travel Guides, JetStar magazine, and Delta Sky Magazine.

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