shy blossom: “It’s about people who feel things deeply”

The Florida group’s lead singer talks band dynamics, their creative process, and making music for emotional people.

Formed from a solo project in 2023, shy blossom has since developed into a Southwest Florida-based band centred on Adriana McDonald’s songwriting. Now operating as a trio while they look for a new lead guitarist, their sound has moved on from early 90s rock references into a more contemporary indie space, with influences ranging from Radiohead to Lana Del Rey. 

Here, McDonald outlines how the project has evolved, how their songs come together, and who they’re written for.

Which song best represents shy blossom as a band right now?

Stardust. 

How has your sound evolved over the past three years? 

Our first album was very 90s rock. I didn’t truly know what I wanted in the beginning, and I kind of let producers and other band members lead the way. After that, we started to build the songs together, and our sound became more modern, indie, alternative and spacey. My band members Julie Copithorne, Nicole Alberti, and Abel Ramirez – who just recently left – definitely helped in creating that new sound. 

Who are some of your personal musical reference points?

Radiohead, Mitski, Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, Mazzy Star and Lana Del Rey.  

Outside of music, what shapes your songwriting?

My everyday life influences the music: old crushes, loneliness, love, movies, books, paintings, even strangers.

You’ve said you make music for overly emotional people – what does that mean to you?

A lot of that comes from how I personally write and experience music. Most of our songs are written from a very emotional place, often rooted in unrequited love, relationships, loss, and those moments where feelings just feel bigger than you know what to do with. I’m definitely a pretty emotional person and a bit of a hopeless romantic, so that naturally shows up in the writing.

When I say we make music for ‘overly emotional people’, I don’t mean it in a negative way at all. It’s more about people who feel things deeply and don’t really filter that out – people who connect strongly to lyrics, mood, and honesty in a song. I think those are the kinds of listeners who resonate most with what we create, because they’re hearing their own experiences reflected back at them.

Do you write with that listener in mind, or is the process more introspective?

A lot of the time, I am writing for myself because music has always been a way for me to process my emotions and understand different things in life. 

 

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What does a typical session look like?

It really depends on the day. I’m writing on my own in my bedroom a lot, which tends to be more free-flowing and instinctive. When we’re together as a band, sometimes sessions are spontaneous – we’ll go into a rehearsal and something naturally develops into a new song. Other times, we schedule dedicated writing sessions, which are more structured and focused. Those planned sessions are usually more efficient, but the spontaneous ones often lead to more unexpected ideas.

How has using the platform BandLab influenced your production process, workflow and sound?

I’ve used Bandlab to master songs that weren’t recorded in a studio. My use of BandLab has been more on the production side, so I haven’t fully tapped into its community features, but it’s clear the platform is designed to make collaboration and sharing more immediate and accessible. Compared to other platforms, BandLab feels more like a creative hub where artists can interact during the process, not just after release. 

Can you tell us about your latest single, Nothing to Say, from songwriting to production?

I wrote Nothing to Say based on a paper I pulled out of a jar that my dad made. The paper said: ‘Write a song about leaving everything you love behind’. That’s exactly what I did. I finished that song in probably 30 minutes. I always fix up the lyrics a bit after writing like that, though. Then I brought it to the band, and we all worked together to bring the track to life. We got it down, and then we went to Sound House Studios in Lakeland and recorded it, going through each instrument separately. We were lucky to have Bobby Hawke play violin on it as well.

When it comes to band dynamics, what matters most? 

For me, the strongest band dynamics come down to a mix of personal chemistry, shared values, and musical alignment. You have to genuinely get along and trust each other – that foundation makes everything else work. Having shared values keeps everyone moving in the same direction, especially when it comes to goals and work ethic. At the same time, it’s important that everyone brings slightly different musical influences to the table. That balance of similarity and contrast is what helps shape a more unique and interesting sound.

What’s next for shy blossom this year?

We’re still playing multiple shows a month, recording our new songs, travelling out of state for a short tour, and recording three of our songs in Nashville. We are all very excited to see where the music will lead us, and our new stuff is our best yet.