A CONVERSATION WITH... BAD SUNS
If you missed out on a chance to see Bad Suns in the past, now’s your chance! With their UK/ EU leg of the Acceleratour kicking off on February 28th, we had the pleasure of chatting with vocalist Christo Bowman.
With their latest album, Accelerator, out in the world and a successful U.S. run under their belt, the band Bad Suns is returning across the pond for the first time in years. The buzz among fans is exciting, and based on our conversation, the band is just as excited to pick up where they left off.
The first question on everyone’s mind was whether the preparation for this tour felt any different compared to their past runs. According to Christo Bowman, the answer was a definite yes, but in a good way. “We’re more relaxed this time around,” he shared. After wrapping up the October leg of their U.S. tour, the band is now out across the UK and Europe, with support from SOAP.
Rather than obsessing over rituals or pre-show routines, the emphasis is simply on being together as a band and staying connected creatively. He admitted there isn’t one quirky thing they do before hitting the stage, just a shared focus and understanding of going out every night and enjoying the moment.
One of the most striking parts of our conversation was the way Bowman described touring's influence on Bad Suns’ creative process. While touring helps the inspiration process in the sense of capturing ideas on the road, crowds, and how their fans’ energy builds a creative spark, there is something so important about making sure to live in the moment on the road and enjoy what's going on around you.
Bad Suns have been writing and releasing music for over a decade now, and the creative process has evolved in ways you wouldn’t think of. Bowman reflected on how it felt to create their first album compared to where they are now. The first album you make is something that has been stirring for a long time; it's something that takes months or years to create to make a beautiful piece of work, and after that first album, you're basically starting at ground zero all over again. “The first few months of writing were tough,” he admitted. But once ideas begin to flow, the process becomes lighter, especially in those spontaneous moments where inspiration strikes. He gave the example of the track ‘Postcard’, born out of a simple moment sitting down in a field, proof that creativity often finds you in the most unexpected ways.
Alongside the album release, Bad Suns put out a visualizer, a type of companion to the music. When asked how that came to be, Bowman explained it started as a creative side project during his downtime. “It was something to keep me busy,” he said, describing how a friend with a knack for graphic design helped the band build a world that felt eerie yet cool. When pressed about whether the visualizer’s universe would expand into something larger, the answer was a simple “I don’t know”, leaving hopeful anticipation in its wake for what could be in store next for the group.
If you are a fan who is curious about what songs the band loves to perform live, you won’t be disappointed with this tour. When asked which track from Accelerator Bowan would keep on the set list forever, though not one certain track came to mind, he did share his love for ‘Back to Zero’. Its driving energy and sing-along chorus make it a natural live show highlight for the crowd. Meanwhile, ‘Daft Pretty Boys’ holds a special place as the easiest and most fun song to play. As the closing song of the set, it manages to deliver both high energy and pure joy.
What stands out most from this conversation is how deeply Bad Suns value their connection with the people who show up for them night after night. Whether it’s drawing inspiration from the energy of a crowd, joking about Top Gun traditions, or talking about how a single song can change someone’s life, there’s a sincerity in the way Bowman speaks about the band’s journey.
The Acceleratour continues across UK and Europe throughout early March, reconnecting with fans they haven’t seen in years.
