Tampa’s Own Hard Rock Double Entendre: Dove Bomb
Interview ★ Kenzie Gay ★ @kenzwrites ★ 1k Words
As the leader of this magazine whether it be in regard to editing duties, managing/creating social content, and general writing, I always make a note to build and develop our team and its members right before each concert season (May-September) due to the bigger demand and everlasting possibilities. This time around, I added on a handful of photojournalists based in areas our magazine hasn’t ventured in such as Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Tampa. This brought me to photographer Kalee Bunning (shoutout!) and indirectly, Dove Bomb, a hard rock band from her home base of the greater Tampa area.
A relatively young band, Dove Bomb is a four piece group made up of vocalist Chloe Gilbert (she/her), guitarist Brett Milan (he/him), bassist Dana Kingery (she/her), and drummer Dylan Cofini (he/him). Packing a punch with a name that serves as a double entendre, I had the chance to discuss their roots and future plans as a band.
Dove Bomb shot by @phixatedphotography
Online, you are self-described as hard rock and metal. Could you go into detail about your individual inspirations (both hard rock/metal and not!)?
Chloe: Overall, I’ve been inspired by a lot of different artists and genres! Growing up, my parents always exposed me to so many different types of music. From pop to rap and heavy metal, my upbringing was a mixing bowl of genres. Some of my main inspirations have been artists like System of a Down, Led Zeppelin, Heart, Avenged Sevenfold, and Metallica. Even pop stars, like Taylor Swift, have influenced the values I hold as an artist.
Brett: There are a few musicians who inspire me. Zakk Wylde is a big inspiration to me because he is an awesome dude and an amazing guitar player. Dimebag Darrell is also an inspiration because of his classic riffs and shredding solos.
Dylan: One musician who’s been an inspiration to me is Harrison Brown of “Bodybox”. Although he’s not their drummer, he inspires me because he works to build and grow his band and has been a very hands on person when it comes to everything related to his music business. Besides that, he’s shown me that I can unapologetically enjoy whatever I want. Music doesn’t always have to be super serious and can be used to simply have a good time and laugh a little.
Dana: My #1 inspiration would be Justin Chancellor. Tool is the band that really inspired me, and I love how technically complex the basslines and the weird time signatures are. Another artist is the great Jaco Pastorius - basslines like “portrait of Tracy” and “teen town” really fueled my interest for more technical bass-lines which turned me into a music theory nerd.
Could you share some insight on what it’s like to be a female-fronted band in a male dominated industry/genre?
Chloe: The music industry is historically male dominated, sometimes making it difficult for women in the scene to feel represented. I’m grateful for the work that the female artists before us put in to create opportunities for women now. I hope that this upward progress continues tenfold, and that girls of future generations can continue to dream even bigger.
The greater Tampa area has been known for its punk/hard rock scenes since the 70s. How do you think living there influenced your approach to music?
The Tampa Bay Area is a hotspot for rock and metal music. The scene here is so vibrant and supportive. Everywhere you turn there’s new bands, venues, and opportunities to grow!
If there is one, what’s the backstory behind the band’s name?
The name ‘Dove Bomb’ is inspired by Chloe’s childhood nickname, Dove. The name incorporates a heartfelt message while playing on/combining phrases like “Love Bomb” and “Dive Bomb”. This also ties into being a female-fronted band! People often assume that just because we’re a female-fronted band, we won’t rock as hard as the others. The idea of “Dove Bomb” is that you can combine that beauty and grace with hard bangers!
Chloe performing with Dove Bomb shot by our own Kalee Bunning!!
You’re a very “new” band in retrospect. How would you describe your sound to potential listeners/our readers?
While we’re constantly striving to find new ways to amplify and cultivate our sound, we’d describe ourselves as hard rock and alternative metal. Our original songs, like “Shattered”, combine aspects of heavy metal with melodic elements. For us, the audience is another member of the band. So, we like to build a set that enjoyers of any genre could enjoy!
Describe a typical day in the life as a rock band (be as detailed as you want).
Chloe: A day in my life as a singer consists of practicing, songwriting, content creation, and handling band logistics. I also spend time managing communication and planning upcoming events. Outside of music, I do music photography and videography so part of my day is dedicated to editing content for clients.
Brett: When I’m at home, I practice as much as I can to make sure I’m ready for my shows. I also work on demos for songs and writing new riffs for the band. Before shows, I usually listen to the songs we’re playing on the way to make sure I’m 100% ready. Outside of music, I’m invested in my education and doing good in school.
Dylan: A day in my life as a drummer isn’t much different from the average person. I get up, go to work, and go home. Now, the fun happens at night. You can find me working on beats, practicing drums, or out at concerts.
Dana: As a bassist, a typical day in my life starts with school and work. After, I usually go to the gym and work out. Then, I go home and practice!
How does the band go about creating a new song? Do you start with a riff? Start with lyrics? Take us through the process.
When writing new songs, we usually start by jamming at practice. Once we have an idea, we’ll take elements that we like, cut the ones we don’t, and start working on song structure. After we’ve run it a couple times, we go home, work individually, and recoup next practice. Sometimes, an individual member will have a song idea, and we’ll send some demos back and forth!
Is there anything you’d like to plug or simply make known for our readers and your fans?
Keep an eye out on our socials! Dove Bomb’s hitting the studio soon and can’t wait to show you all what’s in store!
