If Bitter have made anything clear since releasing their self-titled debut in February of 2017, it’s that they don’t ascribe to easy labels. Although the queer, non-binary, Latinx rockers have been fierce advocates for marginalized voices within the Atlanta arts community, and have helped lead the charge for a more inclusive and intersectional scene, they’ve done so with a vision of shared humanity that belies the loaded aura of resentment present in their name. With a string of stirring, deeply intimate songs, the group has sought to address universal themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth in the hopes of fostering emotional connections that can survive outside the guarded realms of the social and political. As a result, the band has become something of a local powerhouse, bridging the gap between various sub-scenes, and uniting people under the common banner of music.

For these reasons and many more, Immersive is excited to bring you the premiere of Bitter’s new single “Water.” It’s the first piece of music we’ve heard from the group since their debut, and it sees them furthering the more dramatic and gorgeously eccentric aspects of their songwriting. Maritza Núñez has only grown more confident and assertive with time, and here the vocalist’s expressive voice becomes the driving force behind a stormy song about seeking the strength to cut away from the past in order to make way for a brighter future. “I cut off my hair / I stripped of my bones / I told you to stay / But you had to go,” Núñez declares on the rousing chorus while guitarist Nadav Flax’s fiery playing crackles and burns all around. The single also marks the first recording with bassist Haseena Peera (Cinema Novo) who, along with drummer Zoe Chapman, manage to channel all that convulsive energy into a series of moody yet propulsive grooves. Listen below.

In addition to premiering the new single, we wanted to reach out to Bitter to get a deeper look into the song, and to discuss with them how changes within the band have affected their creative evolution. Fortunately for us, Núñez was gracious enough to respond to our questions and provide us with considerable insight into the group’s music and where they’re headed in the near future. You can read our conversation below.

Is “Water” a one-off single or part of a larger project that’s still to come?

It’s part of a larger project we hope to release by the end of this year.

Much of the lyrics for your debut were written during your adolescence. Is that the case for this single or are these new experiences and emotions you’re exploring?

Actually, these lyrics were based off of the personal experiences I’ve had as an adult in my current relationships. So the content is still pretty fresh. The same concept of heartbreak is in this song, but in the form of a much more mature view of the world. I wanted to explore the vulnerability in letting go, because oftentimes I stick with resentment.

What is the symbolism of cutting off one’s hair as it pertains to this song? Is it a question of abandoning the past and assuming a new identity, or is it darker than that?

Abandoning the past, but growing from who you were; not completely assuming a new identity, but making yourself better. For me a lot of toxicity comes from holding onto things that aren’t good for me anymore. Hair is a big deal to me because I love my long hair, so cutting it off is something drastic in its symbolism. It is starting new and letting go of the old. All of those hair follicles are dead anyways. It is about coming back new and better. The song embodies the theme of letting go so we also wanted to make the album artwork represent that, too.

Much of the messaging for your debut—in your lyrics, in your interviews—surrounded the idea of shared humanity. How do you feel that message has resonated with people?

Shared humanity is a big deal to me because I know for me it’s hard to relate to people. And with music, as cheesy as it sounds, it brings people together. I think people really enjoy the message because I feel like everyone else is also looking for something to relate to. That’s also the whole reason I like to make my lyrics as relatable as possible and those emotions that come with the lyrics. I’ve [had] people come up to me at shows and express how relatable our music is and also how some of our songs I wrote in Spanish makes some people feel closer to where they came from. That’s a huge deal to me.

What has the addition of Haseena meant to the band? How have you evolved musically?

Haseena has brought a lot of positivity to the band. She has made us take a moment to see everything that’s in front of us and helps us focus on the bigger picture. She’s also a lot of fun when playing live and brings a lot of energy because she isn’t shy at all and that’s really refreshing. She’s helped incredibly with us getting our shit together, and I really appreciate that because we all have a bunch of personal things going on that can sometimes make us discouraged. I also really admire and appreciate how much she cares, not just about our music but about everything and everyone. She’s like one with the world.

I think we have evolved a lot since our last EP. We put a lot of time and thought in our new music. We have just tried so many things for our new music in terms of style and genre. I think overall we just thought a lot harder about the sound and how we structure everything. We also have improved our communication within the band when it comes to structuring songs and that’s helped us a lot.

What’s next for Bitter?

We are going to release some new music! We’ve been busy in the studio writing and recording for the past few months. [Tonight] is the official release show for “Water” at the Community Roots fundraiser event at the Bakery. We’ll be performing “Water” live in our set on an awesome lineup with other locals to help benefit that organization. After that, please come to our next BIG show that we are super excited about at Terminal West on August 12. We are very honored to be playing Oye Fest because it’s one of the first Latinx music festivals in Georgia. It means so much to me because it’s rare and I’m just thankful for everyone involved with it. There will be a bunch of amazing Latinx artists playing like Ivy Queen, Cuco and the Marias. We also plan on touring soon which is something we haven’t done yet. Many exciting things for the future of Bitter!

Bitter will celebrate the release of “Water” tonight at the Community Roots Benefit Show at the Bakery. Also performing will be Nerdkween, Taylor Alxndr, MonteQarlo, LaLa Ri, and African Space Program. Late night dance party hosted by DJ Florista to follow. Doors open at 8 p.m. Donations of $5-25 encouraged. All ages.

More Info
Web: bitterband.com
Bandcamp: bitteratl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @BitterAtl
Instagram: @wearebitteratl