In 2010, Nicole Fiorentino’s life changed forever when it was announced that she was the new bassist for alternative rock legends Smashing Pumpkins. She was no stranger to the limelight, having previously been a member of other popular rock acts such as Veruca Salt, Spinnerette, and Light FM. Similarly, that same year she also formed the band The Cold And Lovely, which made for a nonstop touring schedule and also put Fiorentino’s writing and recording skills to the test. She went on to release Teargarden by Kaleidyscope (2010) and Oceania (2012) with Smashing Pumpkins, and The Cold And Lovely’s self-titled debut (2012) and Ellis Bell(2013). She was up for the test, and delivered massive bass performances on each of the albums, while solidifying her prolific stature as songwriter. Fiorentino’s magnetic stage presence and staggering tone made her stand out and become a favorite among fans of both bands. When we had a chance to discuss her playing with Billy Corgan, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman likened her style to that of Chris Squire of Yes, an incisive comparison given Fiorentino’s strong rhythmic propulsion and her cutting midrange sound. She continued to develop a mature musical identity with both of her musical outlets, but in 2014 she announced that she was departing from the Pumpkins lineup, and in 2016 it was revealed that The Cold And Lovely would be taking an indefinite hiatus. The non-stop touring and studio schedule that she had grown accustomed to had now subsided, and for the first time in a long time, she allotted herself some space away from music. In 2016 she formed her own business, a pet-sitting and charitable organization in Los Angeles that fueled her other love besides low end, dogs and cats. Content with her new lifestyle, it was going to take something special to make Nicole want to don her bass once again, and that project found her late in 2018 when her close friends approached her to start a new band. The initial jam sessions reinvigorated her love of playing, and before long, the group Bizou was minted and ready for action. In her own words, Nicole describes Bizou’s music as a sweet and poppy brand of dark beach goth that resembles if Siouxsie Sioux had a baby with Lush. We’d explain it better than that, but we really can’t. And naturally, the root of the music lies in the powerful, chorus and gain-driven lines of Fiorentino, who seemingly hasn’t skipped a beat in her time away. Bizou has now recently released its self-titled debut EP, with a distinctive vibe that makes this nascent outfit already sound like a seasoned band. But that’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from any project Fiorentino steps into. After you departed from Smashing Pumpkins, you decided to take a break from music. What made you want to return? I started my business and wanted to focus on that, and with any new company, the first two years are the hardest, so I really didn’t have time for anything else. But after a