"I had officially lost everything": Death Valley Girls detail new album recorded in the aftermath of Altadena wildfires

Welcome To Earth was made after the devastating Eaton Fire in California, which destroyed lead singer Bonnie Bloomgarden's home in Altadena and soon after led to the death of her dog, Tommy. Lead single "Message From the Venus Flower" introduces that period as a funky '80s-inspired track that mourns the loss of her dog while also celebrating their spiritual connection.

"I was broken. I had officially lost everything to 2025," says Bloomgarden. "After lying in bed wallowing, I decided I needed to try some life. I went on our normal walk and passed by a flower, a butterfly pea (Venus flower.) As I stood there, the flower sent me a message like a lightning bolt to my brain!" She describes the revelation that love is not just something you feel or do but "more like a dimension" — one accessible through physical manifestations like her dog Tommy.

Welcome To Earth concentrates on questions about how to survive catastrophe and rebuild, focusing less on escapism and more on understanding how to remain connected after devastation. "I don't think this record could have been made with any other group of people," Bloomgarden shares.

The album also features contributions from twenty-three guest singers, including a children's chorus and Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato — and stands as the final Death Valley Girls recording to feature keyboardist Gregg Foreman, who passed away not long after the sessions.

Welcome To Earth artwork

Welcome To Earth tracklist

"Welcome To Earth"
"Basic Witch"
"Plant Magic"
"Sing For Yourself"
"Message From the Venus Flower"
"I Love You"
"Fire and Brimstone"
"Life So Far"
"How Losing Everything in the Fire Taught Me to Love Myself"