Times are good for Bristol, England-based band The Ramona Flowers right now. The band are experiencing a solid wave of momentum, thanks to a pair of popular singles; "Human," their latest release, and "Up All Night," a 2021 song with Nile Rodgers that took off last year after its inclusion in the NBA2K24 video game soundtrack. Just before flying to the US for this current run of dates with Bad Suns, we talked with the band about their current wave of success:

OMC: You're coming back to tour in the United States, and this isn’t your first time playing here. How does it feel to bounce back and forth and be on this ride right now?

Sam Dyson: It feels like jetlag (laughs.) But we love it out there. It's our favorite place to tour. Best crowds, always an adventure. We feel very lucky.

OMC: You had the song that blew up, "Up All Night." It was included in NBA 2K24. Did you know how big that would be for the song and how it would propel it forward?

Steve Bird: When we started and went back through our songs, we knew it was something special. It had something a bit different, but you never know how people will take to it. It was a bit of a surprise, but we believed in it. We were buzzing that it happened.

OMC: Are you gamers or basketball fans? Or was it just a placement, and sort of a "let’s see what happens" type of thing?

Sam Dyson: We're definitely gamers. I hadn’t played NBA, but I then played it and it was great.

Ed Gallimore: I had a go and was terrible. I didn’t understand anything and was just button bashing. FIFA was the game we played.

OMC: Let’s talk about “Human,” the new single, and the remix. How did the song come together?

Steve Bird: We initially wrote it in LA. Instead of a day off, we went into the studio and came up with some ideas. It came together very quickly. The chorus and melodies just happened. It was one of those songs that instantly had something. The easiest ones to write are usually the best. If you spend months and months on a song, there’s usually something wrong. The initial draft took a couple of hours.

OMC: When it came to the remix, who did you reach out to, and how were they involved?

Sam Dyson: Oliver Nelson, who’s done a couple of remixes for us. We’ve always been big fans of his mixes. We thought it had to be upbeat, and he’s great at that. So we went with him again. It’s an odd song to remix, but he managed to put an interesting spin on it.

OMC: You're working on new material as well. Are you back in studios recording while playing these shows stateside? What does the next project look like?

Ed Gallimore: The album’s done, actually. It’s out later this year.

OMC: Do you have a timeline as to when we can expect it?

Sam Dyson: Another single is coming out in the summer, which I’m excited about. The title of the song gives it away a bit. The album will follow a couple of months later.

OMC: When you visit Milwaukee, will you be road-testing material from the new record during the tour?

Steve Bird: The whole set is new, all off the new record.

OMC: Is there a song from the new record that stands out as a crowd favorite?

Steve Bird: “Human” definitely does. Also, the new one, “That Summer,” which we all love. People really seem to take to that.

OMC: One last question: What’s one guilty pleasure you have to bring on tour?

Sam Dyson: A lead singer! (laughs)

You can catch Bad Suns with The Ramona Flowers at Vivarium on Wednesday night. Tickets are available now via the Pabst Theater Group website.