In Conversation With #281 - Saloon Dion
Bristol’s rising stars Saloon Dion have just released their new EP ‘Where You’ll Find Me’. Along with a string of headline dates coming later this year – they have also announced a special headline show at London’s Shacklewell Arms on the 14th October.
The first new body of work since their debut EP Muckers arrived last year, Where You’ll Find Me was recorded in Newcastle with Thom Lewis (aka Bramwell Bronte) and ushers in a fresh era for the band building upon their loose-fit early 90s sound, laden with hooky choruses and catchy, yet intricate guitar work. Where You’ll Find Me has picked up support from the likes of The Telegraph, The Line Of Best Fit, NME, Dork, DIY, Huw Stephens at BBC Radio 6 Music, Matt Wilkinson at Apple Music 1, John Kennedy at Radio X and more.
Vocalist Dave Sturgess says of the themes on the EP: “Lyrically, Where You’ll Find Me draws on themes of unrequited love, fear of commitment, growing old, growing up too fast, loneliness, arrogance, ignorance, self reflection and self destruction, but ultimately culminates with an overriding theme of moving on, and being better for it.”
They took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Saloon Dion, how are you? So your EP is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?
We’re fantastic thanks, and it feels great to have the music out there. Lots of these songs were written last summer and it feels right to be releasing it and enjoying it in the sunshine. We also feel this music is representative of the band finding its sound, so it’s nice to have something out that's honest to us.
It is called ‘Where You'll Find Me’ – what is the meaning behind that?
It comes from the chorus of ‘Trying.’ I (Dave) didn’t really have any lyrics until the last day of recording. Everything I tried was just falling a bit flat and I could sort of see it in everyone’s eyes that they knew I could do better. I was really starting to sweat. The closer time came to record, the less I had, but as soon as that chorus came into being I knew that was it. The full lyric is ‘In denial, alone, is where you’ll find me,’ which is one of my all time favs and perhaps one of the most personal. I’ve had a lot of moments in my life where I’ve thought it better to push an issue to the side than face it and I think that lyric is a perfect summary of that. When it comes to the EP title though, the meaning is flipped for me. I see it as a reflection of my time in this band and how much I’ve changed over the last 3 and a bit years. Now you’ll find me shoulder to shoulder with my best friends making music we’re proud of, achieving things that we’ve dreamt of since we were kids. I think if you were to ask the rest of the lads what it means to them they’d have their own interpretation and I think that’s why it’s so special as a title.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?
It was recorded at Blank Studios in Newcastle, with Thom Lewis and Josh Ingledew. Thom is responsible for most of Sam Fender's back catalog and he was a huge influence on us finally being able to capture the sound we wanted, so big up Thom and everyone who worked on it!
We stayed in our drummer’s aunt and uncle's gaff this time which was really kind of them and a big help for a DIY band. But on a previous visit to Newcastle, Tom and Luke managed to get so pissed they walked two miles to the wrong Travelodge. Apparently they talked to the bloke on reception about stotties and Newcastle United for an hour before he told them they were in the wrong spot, which is the most Geordie thing ever. Also, big up Greggs!
What are the key influences behind the EP?
It's probably a little different for each of us. But friends, family, each other, all of these things play a big part in the EP for me (Taz). I don't think specific musical influences ever have a direct impact on the guitar I write. Maybe stuff seeps through subconsciously. But it's more about what's right for the song, what's getting us hyped, what's plucking my heart strings. That kind of thing.
I (Tom) do tend to channel more stuff I’m listening to into what I’m writing, my obsession with David Roback and Bernard Butler at the time have definitely come through on the record.
If the EP could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?
It’s hard not to pick Titanic because of the name thing. But I’m pretty sure that scene wouldn't be the same with Carnival playing over it? Maybe we can try it.
No but seriously, I can see it working for Clueless, and probably Goal 1, 2 and 3, big up Santiago Munez.
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
I (Taz) really like a line in the second verse of Daily Bread, ‘The thorn in my side is a mile wide, and it feeds on my pride like a parasite’.
Everytime I hear it, I think fucking fair play, Dave. That's some Dante's Inferno energy right there.
I (Tom) love the line “You’re tri nitro toluene Burning for my sympathy, again” - I just feel like using such a destructive substance as a metaphor for love and yearning makes so much sense
Now the EP is out there – what next for you?
We have a tour lined up in October where we’ll be heading all over the UK with the new tunes. We can’t wait to share the songs with people out on the road. That's the most important thing for us, sharing the music with people live. After that, we’ll be working on some new material that’s already taking form. We’re going to spend some time in our beloved Chepstow (just over the bridge from Bristol) to keep writing it. Big up the South West.
