Inspired #468 - Cali Santo
Singer-songwriter Cali Santa has just announced his debut album 'Miles Away' - and has provided us with a taster with new single 'Bones'.
The album touches on the tension between disconnection and belonging. Many of the songs on the record speak of an inward retreat and the anxious, overwhelming nature of modern life and the tiring effects. It examines the difficulty in stating hopeful and the issues of emotional distance,
Along with this he meditates on time and loss, of people that drift out of lives and eras of a person's life are over. It’s a record of empathy and sensitivity, that through fragile moments there is reason for optimism and hope and that ultimately new connections can be made and maintained.
The album has been produced by Tim Bidwell and with Ben has created a quietly cinematic record that rewards repeat listens and will be a perfect accompaniment to the winter months and beyond.
He took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind his music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
Bob Dylan - the reason I started writing songs.
Neil Young - uncompromising artistic integrity. The king of raw, emotional honesty.
Michael Hurley - always existed on the outside of everything, but just did his thing right until the end.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
I mean, School of Rock came out the year I started learning the guitar. So I’d say that played a pretty big part in all of this.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
Anywhere I haven’t been before. Always just makes me feel that little bit more alive.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
Leonard Cohen. Lyrically, he was an artist in the truest possible sense.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
I wrote Bones during a time when a lot of really positive things were happening in my life, both personally and musically. I wanted to capture the quiet sense of hope I was feeling, and use it as fuel to motivate myself and others to keep chasing whatever it is we dream of being. In such bleak and unpredictable times, it is often easy to be caught under the weight of everything, but Bones is a reminder to shut all of that out. To focus on the things you have control over. Making your world better.
How would you like to inspire people?
Making music that makes other people want to make music.
