Getting to Know… Saves the Witch | Interview 🎤

On the 210^th Q&A on the Musical Hype, we chat it up with North Carolinian instrumental post/progressive rock shoegaze band, Saves the Witch.

“S

ome songs I kind of use a dreamy type of soundscape for the backdrop,” 🎙️ Saves the Witch says, responding to what makes his project unique.  Saves the Witch can be described as an instrumental post/progressive rock shoegaze band, hailing from Southport, North Carolina.  The band – well – the sole member, goes on to expound about his music: “Reverb heavy guitars with vibrato, Lo-fi delays, and such, and I’ll blend in a lot of blues elements.”  That sounds utterly sublime.  On this 210^th Q&A, as always, we gain great insight into the craft of the artist/band, including background, visions, influences, and current and future endeavors.  So, without further ado, here is 🎤 Getting to Know… Saves the Witch: Interview No. 210!

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Starting things off, for those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

🎤 Some people have called the music eclectic, and they aren’t wrong. I find myself balancing a lot of heavy rock ideas, but also things you’d want to fall asleep to. In today’s musical landscape it’s hard to be unique really. Some songs I kind of use a dreamy type of soundscape for the backdrop. Reverb heavy guitars with vibrato, Lo-fi delays, and such, and I’ll blend in a lot of blues elements. I’m sure I’m not the first to do that, but it feels unique to me anyway!

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Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your band form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had early on?

🎤 I went for a while without releasing music of any kind, and during the pandemic some of the guys I used to play with had talked about putting something together. I had some songs ready and was waiting around for them to record their parts. While I was waiting, I formed this project. I did the first song by myself, but I realized pretty quickly that it was special to me. I got tired of waiting on other people and decided to do this project as a primary thing. Honestly them kind of putting me off is one of the best things to happen to me musically. No knock on them either they’re great guys, our priorities just didn’t line up.

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Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

🎤 Starting out, I knew it was a no name debut album. Starting from scratch I just wanted to get a few thousand streams. I felt like that was a reach at the time, but it happened really fast. Right now, I just want to keep building on what I have. My main concern right now is that so many artists lose their audience with their second release. Either it’s too different musically, or the production is too radically different. I am confident the second album has the same STW vibe, though. I tried not to lock myself in stylistically speaking when I did the first one. The second effort though does have familiar traces in it, so I hope the current fans still enjoy it. I’m super excited about it.

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Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

🎤 I have so many that it’s impossible to mention them all. The ones that influence my sound the most are probably… Covet is a big one. I’m also a huge fan of Coheed and Cambria. Lately, I’m inspired a lot by God is an Astronaut, We Lost the Sea, and And So I Watch you From Afar.

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Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

🎤 I have to use an old one, because this project doesn’t tour right now. In one of my old bands, we were playing this crazy show. It was a small venue, but it was sold out and packed. Right as the song came to this dynamic shift my guitar strap popped off. My guitar started to fall, so I just slid my body up under it. So, I ended up playing the end of the song on the floor. The timing was so perfect it probably looked like I did it on purpose. I have a picture from that. Guess the secret is out now, it was not purpose! Sure was fun though.

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Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

🎤 This probably changes a lot for me. On the current record it was 🎵 “When the Goddess Smiles”. Right now, I’d say it’s probably 🎵 “Dear Edea”, which is why I picked it for the new single. The song means a lot to me, it’s very personal but I think others will enjoy it too.

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Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits? 

🎤 I used to be able to fly small planes. Like, the Cessnas. Been a long time though!

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Closing things out, what are you currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

🎤 The new single 🎵 “Dear Edea” is out October 5^th at 3:33am. They’ll be another single or two then another full album. I am super stoked about it. Can’t wait!

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Thank you so much for sharing taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

🎤 Likewise thank you much!

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Getting to Know… Saves the Witch: Interview No. 210 🎤 [📷: Saves the Witch, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype]

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