By: Kaylyn Bell
Q) Your music is a blend of modern garage rock and pop with some 60s influence. Who were some of the musical inspirations behind your sound?
A) Around the time we started writing for SALT, we shared an appreciation for early Beatles tracks. I think a lot of music fans get so caught up in their later output for how groundbreaking and experimental it was that the early songs don’t get the praise they deserve. These songs are masterclasses in simple and effective pop-songwriting. We also got really into recent garage revival bands like Allah-Las and Tijuana Panthers who brought the sonic textures of 60s surf guitar to the present day. It was a marriage of traditional pop-songwriting and the sounds of 60s Californian music that informed our direction for SALT‘s sound.
Q) Please tell us the story behind your latest single “Bones.”
A)All of the songs on SALT were written while I was working as a lifeguard at Capitola Beach. “Bones,” in particular, was my attempt to capture the feeling of a slow morning before my day would get moving. Getting to work on the beach is a dream job, but it demands a lot of you. Waking up early to bike into the village before the town was awake was my one moment every day to slow everything down and find time to be properly appreciative of where I get to spend my summer and all its natural beauty.
Q) This song is about slowing down and appreciating life. Why was this topic important to you and something you wanted to share through your music?
A) Taking pause to be appreciative is the only way I stay sane. I can be overly cynical about modern social life and I’m not traditionally spiritual. I think everyone needs their outlet to detach from the burden of societal responsibility no matter how good you’ve got it. The most charismatic, lively and sociable people I know are the ones who have a good sense of thankfulness and balance. It’s very admirable and something I’m continuously working on, so I based this song around that headspace.
Q) “Bones”is different from your earlier songwriting, which largely centered around nightlife. What inspired this shift when you started working on the track?
A) Because most of the other songs on this album continue my lyrical tradition of detailing nights out, it felt like I’d been leaving my more meaningful emotions out of the music. Trestles’ songs have generally been about that lifestyle, but as artists we wanted to capture the flip side of the coin in at least one song. Functionally, “Bones” is a reminder to slow down in the middle of another album about living fast.
Q) Your music captures a fun, beachy West Coast vibe. What specific elements in the instrumentation of this song helps portray that tone?
A) While experimenting with sound for this album, we found a sense of space to be the secret sauce in our quest of capturing the sound of the West Coast. The reverb drenched lead guitar hook is lifted right out of the Dick Dale playbook. The slide guitars move slowly in the background like a steady current. “Bones” ended up being one of our favorite arrangements ever and it’s something we are exceedingly proud of.
Q) Keeping with the theme, the video to accompany “Bones” features your band at various coastal locations.What is a memorable behind-the-scenes memory from filming?
A) Our friend Diego [Diaz-Lundquist] captured all the shots in a single day out. We started at Beach Hill where Jackson [Jones] and Sophia [Wall] were living at the time and walked the Santa Cruz Wharf. We made good friends with the sea lions there who ended up making some of the best shots for the video.
Q) The eye-catching cover art for the singles “Bones” and “Head First”share similar styles but with different images. Where did the concept for the cover art come from, and how does it reflect the message or emotion of the tracks?
A) All the photos were shot the same day as the videos. This album is ultimately about living in a beach town like Santa Cruz, so we wanted the visuals to bridge the gap between the music and the listeners’ imagination. We were originally upset to learn that the first film roll had some defect that caused this really trippy blur effect. After getting some time to sit with the photos we realized the messed up ones were really unique and made a nice series, so they ended up being the perfect single covers. Blurry photos of the beach felt symbolic of the skepticism of the beach town life presented in many of the album’s lyrics.
Q) Your new album SALT will be released September 26th. How does this latest single set the tone for the upcoming album?
A) SALT is a collection of stories and lessons from a very particular time and place in my life. We worked hard to develop an aesthetic spine throughout both musically and visually. “Bones” is a perfect taste test for SALT; the other songs will still anchor you to the beach but hopefully provide some new angles to look at it.
Q) What can you tease about the themes that will be explored throughout this album’s ten tracks?
A) These songs are all little stories from summers on the beach. I’m most stimulated by the stories of shared experience with others. There’s a lot to take away from very small moments. We crafted this album to appeal equally to passive and active listeners. There’s a lot of intentions poured into the lyrics and sounds for anyone who wants to put some real time into it. But if you want to just put it on in the background and hear the sounds of the beach, that’s cool, too.
Q) Musically, how do you feel this new music has evolved from what you’ve released previously?
A) It’s simply better art. It was easy to rely on hooky guitar licks and catchy choruses when we were college kids playing parties. We’ve since grown to be really fond of this artform, and this body of work reflects it. Great art creates its own world, and our second album really focuses on this world-building. The lyrics, the sounds and the visuals are all very focused on the world of SALT.
Q) You’ve started a Western US tour that runs until October. What is your favorite part about getting to connect with fans and share your music in a live setting?
A) We’ve been playing a lot of the songs from SALT for some time. Now that these tunes are finally coming out it will be a great test to see which ones resonate with people. We’re always striving to improve our musical output, so it’s exciting to finally get feedback on the new songs in a live setting. We’re visiting a lot of places who haven’t heard of us yet, so I really hope they like the taste of SALT.
Q) You have become known for explosive live shows. What are some of your favorite places or songs to perform live and what makes them so standout?
A) As excited as I am to get out and tour, it will always be my favorite to play at home in Santa Cruz. A band’s live energy is only as good as the audience’s, so I really enjoy playing where we’re known best. The mosh pits at our Santa Cruz shows feel almost choreographed because everyone knows every big moment in every song. It’s an unbelievable feeling and privilege every time we get to play to an audience like that.
Q What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and your work?
A) Thank you, first of all. Without your interest in our art, we wouldn’t get to keep making it. We are so stoked to have you participate in whatever Trestles is. Keep coming to shows and we’ll keep giving you our all. As long as you’re willing to keep listening, it’s our absolute pleasure to keep making noise.
Questions Answered by Hunter Kelly (vocals)