After debut single proper ‘Magic Eye‘ first pricked up Live4ever’s ears last month, whose energy, progression and confident delivery demanded immediate attention, we recently caught up with The Savage Nomads‘ frontman Cole Salewicz as the band celebrates the release of new album ‘Coloured Clutter‘.
We used the opportunity to delve deeper into the origins of the band, to explore what has inspired their far-reaching sound, and to discover what the immediate future holds for the four London teenagers.
Firstly, thanks for taking the time out to speak to Live4ever. Could you talk our readers through the origins of the band.
It’s a pleasure! Billy (drums) and I (Cole – vocals/rhythm guitar) had been playing in a group when we were about 15 with pretty much all the kids we knew who had instruments; just making noise in a room is the most important thing at that age. The group split but Bill and I continued to jam with anyone we knew who could play anything in South London, I met Josh (bass) whilst playing with Lauren Jones (Mick Jones’ daughter). We formed a three-piece with Bill and auditioned a host of guitarists until we met Joe (a kid who I’d been at school with aged 10 but whom since had disappeared). That was early 2009. We thrashed around for a few months, playing shows at the 12 Bar Club and anywhere that’d have us before it gelled together.
That old chestnut of ‘mixing influences and pushing boundaries’ really does apply to Savage Nomads, where does that commitment come from?
Well to put it simply: it’s down to our love of music and probably a result of growing up in open-minded environments with a vast array of sounds surrounding us. South London is certainly a melting pot of different cultures that coincide with differing genres of music. We’ve also definitely taken advantage too, of living in age where music is so accessible. This is how our sound has cultivated and why the record is diverse as it is. We’ve tried to push boundaries and we’re pleased that’s been recognized as from day one The Savage Nomads’ music has been about striving to push forward and reacting against the regurgitation of the ‘sound of the month’.
Your past comment: “We’ve always been interested in everything,” says it all really, would it be easier to say what you’re not into, is there anything you want to avoid?
No, probably not. That may sound blindly naive but we’re always trying something different. Better to try than be a cynic.
We really love ‘What the Angel Said’, sounds great and maybe a quick comparison could be The Cribs or Television, have you been compared to many different bands and who are the main sources of inspiration?
It’s really too long a list to say what our ‘main sources’ of inspiration are as it varies from song to song. ‘Anything with a pulse’ is probably the most suitable answer to your question or ‘anyone who has made challenging music preferably with attitude’. Attitude is crucial.
‘The Magic Eye’ is your first single from the new album ‘Coloured Clutter’, another big sounding record with great lyrics. What’s the story behind it?
Thank you. ‘The Magic Eye’ is all about leaving everything behind and stepping into the unknown; something we all go through at a few points in our life. These changes will provoke an unusual and extremely disorientating reaction within you but I think they’re part of everyone’s journey. Sometimes you have to leave people and your old principles behind
You’ve been in the studio with Mike Crossey of Foals and Arctic Monkeys fame, what are your thoughts on the experience of working with Mike?
Mike struck a very good balance with us: he was happy to implement our ideas with his but also went ahead and brought his own energy to the table. As we’re level one control freaks we had to let his changes sit with us for a second before we accepted them but what he did was terrific and it taught us a thing or two about listening to other people’s ideas! We’d love to work with Mike again.
Your gigs have been described as a ‘bombardment of aural and visual information, action painting and performance art, disrupting composure and complacency’. Being very much into building up the visual and live experience of your gigs, what exactly are you trying to achieve with your shows?
First and foremost I think we’re trying to get across to the audience how much we CARE about the sound. I try and get into something of a trance when we’re playing live; I think that’s when the most interesting stuff happens for me personally. I can’t tell you too much because I’m still holding out for my out-of-body experience onstage!
The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite’s Mick Jones is a big supporter of yours, having had you supporting at some of the BAD shows – it must be great to have such influential guy like Mick getting behind what you’re doing?
Absolutely! And it meant the world to us to play those shows with BAD. It gave us a taste for the bigger stages, and if you listen to the music, that’s where our sound belongs; small rooms with low ceilings don’t quite capture what we’re all about. We’re incredibly grateful to Mick for believing in us. It’s a testament to his character that he’ll go out of his way to listen to us and care enough to help us out.
So what’s in the immediate future for the band? Any festival appearances/tours coming up soon?
We’ll be promoting this album for quite a while I think. There may be a festival appearance but I’m just waiting for it to be confirmed so can’t say where! Supposedly we’re getting out onto the road in autumn.
The Savage Nomads’ debut album, ‘Coloured Clutter’, is out now via Alaska Sounds. They play the Catch 22 in London on June 22nd, for more information and all the latest updates, visit their Myspace and Facebook pages.
