SUNSET SALORE JUST RELEASED A TRACK AND WE'RE PRETTY NOSEY OVER HERE AT WIZARD WATER, WE THOUGHT WE'D DIVE RIGHT IN.
Sunset Salore has been making a name for themselves with their eclectic and introspective sound that resonates deeply with fans. Their upcoming EP, *Love Kills the Monsters*, is set to explore a range of emotions and themes, from the rapid pace of change in our lives to the catharsis of self-reflection and growth. Known for their blend of funky bass lines, sultry grooves, and an alternative pop feel, Sunset Salore crafts music that invites listeners to explore their own stories and emotions alongside the band’s journey.
In this interview, we dive deep into the inspirations and experiences behind *Love Kills the Monsters*, discussing the personal and creative growth that has shaped their music. From the moody empowerment of their latest single "Call It" to the reflective storytelling throughout the EP, Sunset Salore opens up about the challenges they've faced, the lessons learned, and the transformative power of music. Join us as we explore the evolution of their sound, the influences of their dual-city roots in Belfast and Melbourne, and what fans can look forward to with their exciting new release and upcoming projects. This is a paid collaboration with Sunset Salore.
TRACK REVIEW
"Call It" immediately captures your attention with a moment of intrigue as haunting keys set the stage. The song unfolds into beautiful harmonies that feel both intimate and expansive, creating a captivating soundscape. I love how the pre-chorus builds tension with its push and pull, leading into a big, satisfying release on the line "call it what you want." The vocal melody is particularly striking; it intertwines seamlessly with the piano, creating a dynamic interplay that keeps you hooked. The production is uniquely crafted, blending different elements in a way that feels fresh and original, making this track stand out in a sea of contemporary music.
Your upcoming EP Love Kills the Monsters is deeply reflective and eclectic. Can you tell us more about the themes and stories that inspired this collection of songs?
The fact that we all experience change at such an accelerated and constant rate these days, is an underpinning theme. I was finally decompressing from all the change fatigue that hit during the pandemic and lockdowns, that I continued to self-reflect further back from that, into all the micro-moments in other scenarios that help to make you who you are.
Change and hindsight are beautiful things! It isn't so much wishing to change the past, but sitting in it, being comfortable with that, moving through it, and closing that chapter - a catharsis really. The music really is about acknowledging the moments which are defining and growing from them.
“Call It,” the first track from your EP, was released on July 12th. What is the story behind this song, and how does it set the tone for the rest of the EP?
Call it was a track I wrote near the beginning of the EP writing journey. It came about after a bad day, funnily enough. I was in a bit of a funk, I couldn't really move past it, but I didn't want it to taint the rest of my night, so I channeled the feelings that sat behind the day, beyond the moment, reaching back into other times historically - not necessarily related - which made me feel similarly, and wrote this song. It is a song really shaped around finding the final straw of the moments which no longer stack up in a relationship, and in that moment, deciding to call time on everything. It feels moody, assertive, but positive - a release perhaps. I wanted it to be empowering and highlighting taking control in those moments and how this can ultimately change your trajectory and outlook moving forward.
You’ve mentioned that this EP was a cathartic experience for you. How did creating Love Kills the Monsters help you navigate and grow from the challenges you’ve faced in recent years?
The last few years have been quite interesting for me. I struggled with some quite severe health after effects of long COVID, and in an attempt to solve for that also found an AuADHD diagnosis - something which is common later in life for females, it turns out. I used this process of writing the EP as a learning process to better understand how things fit together in my life. It explains a whole lot! I also think these are things to be celebrated, not hidden or ashamed of - I find it hugely empowering.
The whole EP is a series of moments, strung together with funky bass lines, smooth grooves, and reflections. We are the sum of all of our parts, not neatly categorised, even if we'd really like that to be the case! I probably didn't see this at the time, but looking back I really needed the time to sit in the feelings, ascertain how I've grown from then, and feel proud about that. It sort of flowed when I got into that mindset really and that's why I felt it was a catharsis, I felt a lot better through the process.
As a UK native who started in Belfast and later made Melbourne your musical home, how have these two cities influenced your sound and approach to music?
I grew up around music and enjoyed a lot of live music when I was living in Belfast - something that only continued but on a much larger scale when I moved to Melbourne. Back in Belfast in the shadows of civil conflict, you didn't tend to gather in large groups as there were often security scares, or if you were unlucky, incendiary devices detonated - being in large groups at gigs was a target. So when that lifted and live music grew from the small local gigs into international artists visiting that blew my mind! I love all kinds of live music so it was great to experience both.
My great grandfather was a pianist performing with his brother who was a singer in the music halls in Belfast back in the 1920's so I guess music was in my blood. My grandfather bought me my first keyboard back in the 80's, a lovely little Casio which still lives in my parents house. It also was the start of my instrument collection.
Now in Melbourne I have an old piano from somewhere between 1890 and 1910 which I started restoring in lockdown, two digital pianos, a banjo (I'm learning), an electronic drum kit (I sold my Mapex kit before moving to Melbourne, this was a compromise when I started renting in sharehouses here), a mandolin, and a couple of guitars (my partner has another 10 of those...his mother is a professional classical viola player and it seems music is in his blood too). You could say music is really core to how we live!
Your music blends funky bass lines and sultry grooves with an alternative pop feel. How do you approach blending these different elements to create your unique sound?
Historically I have made very different music depending on the instrument I was playing. For instance when I played drums, I listened to a lot more rock music. When I play acoustic guitar, it's much more folk style. When I was singing, I tended to prefer more big female belt-style songs, mainly because I enjoyed the vocal challenge. When I listened to music, it was a bit of everything, but when I wanted to relax or zone out, it was instrumental jazz erring on fusion at times. I think that permeates the sound I've started to create and it has been a challenge to label the genre of songs I've written at times!
Recently I'm learning to get more comfortable with digital audio to expand my ability to create beyond live playing of instruments. It has been a bit of a journey through to now, but it is definitely changing the kind of music I make.
The title of your EP suggests a powerful message about love and personal demons. Can you elaborate on the concept of “loving your demons away” and how it resonates with your own journey?
I think everyone has become much more aware of mental wellbeing as well as physical wellbeing, particularly with the impacts of the recent pandemic on the population. We recognise the journey to recover when an injury is physical - you can see the broken leg, the twisted ankle, etc, but often it's much harder when it's in your head, particularly if you're great at masking that and telling everyone you're ok. The message here around love is if you can't love yourself, you often accept less than you deserve in relationships with others, friendship or romantic relationships alike. Rather than wrestling with this in every other way but choosing kindness, I am focusing this work on self love and appreciation. We've all been there to some degree, right? I do feel like I lived this EP again when writing the material but I was outside looking in this time so much more objective than in the moment the first time round. It has changed my outlook on life moving forward though, and I do think I'm much kinder to myself than I used to be as a result.
You’re gearing up to re-enter the music scene in a new way with this debut solo EP. How does this experience differ from your earlier work in the Melbourne band scene?
Previously I didn't feel ready to tell a story worth listening to, so I was very happy supporting other artist's work. I mostly sang in bands, particularly backing for other artists which was a great experience. I still get nerves being up front and centre. I often joked that I love singing so much that I would prefer to be out the back of the stage just singing without everyone looking at me, and someone else up front! That changed when I started writing my own material, self accompanying etc, and moving away from cover band material. There's definitely a place for that and I really loved being in bands doing diverse material. I also was in an acapella girl group where there were three of us. It was where I realised I loved singing in harmonies - something that came in handy when writing the harmonies for the EP, all of which I recorded myself. I used to sing in choirs in my old school days, and harmonies are definitely a part of who I am as an artist. My band days also helped me work out my nerves with larger audiences, or in rooms set up as cabaret nights where someone drops a plate/fork/glass etc and people are moving around a lot. It helped me feel comfortable with more variable environments, and the fact that something always goes wrong, so just laugh it off and move on.
You mentioned a music video for “Call It” coming soon. Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect from the visuals and how they tie into the EP’s themes?
Yes you are the first to break that news, which is SUPER exciting! We are filming the video mid next month, so all being well I'm hoping it's going to come out just after the EP itself does. I really want to capture the empowering nature of the song, the fact that the protagonist is strong to make the decision to call time on the relationship. I am planning aesthetically to make the most of strong visuals, local nature (we will be filming on the Mornington Peninsula), and really looking to accentuate light and mood. I'm really excited about this aspect of the project. I almost didn't make it as I was focusing on so many other things, but Call It has done so well in a short space of time I felt that it was going to do a disservice to the track if I didn't go there! I also roped a very lovely friend of mine into starring in the video and she is graciously going to bring this story visually to life for you - so much to look forward to sharing here - watch this space!
With the full EP dropping on October 4th, what are your plans for the official launch? Can we expect a live gig or any special events to celebrate its release?
Yes I have some exciting news on that front! However, there has been SO much happening recently, I was torn about aligning a launch gig with the EP launch itself or pushing it out a bit. I decided on the latter for a few reasons. Firstly, I wanted the audience to be familiar with some of the music so they could choose if they wanted a bit of a sing along at a gig, so giving some air time to the songs first felt right. Also, the run up to Christmas is always super crazy and nobody needs extra things on their to do list - we want this to be fun and have enough space to enjoy it properly!
We're on a roll today though, this is a FRESH announcement, I will be playing with a live band in the Bergy Bandroom on Saturday 1 Feb to celebrate the Love Kills the Monsters official launch party! There will be three amazing support acts, so we're making it a big night of local music. I really can't wait! Watch this space on socials or www.sunsetsalore.com for ticket release announcements.
Looking ahead, how do you see your music evolving after the release of Love Kills the Monsters? Are there any new directions or projects you’re excited to explore?
I feel like juggling a few irons in the fire at the moment because while I've been recording, producing and releasing this EP, I've been writing new material. It didn't really stop and I'm trying to squeeze both in there while the inspiration is flowing!
I'm an independent artist, so funds will be a limiting factor in how quickly I can wrap up the new project and how big a scale it will be. There will be a new project though of some size! It will either be an EP or album, and I'm hoping it's an extension of the kind of vibe you see on this EP. Who knows though, that's the beauty of writing and recording, there are always some lovely surprises along the way!
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