Appreciating Yourself: A Conversation with Summer Salt

(Photo Credit: Marshall Tidrick)

1). Electrolytes comes as you celebrate the tenth anniversary of Driving to Hawaii in the fall. Looking back at that time, and what has happened in between, what did you carry with you to this new album?

Matthew Terry: I would say that we since Driving to Hawaii, we have maintained a lot of our TropPop Beach Boys sound. But just try to incorporate things that are a little different. Eugene and I have tried incorporate our own loves. We tried to keep that TropPop very consistent for many years, but we've have started to gravitate more toward the indie world. Sometimes some indie slow ballads going into the sentimental, not slow songs but emotional feel good songs. Eugene has started to write a lot more as well, kind of Beach Boysy ballads but more beautiful and on the slower side. With Electrolytes in general, we had several songs from all our band members and thought they were really cool and took them to studio. We worked with a producer that tried to make them radio appealing. Get out of your bedroom and go into the studio. We did an album Sequoia Moon where we went to the studio but had full reign. The songs are a little shorter and they're a good mixture of old sound and new sound. We have one song that features Winston our bass player. We've grown into our own lanes of writing, but it's never trailed off from what we want this band to be.

2). So often music tends to reflect on what we can do to find happiness and the search for happiness. It seems that this album reflects that maybe if we look around it may be where we are. Can you reflect on that difference in message from your peers? Matthew: I'll try to sum it up with the seven songs in general. When Anna was asking us what the seven songs mean to us. None of them are longing for something else other than what is here. I noticed that with every single one. We've written about heartbreak and issues within our own partnerships and relationships. Have a daily reminder of and help carry you through your days. A lot of these songs are energizing, particularly "Electrolytes". Good healthy habits that help you stay happy and optimal. It's hard as an adult when you get stressed out and bogged down. It's important to appreciate your world as an adult, it's your world and that's what brings you happiness. "Deja Vu" is a song that Winston wrote about going out into nature and going into a park and experience everything like it's the first time. Eugene Chung: Just in general as musicians being able to tour and streaming and physical music. Just putting that into perspective we are grateful for what we have. There are a lot of artists that do not get the recognition they deserve.

3.) What experiences did you have making Electrolytes that may have been new or different that you will take to the future? Eugene: Working with a producer, going in with a whole band. And coming together and working together as a group. We used one of Winston's song for the first time. We've incorporated drum machines and working with musicians we didn't know for keys. Matthew: All the basic rhythm section we did live in the studio in the same room playing together. It was really cool and intimidating but it ended up being really cool. It was the first time we did this aspect of going in and not knowing what to do. Some of these songs we choose songs that fit in Summer Salt world. Other songs we wrote in general. We just wrote seven songs quickly for around a month and then went to studio.

4.) As you gear up for tour are there any special spots or hangouts you are eager to visit?

Eugene: We love playing everywhere, it's always a little different. There are special places in our heart. Colorado, New York, Dallas, San Francisco, and Austin. Not that we don't give our best everywhere, but we may have a tie.

Matthew: Being a Texas and California band when we get to the Midwest, we're always halfway in the thick of it. So it's always cool. The Northeast is wild with wide open spaces. It's nice to experience those different worlds. One place I really like is North Carolina and all the college towns, the fans are always really nice. Salt Lake is always super hype.

5.) What's next for Summer Salt?

Eugene: We have Electrolytes on the way with another single on the way next month. Then our Driving to Hawaii tour in the fall. We're working on new on music.

Matthew: A cool thing is with the vinyl packaging we're going to include six songs that we played when we recorded Driving to Hawaii.