New album 'Shelved'
It seems not so long ago, that whilst talking with Steve, that he debated with me, over a very large home made cappuccino the merits of album releases. I believe he, like so many more established artists, struggled to shift albums and generate the all important sales. So it was a surprise to me to here Steve had released another album. "So what changed your mind?"
"Well it wasn't so much a change of mind but more a collection of songs that shared a common theme. I felt they would sit well together on an album rather than as singles or even a 3 track EP." he says with a wry smile. Ah you know how it is in life, how many times do we have to eat our own words. he laughs.
"Well you know how much I love albums despite the common view of them being extinct, so was there a theme or concept when you wrote these songs?"
"Yeah they all had a very 70's vibe, all were about love and being in a relationship and so I found the music led the way and I just followed. The 70's vibe came from using an old Ludwig drumkit and a war torn tweed amp both from that era. I love old gear they have stories to tell and they just seem to have soaked up the spirit of their time and refuse to play anything other than that vintage sound that we're all pandering back to." "I hope you don't mind me saying but I think these songs and this album are some of the best stuff you've ever done." "Laughs; No not at all, thanks, that's very kind of you to say. I tried my best, I really did, to write good songs. What's the point of writing one or two stand up tunes and then use filler tracks to make or justify an album. As I said I felt they gelled so well together they just had to share the same medium and an album was born." "I believe you had some challenges on putting it all together, care to share some of that experience?" "Sure. I guess first up would be my health. I suffered for nearly a year with gallstone trouble which ended finally with an operation to remove the gallbladder. I can honestly say I have never experienced such pain that delved down into you very core being. I'll never forget it and I'm so glad it's over. As you can imagine trying to write, produce, mix and master an album whilst suffering was very hard but somehow, and mostly post op, it all got done. Apart from that, whether I was high on painkillers, or what ever it was, I found I had written a lot of material beyond my vocal range. Now there's a lot of tec to change pitch or the songs could have been redone but I seriously had no time, patience or will power to change anything that had been recorded. Sometimes you capture something magical, a moment in time that you simply can't repeat. Whether that be a guitar solo, a bass riff or whatever, you can't throw them away, they're special. Well that of course meant that a guy who can't sing had to somehow hit high notes beyond the scope of my amateur voice and I just went for it. You can hear my vocal chords ripping out of my throat on some choruses I'm sure of it." "Got a favourite track on the album?" "Honestly without being pretentious I love them all equally. You know you put your all into writing and recording and you don't make such an effort to then say "Meh" whatever. If you don't love the song and think it's good, then how do you expect anyone else to, am I right? I do write for myself but hopefully that translates to someone else and you just hope they love it to. As Steve makes us one of his fine home-made cappuccinos and the new album plays in the background, I find my head slowly nodding and foot tapping along with the beat and for a second forget it's Salterszo, a relatively unknown songwriter whose tune is sticking in my head forcing me to hum along, that I realise there is something very good on offer here and I hope that it finds it's way onto many a music lovers favourite playlist. You can purchase the album here 'SHELVED' , completely FREE if you like, but as for me I like to support artists, especially those not so well known but still have validity in the music and songs they have to share with the world.
