With the new single, “Brave, Rough and Ready To Go” just out, I managed to grab a few minutes with Sgt. Splendor to find out about their musical past, where they find themselves today, and what the future might hold for them.
Am I right in thinking that the two of you moved in the same musical circles for years before coming together as Sgt. Splendor? So how did that come about?
We were in somewhat different musical circles, actually. I (Kate) was more in the folk/Americana world, and Eric was in the rock and funk worlds. We did have some musical friends in common and knew of each other because of that and because we both grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We were finally introduced to each other by Pat MacDonald (Timbuk3) at Steel Bridge Songfest in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where we ended up writing our first song together.
Is it also fair to say that you come from very different backgrounds, so where is the sweet spot between the two of you that makes the Sgt. Splendor sound, and what are some of your individual influences?
Our backgrounds are not as different as they may seem. We both grew up in the same place, and our individual music has been described as having a desert sound. We also have a lot of crossover when it comes to influences. In the beginning, we really bonded over Tom Waits. Still do! One of the first albums we listened to together was Fantastic Negrito’s Please Don’t Be Dead as Sgt. Splendor, we’ve gotten to work with him, so that was a sweet thing.
How would you describe the new single “Brave, Rough, and Ready to Go,” and is it representative of your sound…or is there no such thing as an individual song representative of Sgt Splendor?
I think the song itself is brave, rough, and ready to go. The story begins with our narrator making a raft and rowing out into the dark sea while a crowd watches from the safety of the shore. Musically, the song begins this way too, with a simple, rough guitar and vocals. It gets bolder and maybe a bit blues-rockier, with moments of danger.
We do a lot of exploring with Sgt. Splendor, but we do feel like this is a good representation.
It’s a great video; can you talk a bit about how you made it and who was involved?
We made this video with Vau de Vire Society, a wild and beautiful troupe of circus, aerial, burlesque, and dance performers. They do a show called The Soiled Dove in Alameda, California. We joined them last year and will join them again this year. It takes place in a giant circus tent, and the inside is like stepping into another time, another world. The acts are performed to our music, and Joan Baez is a featured performer. It’s the most fun a person can have. So we filmed the video at the end of our 3-month stretch together and got as many of The Soiled Dove cast as we could. Albert Lopez directed, filmed, and edited the whole thing. We knew we wanted to have Cowboygirl, the sharpshooter in the show, in a Clint Eastwood-type role, and Albert helped develop the story.
And what is the message behind the song, and are there regular themes and messages that you find yourselves writing about?
There are many messages. One is a call to action – to not resign to being a spectator. We gotta see each other, feel each other, get in the rough waters together. We try not to fall back on familiar themes. But we do try to inject some hope in our songs. Even though we both lean toward darkness, we try to point out the specks of light.
You are just starting a tour. Are there any old favorite haunts you are looking forward to returning to, and any new venues you are keen to experience?
We just started a tour with Tab Benoit. Eric has toured with him in the past, and Tab produced and released his solo album Pain by Numbers. So it’s a nice reunion for them. And I’m getting to tour with Tab for the first time, so that’s fun. We played Newton Theatre and Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, but all the rest are new. It’s always a treat to be introduced to new venues.
Although the single is from your current album, Isotopia, you are gearing up for your fourth album release. What can listeners expect from that, and has your sound or approach to making music changed over the quartet of albums you have to your name?
This one definitely feels different. It was produced by Falcon Greenwell, drummer for Tedeschi Trucks Band. He also plays on the album. We went to visit him at his studio in Atlanta and ended up writing and recording a song. When he proposed the idea of doing an album together, he said he wanted to push us in new directions. I think he did that successfully. Each of our albums has been its own unique experience.
Finally, what does the future hold for you beyond the tour and new album, both musically and perhaps as individuals?
We’re very happy to be returning to The Soiled Dove August 7th through November 7th. It’s going to be a new show with a lot of songs from our upcoming album. We have some more things brewing with musicians we’re excited to work with. We just keep moving, stay committed to splendor and sound, and pieces get placed as they should.
Thank you for taking the time to tell me more about your musical world, and best of luck with everything.
