The Soul of Savor is what music is all about!
Where does the soul of your music come from?
That’s actually a hard question to answer! I really had to think about this. But my instinct is that the soul of the music comes from my love of a number of different genres. I had this drive to combine all the pieces I like into one coherent whole. So my fondness for complex rhythms generates the Latin feel; my long-time association with guitar-oriented rock keeps that instrument at the forefront. And finally, I’m also a devotee of pop music, so memorable songs are really important to me. One of my favorite bands from the ‘70s and ‘80s is ABBA; talk about hooks!
You always bring us on a musical journey! Where did the heart of this come from?
It has to go back to growing up with a father who was a fan of a wide variety of musical styles. During one day we could be listening to Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix, a Shostakovich piano concerto, and a Thelonius Monk album. I’ll always be grateful for being introduced to so many kinds of music at such a young age. I must have internalized it.
How would you describe your latest single to someone who is new to your music?
The way I would describe it is guitar-driven dance Pop music. Many people tell me that it sounds like Santana, but I think that simply stems from the fact that Santana is the only band they’ve heard that plays music with a guitar lead and a Latin beat. I was more influenced by traditional Latin music, like salsa and samba, in creating my songs. In addition, guitarists like Neil Schon from Journey had a much bigger effect on my style of guitar playing than Santana did. Actually, playing Santana music for so many years has taught me a lot about arranging, and how to use traditional Latin instruments like Congas and Timbales within a pop rock format.
How much love do you put into putting each record together?
It is definitely a labor of love! The album took me six years to write and arrange, and another two years to record. Much of that time was spent reworking the songs until I was happy with them. I am definitely a member of the school of song crafting, rather than just spitting out the first thing that comes to me. But I did like the process. I had to, in order to put that much time and effort into it!
Is there a fine line in your music?
Very interesting question. For me the fine line comes between writing and playing the kind of guitar riffs I’m capable of, and keeping it simple and straightforward enough for people to relate to. Often, I would start with something much more complex, and over time, hone the guitar parts down to just the essence. Part of that process was playing the songs in front of audiences as they were being developed. I would look for people to react to the music, and learned over and over that the simpler, more powerful hooks were the ones that resonated.
Is there music that didn't make the cut?
Absolutely! There were a number of songs that I started, but really didn’t see the potential of, even after working on them. So they were shelved. However, if I can pick memorable pieces out of them later, I would certainly consider revisiting them and writing new, better songs.