Rock Dove:
I’ve just heard your latest version of your latest (unreleased) single (thanks). My initial impression happened to be about how you’ve really succeeded in honing the different elements of your style and craft.
Is there anything you’d like to say on the process that got you to where you are now, artistically speaking?
Saul Blake:
Hey Richard, thanks for getting in touch. First of all thanks so much for that it means alot! Honestly in terms of style I always like changing it up or I find it gets stale. I think that kinda allows me to blend in different genres quite easily on one song, It’s probably what gives me my own sound when compared to other artists. In terms of honing the craft, that’s just putting in work consistently, loving every second of it certainly helps too! I’ve also been working with an amazing engineer from the US (Jeremy Rompala) on my upcoming projects, he’s really helped me to get the sound quality to step waaay up.
Rock Dove:
I have mentioned the Kerrang / Myspace era to you when you sent me this. It’s something that has come to mind more than once, but especially since you released “Council Estate Kid”. I felt it really had that era, enshrined deep within it. I was one of many kids, reading that magazine at school, and the things I got from it left an indelible impression on me.
A refreshing feeling I get from your music (not just the lyrics) is “this is me, this is who I was, this is what made me, and who I am today”. Does this personal observation of mine ring true to you at all or is it an overly bold assumption?
Saul Blake:
Yeah, I remember those days well! That whole era of alternative music is a serious influence on me. I grew up listening to sum 41 and blink 182 on repeat while landing on my face skateboarding. The rap scene was only a thing for me after 17/18 and that’s been a huge part of my life and journey as a musician.
I think you’re spot on there man, I’ve always just been myself (even while i was trying to find myself). I’m a straightforward kinda guy and I have no shame of where I came from. Plus music is where I put my feelings so I think it makes sense you’d get that impression.
Rock Dove:
I noticed that your music speaks, addresses and confronts a lot of social issues, without necessarily arriving at any set-in-stone conclusions or easy answers. One thing I might be so bold as posit here, Is that the balm of a guitar and drums seems to soothe the tough answers, or even the space you’ve left without them. I realise this take might be an unusual take, or even conflict with your artist’s intention, but I wanted to ask to what degree music is an answer in itself?
And what if it is simply entertainment?
Saul Blake:
That’s just it, I may be confronting or addressing issues I’ve noticed or have affected me, but that doesnt mean I have the answers..or that there is an easy one. But it also depends on the song. I always put my emotions into my music so no songs are purely for entertainment (for me at least), they are also a venting space.
I don’t think my music can answer anyones questions to be honest but I hope it can inspire some thoughts that help them answer a few themselves.
Rock Dove:
How do you feel about artists that forsake some of their own roots, to chase the current highs and trends of today?
Saul Blake:
Everyone is on their own journey. And as individuals were always changing. Learning from where you came from and even getting rid of things from your past to better yourself is necessary sometimes for people, and that’s ok! But, one should always be humble and respect whatever their roots are or where they came from, that’s what built them into the person they are and they shouldn’t forget or deny their roots.
Rock Dove:
Have you any bits of information for your fans and stans, of where Saul Blake’s music might be heading? Got your eye fixed on a specific part of the horizon? Or is that none of my business?
Saul Blake:
I’ve got a stack of releases nearly ready to go, I tried to cover a bunch of different vibes with these tracks and I know every song is better than anything I’ve put out so far. The focus for the next while is gonna be releases and shows. That’s all I’m gonna say on the matter though.
The Humble Rock Dove 