Philip Sayce
Philip Sayce is a guitar player popular to both rock and blues fans. He is known for his magnificent dynamics and emotional performances, which resonates not only in the ears of the listener, but all the way into the heart. Philip Sayce has constantly been releasing quality music, and his collection of albums, old and new, are now available in Japan.
Philip Sayce’s new album “Steamroller” has been released this year in Japan, along with the re-releases of all of his past albums starting with “Peace Machine”. The 4 albums definitely portray Philip evolving and growing as a musician. Philip took time to talk to us about his new “Steamroller” album, as well as about his past albums.
Interview / Text Mamoru Moriyama
Translation Louis Sesto (EAGLETAIL MUSIC)
Muse On Muse : Along with your latest album “Steamroller”, your past 3 albums will be re-released in Japan as well. Before talking about the “Steamroller” album, we would like to ask you about each of the past albums. Can you tell us about each album in brief, what your aim was for each album, and any episodes while making the album, if any. Please tell us about the “Peace Machine” album first.
Philip Sayce : Peace Machine was recorded in Burbank, California, at Ocean Studios. It was produced by my friend Michael Nielsen, and features Kenny Aronoff on drums, Fred Mandel on keyboards, and Mark Browne on bass guitar. We recorded the album the day after performing on the GRAMMYS with Melissa Etheridge, so we were all pumped up! We tracked pretty much live in the studio with few overdubs in a very short amount of time. I hope listeners feel the positive intentions that went into this album. The album was also created during a time where US media & the general mindset was focused on being at war, so it was my personal statement about these wars. Check out the lyrics to the acoustic version of “Peace Machine” at the end of the last song on the album and you’ll know what I mean.
MM : Please tell us about the “Innerevolution” album next.
PS : Innerevolution was recorded in North Hollywood, California at Clearlake Studios. It was produced and mixed by my friend Jay Ruston and features Fred Mandel on keyboards, Joel Gottschalk on bass guitar, Ryan MacMillan on drums, Kenny Aronoff on drums, and a number of other really excellent musicians. We did a good amount of pre-production and rehearsal for this album. I had been writing songs with some great writers like Richard Marx, Dave Cobb, busbee, and others, and we wanted to focus on making a strong studio album with these new songs. My personal intention when creating this album was to document my personal inner growth and talk about what was going on for me at that time, through the songs and music.
MM : Please tell us about the “Ruby Electric” album. Why did you decide to have both studio tracks and live tracks on this album?
PS : We had just finished a tour with Deep Purple in France, and unbeknownst to us, they kindly recorded one of our shows on the tour. It turned out pretty well, so when Eddie Kramer offered to mix the tracks, I didn’t think twice! I also had a number of studio tracks produced by Dave Cobb that I really liked that were not released (outside of Japan) so I thought it would be a cool idea to turn it into a half studio & half live album. I personally would be excited to buy an album in this format from artists I like! It just felt like they fit together naturally, and they make, in my opinion, one very cool album. There are no rules in the music business anymore – the traditional idea of what an album is, or has to be, is almost irrelevant now. I want to put out the best quality art I can, and music that I believe in. Ruby Electric is a collection of songs I am proud of and feel honored to share.
MM : Did you have a particular concept and/or goal you were aiming at for the “Steamroller” album?
PS : My goal was to create a powerful album with my producer Dave Cobb, and record music that captured what I was personally going through in my life at the time. Steamroller is literally all about steamrolling fear. It is also about making music that is connected to who I am at this current time in my life. My goal is to keep growing, evolving and learning. This is an honest expression of where I am in my life at this time, and I am grateful for the opportunity to say what I need to say in song and lyric. I hope it resonates with anyone who hears it – I hope it inspires others to do what they love to do…Dance, sing, play sports, act, paint, whatever it is – from the heart, for the heart.
MM : How long did it take you to write and record the new album? What was the reason behind your choice to record in Nashville?
PS : Dave Cobb, my friend and producer, (Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings, Rival Sons, Secret Sisters, nominated for 2 Grammys) lives in Nashville, and we worked together at his studio, Chatham County Sound. Grammy winning Engineer and mixer, Vance Powell (Jack White, Buddy Guy, Kings Of Leon, The Raconteurs) also lives and works there. Nashville is so musically rich and inspiring, so it made sense! It took us about 3 weeks to create this album.
MM : Can you tell us who took part in the recording of this new album?
PS : Mr. Dave Cobb produced this new album and wrote with me, Vance Powell engineered and mixed, Chris Powell played drums, Joel Gottschalk played bass, Fred Mandel played piano, Arlen Schierbaum played organ, Mellotron & keyboards, and Bobby E played Hammond organ. I played guitars, a little bit of bass and sang vocals.
MM : The opening track “Steamroller” is a great tune with a heavy and laid back groove. When you write songs with these types of grooves, do you make the song playing with the band, or do you write the material first before presenting it to the band?
PS : I had the main idea for this song and played it for Dave Cobb. He’s such a talented producer and writer and we finished writing the song together on the spot. It was very inspired and so much fun! We recorded this album pretty much live, so we figured it out immediately after writing it, and went in and recorded it right away.
MM : Songs such as “Stung By A Woman” and “Beautiful” have a great rhythmical vibe on the guitar with a shuffle feel. Your vocals leave a great impression as well.
PS : Thank-you! I always want to keep a sense of emotion and rhythm in my music, my playing and singing. That’s what these songs are all about…Rhythm & Truth!
MM : “Marigold” has a very melancholic feel with the acoustic guitar, as well as the great melody on the vocals making it into a great song.
PS : Thank-you. This song is very emotional for me every time…It’s for my lady, and it’s about how we support each other, always.
MM : When listening to your guitar performance on “Rhythm And Truth”, we can also feel some influences from 70s hard rock music. Are there any musicians other than blues musicians that influenced you?
PS : I am influenced by any art that comes from the heart and soul. Even if it’s not something that I don’t necessarily “like” or my particular preferred sound, I can still learn from it, especially if it’s coming from an honest place from the artist. That’s the key for me – It’s all about putting something honest and real into the world, with the intention of making the world a better place.
MM : “Holding On” is a very peaceful tune. You start out on the guitar solo with some effect sounds, then into a more hard and emotional part, and finally into a soft and clear sounding melodic part. The contrast between these parts is very impressive.
PS : Thank-you. That song was a great collaboration between Dave and myself. He always pushes me to try new things, and this became one of my favorite songs on the new album. I also like the message of the song – “Make every moment, don’t throw it away. Turn it into something good.”
MM : “Aberystwyth” is an instrumental number. Did you intend to make this into an instrumental song from the first place? Do you have a different approach in songwriting, when writing an instrumental tune and a song with vocals?
PS : This was a chord progression I had for a while. I played it for Dave and he liked it and this song came together organically. We wanted an instrumental song to end the album, and we both felt good about this one. It’s also the name of the city I was born in, in Wales. Lots of feeling in this song.
MM : In one of the past columns on MUSE ON MUSE, you mentioned the importance of vibrato, as well as rhythm guitar. When we listen to your albums, we can definitely hear these techniques as distinguishing signatures in your music. What is your personal perspective regarding your distinguishing signatures in your own music?
PS : I try not to overthink things. The most important approach for me is to feel everything, to make sure it means something. Technique is very important – I am an evolving musician for sure, and always strive be the best I can be at all times, but without feeling, technique doesn’t really do much for me. Feeling comes first. I want to put my own personal story into my music.
MM : Do you have any daily routine practices that you do? Any routine warm up exercises you do before a show?
PS : I always warm up before a show, and take about 20 minutes to play, stretch, make sure my hands are warm, & sometimes putting them in warm water for a few minutes feels nice and gets me ready for action! If you’re a professional athlete you warm up, right!? The same goes for music – it’s important to respect your body and warm up. Some scales, I just like to play for a while, and then be fresh for the concert. Cooling down is important too. I also warm up my voice for about 20 minutes or so, doing exercises I learned studying the Set Riggs technique.
MM : Please tell us about each song on the album. How the song came to be, what you feel about each song, and/or any episodes while you recorded that particular song, etc.
PS :
“STEAMROLLER”
On the surface it’s about the most beautiful woman in the world, but deeper inside the song, it’s about steamrolling fear and doing what’s in your heart and soul…What’s authentic to me.
“STUNG BY A WOMAN”
This song is about someone who tricked me at a party one time – they gave me a spiked drink and it was really bad. The song is about that experience.
“MARIGOLD”
This song is for my wife, and it’s about being vulnerable with her, and the journey we’re on. It’s about how she’s there for me and understands me at all times. “Only truth, leads me to you…” kind of sums it up.
“RHYTHM AND TRUTH”
All about being real in my art. It’s my priority. Seizing the moment and being confident in who I am. There’s some deep messages in this song, and I hope people realize it’s not just about loud guitars and drums. Read the lyrics, you’ll hopefully see what I mean.
“BLACK TRAIN”
Straight up rock n roll song about a superfine woman.
“BEAUTIFUL”
Funky song for my wife…All about having a good time!
“HOLDING ON”
This song is absolutely about being real, being authentic in what I am doing, and striving to do. This song, as I mentioned before, is all about putting goodness into the world. The middle section is so emotional, you can hear screams under the guitar solo…It’s not always easy to stay in my truth…there’s so many distractions, fears, and fools that try to lead me away from it…But authenticity is what I know best and what I’m committed to.
“A MYSTIC”
This is a trippy song Dave and I came up with. A psychedelic ride on the wings of a butterfly….”Butterfly high into the sun!”
“THE BULL”
The angriest song I’ve ever written. Dave and I wrote this one day after I had gotten off the phone with a former business associate who had mistaken my kindness for weakness. “When you fuck with the bull, you get the horns.”
“ABERYSTWYTH”
This song is dedicated to the city I was born in, Aberystwyth. When playing this song I try to connect with the tranquility and beauty of the Welsh coast, and then the power and magnitude of Mother Nature, and the history of the area as well.
MM : Please tell us about your gear. What guitars, amps, effectors, foot pedals did you use for this recording?
PS : I love good vintage gear, Dave Cobb does too. We used primarily vintage instruments, pedals, and recording equipment – from my 1963 Stratocatsers, to 1968 Fuzz Faces, to 1967 Vox Wah Wah pedals, to vintage microphones, recording consoles, and 2” tape machines. When the vintage gear works, it sounds the best to our ears!
MM : What kind of guitar picks did you use? What kind of guitar strings did you use?
PS : I use only D’Addario strings, and different gauges depending on the guitar or the sound I’m looing for, or how my body is feeling on that particular day. The tone comes from inside! I use traditionally shaped guitar picks that are 0.88mm thick.
MM : Is there anything you keep in mind when making your guitar sound? Do you have any tips for sound making?
PS : I always try to get a clean & clear sound up front, before any pedals are added. I want to feel the sound in my soul and be inspired when I have the opportunity to get inside a performance. I actually don’t want to think about the sound as something separate, I want it to become part of the whole experience. I like clarity, definition, warmth, largeness, touch sensitive, healing tones.
MM : What do you have coming up next?
PS : Promoting Steamroller in Japan, and releasing Steamroller in North America!! I plan to go into the studio later this year or early next year to record something very special.
MM : Please give a message to your Japanese fans.
PS : I am so grateful for you continued support. With all my heart, thank-you!! I hope this music resonates inside you and inspired you to do things that you love. To do them in a way that makes you happy and from a place of confidence and authenticity. I look forward to seeing you in Japan so soon. Domo arigato!!
Philip Sayce Official Site : http://philipsayce.com/
■ Steamroller
IECP-50019 ￥1,980 WHD Entertainment
1. Steamroller
2. Stung By A Woman
3. Marigold
4. Rhythm & Thruth
5. Black Train
6. Beautiful
7. Holding On
8. A Mystic
9. The Bull
10. Aberystwyth
■ Peace Machine
IECP-50016 ￥1,980 WHD Entertainment
1. One Foot In The Grave
2. Save Me From Myself
3. Slip Away
4. Powerful Thing
5. Angels Live Inside
6. Dream Away
7. Sweet Misery
8. Blood On Your Hands
9. Cinnamon Girl
10.Over My Head
11.Alchemy
12.All I Want
13.Morning Star
14.Peace Machine
■Innerevolution
IECP-50017 ￥1,980 WHD Entertainment
1. Changes
2. Scars
3. Bitter Monday
4. Anymore
5. Take You Away
6. Daydream Tonight
7. My Pearl
8. Tennessee Girl
9. Are You Ready
10. Gimme Some More
11. Little Miss America
■ Ruby Electric
IECP-50018 ￥1,980 WHD Entertainment
1. Let The Love In
2. Set Us Free
3. Daydream Tonight (Live at Lion’s Share)
4. King Of New Mexico
5. Were You There
6. Ruby Electric
7. Helios
8. One Foot In The Grave
9. Powerful Thing
10. Slipaway
11. Alchemy
12. Take You Away
13. Angels Live Inside
14. Cinnamon Girl / I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
