Perth-based country blues five-piece Savanah & The Strays prepare to launch their brand new single 'Salt Of The Earth', written as an ode to fatherhood.
Frontwoman for the band, Savanah Solomon explains how the song was written about her own father after he offered her some advice about her songwriting. “He said 'your songs are a bit boring, you really need to write a story',” Savanah says.
“And I thought about it and thought 'what better than to write a story about my dad?'. It's something that's important to me and I think it's something that everyone should hear as well. I thought he can't complain about that either, he can't say it's boring now,” she laughs.
“It's about how much I love him and it's a song about recognising dads and what they do for us as well. He's a true Aussie battler, he sacrifices so much for my family, he does everything for us and it's a song of appreciation.
"It recognises the type of person he is – he's hardworking and well-respected and loyal and always does the right thing.”
'Salt Of The Earth' has been taken from an upcoming album of the same name Savanah is hoping to put out next year as a take-two on their debut album recorded at TAFE.
“We did put [an album] out a couple of years ago while we were at TAFE, but this one I'd like to say is our debut album because it's just on another level with more professionalism,” she says.
Audiences will have a chance to see how Savanah & The Strays have developed as a band when they perform as part of the WAMFest Live showcase in early November, before their official single launch at the end of the month.
“I'm really excited to play that [WAMFest] show and to also check out the other shows if I have time,” Savanah says.
“It's going to be a great day, a great weekend, and there's a lot of people I went to TAFE with that are on the shows as well, so it's really exciting to see them get out there. It's going to be a really exciting day and I can't wait to perform.
“We have been practising heaps and it's going to be an eclectic show – we've got some chilled-out country songs and some more Allman Brothers, bluesy, rock songs, so it's a bit of a mix. We're going to have really chilled-out stuff then dance-away [sic] music as well.”
Though Savanah & The Strays didn't receive a WAM Award nomination this year, Savanah says she's determined – even to the point of stubbornness – to take the band as far as they can go.
“It's been an exciting journey so far, so we want to keep the momentum up and keep going at it, keep working hard,” she says.
“To the boys as well in the band, they've helped me so much and they've put in a lot of effort as well. I can be a bit bossy and take control, but they put up with me,” she laughs.
