Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Saer
THE RELEASE
SAER, the creation of Birmingham-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Simon Davies, is a captivating musical endeavor known for its hauntingly beautiful soundscapes. SAER mixes beautiful lyrics with unshakable fervor and sensitivity, embracing the nuances and vulnerabilities of human nature, with a heart-stopping vocal range and intricate melodies. SAER's music easily blends electronic pop and folk with cinematic sensibilities, providing a modern sound that is as distinctive as it is captivating. His past albums, like as the epic "NYC," have received praise and fame, appealing with both city inhabitants and dreamers. SAER's broad repertoire includes original songs that have adorned national airways as well as covers with a darkly cinematic twist. It all started with his spectacular version of Harry Styles' "Sign of the Times" on The Voice UK in 2018, grabbing the hearts of fans, judges, and media alike and laying the groundwork for his incredible musical journey.
SAER’s latest release is an amazing version of Johnny Cash's ageless classic "I Walk the Line." This offering creates a haunting and sad epic ballad that elevates the legendary song to a dark and moody masterpiece. In sharp contrast to Cash's profound performance, his soaring voice provides a distinct dimension to the composition, as the lyrics retain their profound significance amongst a new and intriguing musical setting. Beginning with delicate piano notes and ethereal strings, the song eventually grows into an expansive soundscape propelled by booming percussion and haunting synthesizers, more closely fitting with Cash's original love ballad idea. The song is accompanied by a visually captivating music video directed by Paul Griffin, which features 1920s noir-style cartoon animation and a CGI black cat exploring darkened city alleys, and digs thematically into the darkest aspects of Cash's life. Expertly reimagined by SAER - a pleasant release that is sure to captivate and resonate with listeners.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
For me it would have to be Jeff Buckley, Susanne Sundfor, Nick Drake and The Beatles. Mainly from growing up sneakily borrowing my brother's cd collection. Jeff and Susanne for their soul and vocals and just beautiful arrangements. Nick Drake for his finger picking and lyrics and The Beatles for just breadth of tracks available from the classics to the experimentation in the studio.
Were there any specific experiences or events in your life that influenced the song's lyrics?
Fortunately the lyrics were already penned by Johnny Cash. It was really interesting looking into how the song was written as a promise to his wife to remain faithful on his time on tour. We found out that it was originally meant to be a ballad but at the labels request was made more upbeat. Being a big fan of Cash's later darker cover interpretations, 'I Walk The Line' felt a great track to approach.
Can you share any interesting anecdotes about the song's development with your co-writers or producers?
The song is self produced. I love finding sound palettes to create with and this one came together rather quickly, finding the right drones and crashes and tones is real exciting part of the production stage to add atmosphere. The video creator Paul Griffin invited me round to see the CGI cat he'd rigged with an animated background. He had kept it secret until he'd finished it and I was blown away with the animation and all the nods to Johnny Cash's experiences.
What was the biggest takeaway or lesson you learned while creating this song?
I think with every track I make I take something away in terms of improving my producing skills. Producing can be a very self-loathing task sometimes but the more you create and find sweet spots with production and in you own performances you start to build up more of an identity and confidence in what you output.
How has your recent growth as an artist influenced the direction of your future work?
I'd say so. It's put me in touch with other producers and artists to collaborate with. It's also given me a drive to complete unfinished projects and release regularly. Having supportive collaborators can really give you a push to getting tracks over the finishing line and you learn something from each creation. We're looking forward to releasing an array new tracks in the coming months.
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