You may remember a Bandcamp of the Day article I did about a Denver-based band, The Savage Blush, not too long ago. The band released a new album called Ether Dome in March 2023, and I liked it so much that I reached out to learn more about them.
The Savage Blush is a psychedelic rock band that projects reverb-washed atmospheres of phaser-modulated melodies, punchy rock rhythms, and vocals that echo throughout. They create a sound that blends the familiar textures and dynamic structures of bands such as The Animals, The Doors, and Jefferson Airplane, with the ethereal spaces and darker fuzzed-out psych rock of today.
Besides loving the new album Ether Dome, what drew me most to The Savage Blush was their mention of bands like The Animals, The Doors, and Jefferson Airplane. In this following interview, I ask them about their love of classic Sixties psychedelic music and much more. So, sit down, relax, and get to know The Savage Blush from Denver better.
The Savage Blush is Rebecca William (guitar, vocals), Joshua William (drums, percussion), and Michael Jennings (bass). Rebecca answered the questions in the interview.
Interview with The Savage Blush
The Third Eye: Can you introduce the band? How did y’all meet and start making music together?
Rebecca Williams: We are called The Savage Blush, based out of Denver, Colorado. Joshua and I have been playing music together since we were small tiny children (we’re siblings).
In 2015 after another project I was in disbanded, I started The Savage Blush and, of course, wanted Joshua on drums and to collaborate with me again. We have always been a three-piece. Me on guitar (Rebecca), writing, and vocals. Joshua’s writing and drums, and someone on bass, who was also involved in the writing process. We’ve been fortunate to have incredible players on bass throughout the years and currently have two on our roster, Michael Jennings and Derek Crane.
Third Eye: I noticed some influences you named, like The Animals, The Doors, and Jefferson Airplane. I don’t see as many psychedelic bands list classic Sixties acts like this as much as influences today, especially The Doors. Can you tell me why you’re so influenced by these bands and what you like so much about them?
Rebecca: There was a purity and rawness in the music of that era which shows in our own music. I find certain rhythms we especially love to use are also most prevalent at that time. We love rhythm.
Joshua and I have a background in Latin music, which comes through. It was just such a good time for music, and we kept getting compared to the bands we named, so we said yeah, we do sound like that. Putting our own modern flairs into those styles just makes for really groovy, good music. (Groovy as in groove, not cool groovy).
Being a Musician Today
Third Eye: What is the hardest part about being a musician today? For example, I think about how crazy-fast the music cycle is today with streaming and how so much new music gets released so often.
Rebecca: The internet has become both a curse and a blessing. In my mind, with the inundation of things like streaming services, which everyone uses now, and bands submitting to labels and agents, it gets difficult to have someone even read your email about “this great new album we just put out we think you’d love.” Or finding your music without certain resources. So without much hard work and perseverance, it can be disheartening. You just have to keep pushing and doing it all yourself until you get some help. We have been lucky enough to have wonderful people help us in various ways, and we’re extremely grateful for them.
The blessings come in the way of the ability to submit some things yourself and pay for advertising on Instagram and TikTok, etc. You can do a lot with what is available to you. Just as one example, with the advent of sites like Bandcamp, who, after submitting to their new and notables page, featured us in April, got us a lot of good traction after our album release and led to people promoting it on their sites and digital album sales. So the internet can be a very useful tool.
Another difficulty to note that is prevalent among my peers and as a musician who has been playing music their whole life and isn’t 21 anymore; is a stigma about age and when you’re supposed to hang it up and say, I’m too old for this. I disagree with that wholeheartedly. Passion never dies; it is only dissuaded or snuffed out by oneself. I, for one, still want to make good music and share that on stage as long as I am physically able.
Creating the New Album
Third Eye: I remember you saying the journey toward creating the new album, Ether Dome, was tricky because of the pandemic. Can you tell us about the process behind creating it?
Rebecca: The pandemic really sent us into an unknown with the release of the album we had been working on for so long and were so proud of. It was also different because we really wanted to take our time with this album.
With other albums, we have recorded them and put them out so quickly for various reasons. We wanted to do Ether Dome differently and do justice to the album, our sound, and musicianship. We were planning tours around it, planning the pressing vinyl, and pitching it to people we thought would have been able to get us where we wanted to be.
We were essentially shut down and unable to continue with the process as we had hoped. And at the end of it, we were sort of unsure how to proceed. We knew how it was done before. But everything seemed to have changed a bit. I think this is a common theme for many musicians who had similar plans around that time.
Third Eye: What’s one album y’all can’t stop spinning right now?
Rebecca: Altin Gun’s newest album.
Third Eye: I imagine you like tons of psych and garage rock. But what’s one offbeat genre you love that may surprise us?
Rebecca: Joshua and I listen to Mexican Corridos, and Cumbia in general, like….a lot.
What’s Next for The Savage Blush
Third Eye: What’s the Denver music scene like right now, especially for psychedelic rock acts like yourselves?
Rebecca: Denver has always been a good scene for good music. People are getting used to wanting to come out to shows since the Pandemic times, but for the most part, all of our fellow bands within our genre, and especially the locally owned venues, are extremely supportive.
Third Eye: Last question – What’s next for The Savage Blush? What are some short-term and long-term plans?
Rebecca: Next for us are tours and some singles we are planning on recording. Hopefully, we will be able to find some U.S. and European representation to get our name and music out there more. I am also working on getting some sync licensing deals.
Support The Savage Blush by finding them on Bandcamp, their official website, or social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook).
Parting Words: “I hate show business.” – Joni Mitchell
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