Following on from a string of praise for their debut single 'Alekhines Gun' earlier this year, which included plays on BBC Introducing, British stoner-pop upstarts The Daylight Orange are now looking to do it all again with the release of their next beauty 'Salt Water'.
With a love and affinity for Spiritualized, Duran Duran, Soulwax and everything in-between, 'Salt Water' is a wonderfully rich and diverse sophomore offering. With its smooth and sensual atmosphere layered amongst bright and breezy psych-rock influences, this new delight follows in the footsteps of The National with its vibrant flow.
So with their new release doing the rounds right now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has inspired them most over the years.
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What were the first instruments you fell in love with?
Guitars. My first electric was like having this magic potion in one loud package. Then getting various effects. i wanted a delay pedal so bad. Then experimenting with different combinations and unplugging the guitar and touching the jack lead and turning dials to make trippy bleeps which then turned me on to analog synths like the Korg MS20….it’s a never ending wish list…but there is also a soulful beauty in just blowing in to a harmonica through a crackly amp!
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
Without sounding too west country….The Sea, The waves, Sunsets & staying up until it rises, beach fires with good friends. Musically it’s heavy drums like Bonham, Guitars like Hendrix played backwards, Duran Duran Bass lines , heavy groove piano, some synth tweaks & as much reverb & delay on vocals that are based on love & loss as i can get away with.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
Early teens i was obsessed with Duran Duran. The look, the hair, the videos & the outright unadulterated POP of it all. Then i found guitars and it completely flipped what i was listening to on it’s head. And i took a swerve towards my Mum & Dads record collection where they had Deep Purple, Hendrix, Cream, The Faces & early Rod Stewart, The Beatles & Stones. But it was bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins with lots of harsh abrasive sonics juxtaposed with a really tight melody that properly flicked my switch. Very cool. Very Loud. Very teenage angst … Life changing.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
This song has a lot to answer for and i sometimes wonder if i hadn’t had the courage of my convictions what i would be doing now. It was the line “I’m tired of wasting all my precious time” that did it. On a bus to college the day before exams. I got off and made myself a promise that day that “life is music”. Jimi Hendrix “Foxy Lady” man i love that song!
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
The first thing that enters my head is whatever music i was working on the night before. So i’ll scramble for the kettle & stick 6music on the radio and let someone else choose the mornings playlist for me until i’ve got both eyes open enough to fire up the record player for some Motown & northern soul if the sun is out or Dj Shadow or Spiritualized if hungover… normally the latter .
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
Tricky. There has only been a handful i think although i’ll always chuck in a camouflaged reference to someone somewhere in there. I’ll often find out what the subject matter is when someone says “oh that’s obviously about such & such” and i’ll be thinking “No way is it about that” but that’s the ticket with is a song because as soon as it’s played it’s not yours anymore and is up for interpretation which is how it should be.
What have been the most memorable moments in your career so far?
It’s always nice to hear a song on the radio. I remember the first time it happened and we turned it up LOUD and stood outside in the road & told everyone passing THIS IS US ! I love the whole process of going in to a fully equipped studio armed with some good songs & good friends and making an idea come into fruition and then see peoples reaction to it wether it’s someone dancing or even having a cry to something they can relate to.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
The sea. To surf. For me it's to be plugged into the source code and be fully immersed and consumed by the power and majesty of the water and her waves.I don’t get out as much as Matt who’s in danger of growing gills soon.
If you weren’t musicians, what other path do you think you might have taken?
We've dipped our toes in the pub business over the years and managed to make that work. A mixture of craft beers, cocktails, good scotch and putting on live music and DJs. It's a tricky trade to make work especially now as the drinking demographic has shifted from the good old days of hedonistic drinking to a more health conscience lifestyle. I'd never say never to doing it again though.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
Love what you do and do what you love. It's got more ups and downs than a rollercoaster but music can be rewarding that aren't measured in monetary terms or exposure. Keep writing. Keep playing. Keep getting better and better. Keep putting yourself out there. Keep getting back up after getting knocked down. Keep bursting eardrums. Keep being in love with music. Keep writing as a wise man once said:
“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music” - Fredrich Nietzsche
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The Daylight Orange's new single 'Salt Water' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.