Sunset Salore, the Melbourne-based singer-songwriter originally hailing from Belfast, has gifted us with a truly captivating debut EP, 'Love Kills The Monsters'. This eclectic collection of tracks is a testament to Salore's journey of self-discovery and acceptance, forged in the fires of personal challenges and a global pandemic.
"This EP was the first time I felt ready to tell a story, and it was really cathartic, and quite reflective for me," Salore shares. And indeed, 'Love Kills The Monsters' feels deeply personal, each song a window into a specific moment of introspection and growth. Salore's soulful vocals glide over funky basslines and sultry grooves, creating a soundscape that is both refreshing and familiar.
There's a distinct 90s influence present, with hints of Jamiroquai and Meg Mac woven into the alternative pop tapestry. From the soulful exploration of self-acceptance in the title track to the empowering anthem of 'Call It', Salore invites us to dive into the depths of her experiences. So, let's dive in and explore the creative forces behind this compelling debut.
It's fantastic to get to speak with you today. Thanks for taking the time to answer a few of our questions. You mentioned that 'Love Kills The Monsters' was cathartic and reflective. Is there a particular track that felt most emotionally charged or revealing to create?
"They all had their own moments of catharsis! I would say that ‘Call It’ came from the most highly charged place, and happened very quickly. I wrote the hook first and the lyrics and melody flowed from that. All in all it was about 15 minutes and channelled a bad day into reflection on moments over the years that add up to someone saying ‘enough’. Compared to ‘Don’t Owe You Pretty’ which was a much more chilled reflection on life and all the things that women were culturally or historically expected to ‘owe’ society, or others in their relationships, which we really don’t. It might sound relaxing, but it has a reflective and strong message. Owning that was powerful."
The EP beautifully blends 90s influences with a contemporary feel. Were there any artists or specific albums that inspired the sound of this project
"Yes, and they were quite diverse. I loved the hooks and basslines in Baker Boy’s Gela, I also enjoyed the funky bass that is often used in Jamiroquai’s music. Lyrically and melodically it was inspired by Meg Mac and Florence and the Machine’s sounds. I also have always listened to music, so everything from beat-driven narratives through to almost jazz fusion has influenced me over the years, and that also does come through in varying points of the tracks at times."
The song 'Hope' tackles the uncertainty in a relationship. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this song and what message you hope listeners take away from it?
"It does. I was reflecting on times when you are looking at yourself in a relationship and wondering how much hope you should be holding on to. It’s good to be hopeful, positive etc, but not at the expense of everything else. It’s about not walking away from something when there might still be hope left, but that line is a fine one. It’s calling out flaws on both sides, and asking both to see how much they are ‘in’."
"Setting boundaries and aligning expectations if you will. The lines that resonate most with me in this song are the bridge, ‘I’m not gonna say what’s on my mind, if you’re not gonna be here all the time. What’s the use of being strong, if I use it all up holding on.’ That sums it up nicely for me, it’s saying, I’m in if you are, but you need to mean it and back it up with actions. Strength is not this honour badge society seems to think it is when it comes at a large cost."
You've described your music as 'alternative pop'. How do you define that genre for yourself, and where do you see your music fitting within the broader musical landscape?
"Honestly, I wanted to create music I would listen to myself here, now, today, even if I didn’t really know what that genre would be called! It was a challenge to label this EP actually! We settled on Alt-pop, but really it could be a number of things, and we didn’t have a better category!"
"Originally I was going to write more a lounge jazz style EP, and ‘Don’t Owe You Pretty’ is a little nod in that direction which made it, but I ended up taking the direction the music was leading me, and trusting it. That meant I ended up straying massively into territory driven by lyrics, beats and melodies rather than working top-down from a genre. It unleashed a lot more creative opportunities and I think the product has benefited from that process. The downside is I have struggled to categorise it!"
"I also was tossing up a more folk approach. Who knows what the next EP/album will be…. That’s half the fun of it! I do really enjoy blending different sounds!"
Moving from Belfast to Melbourne must have had a significant impact on your life and music. How has this geographical and cultural shift influenced your songwriting and sound?
"Belfast culturally has a lot of different music to draw from, both today and traditionally. I spent a lot of time enjoying the local music scene there and had musician friends popping up at lots of gigs. Moving to Melbourne was a cultural awakening for me. Belfast is quite homogenous in terms of population, and Melbourne is so full of diversity culturally in music, food and language."
"I really explored a lot of that and it is one of my favourite things about living here. I felt that diversity opened my mind to a lot more influences over time, and I really enjoy dipping into or borrowing from the culture I’m a part of today. Belfast will always inform my roots, but I think the joy of adding to your culture by having other experiences, meeting other people, and opening your mind naturally shifted the kinds of music I was listening to, exploring, seeing live, and writing. I’ve particularly enjoyed getting into Baker Boy’s album Gela which I mentioned before. I love how smooth his flow is, and coupled with a groove, was something I wanted to borrow from, even if I will never be a rapper! I would love to explore in future how Belfast and Melbourne cultures meet with a view to identity and place thematically and stylistically. There are also a lot more artists around in Melbourne so who knows, maybe a collaboration will be on the cards in future!"
Each track on 'Love Kills The Monsters' offers something unique. How did it all come together? Were there specific moments of inspiration, or did it evolve naturally?
"While diverse, reflecting my own diverse musical tastes, it does hang together around funky grooves and basslines and that was deliberate. I did want to create a body of work that had a thread through it, and that you could move your feet to. Beyond that I was exploring different genres, sounds, and blending these along the way. From there it became this organic journey. I tried not to overthink it and I was prepared to throw everything out and start again, so it took the pressure off, at least in the beginning. Once I had a chunk of songs to review, it became clear both what the EP needed to be called, and that they naturally were a cohesive body that worked well together narratively speaking as well as sound wise. I have been songwriting with KYE (Kylie Chirunga) on a weekly basis to flesh out the songs, and we got into a groove where it became apparent when we had something good to continue to build upon. Without her challenging me and getting me out of my comfort zone, there would be no EP and Sunset Salore might still be on hiatus!"
'Love Kills The Monsters' suggests a journey of self-acceptance. What advice would you give to listeners who might be grappling with their own inner demons?
"It is exactly that. I was struggling with a lot of inner demons, as we all were coming out of the pandemic let alone generally in life as it ebbs and flows, and I thought, why am I beating myself up about these things when no one else is? I’m my own harshest critic. From there I started to consciously consider what it might be like to be kinder to myself, and the concept of loving the demons away or ‘love killing the monsters’ was born. I’d say to anyone in that space that you are not alone, even those who look the most together are going through something, and to be kinder to yourself. You really are the architect of your own mindset, so make it good."
What are your hopes and aspirations for this EP? What kind of impact do you hope it has on your listeners?
"As I mentioned, originally my goal was to make music I would want to listen to myself, something that was meaningful to me, honest, and reflective. Hopefully, that comes across when people listen to the music. I hope that firstly people do listen – it’s hard to critique something you haven’t heard! So I hope people share the music with friends and family if it resonates with them. I hope that from there they enjoy it, it’s something to move your feet to or bob your head when you’re on your road trip. If you want to I hope you will share your feedback with me so I can channel that into the next project. I would love to connect with you all! (Social media or web etc!)"
Now that the EP is released, what's next for Sunset Salore? Are you working on new material or planning any live performances?
"I am having a Love Kills the Monsters launch party with live bands for those of you who are in Melbourne, I’d LOVE TO SEE YOU there! 1st Feb, in the Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick - details on the website, and tickets on sale 18th October via Oztix and the Bergy’s website."
"I will be supported by Kaiyah Mercedes, Lili-Violet and G-Man. As well, I will be having the event as a charity fundraiser for the amazing Kenyan children’s charity Rafiki Mwema. If you are interstate or overseas and want to donate to them, just reach out directly to them or to me and I’ll connect you."
"In addition, I’m selling signed copies of ‘Love Kills the Monsters’ CD if you’re keen to get your hands on it. I might even write a little personalised message…"
One more question before you go - if you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
"I love this question. I can think of so many. Let’s go with two, both living and both mentioned here today already. Florence and the Machine – because she is a legend, and I’m a huge fan. There’s nothing like hearing her live which I’ve done on numerous occasions now. That voice! Also I’d say Baker Boy, because as I’ve said before, I love his smooth flow and I think that would be amazing to blend into a collaboration!"
With 'Love Kills The Monsters' now released, Sunset Salore is set to make waves in the alternative pop scene. Her music is a testament to the power of self-reflection and embracing one's own unique journey. Be sure to catch her live at the EP launch party in Melbourne on 1st February, and keep an eye out for future releases from this exciting new artist. You can connect with Sunset Salore and learn more about her music through her website and social media channels.
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