MELTT – ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AND BAND INTERVIEW

Meltt is an intriguing alternative psych-rock band who have just released an aurally captivating new album entitled Eternal Embers via Nettwerk. The group’s sound is a fascinating mixture shoegaze guitar, glistening synths and emotive vocals. Their music delivers brilliant ethereal flourishes of sonic beauty coupled with silky psychedelic rhythms.

Formed in Vancouver, Meltt featuring Chris Smith (lead vocals, guitar, bass, keys), Jamie Turner (drums, percussion), James Porter (guitar, bass, keys, vocals), and Ian Winkler (keys, bass, guitar) wrote and recorded what would become the Eternal Embers in sessions with co-producer Kieran Wagstaff. The full length features tracks that range between brazen soundscapes and groove laden organic beats. The arrangements are bold and extremely melodic with a edgy flair.

Songs like “Do You Ever Wonder”, “The Absent Sea” and “Only In Your Eyes” showcases Meltt‘s ability to totally captivate. Each tune has it’s own flavor and feel. In addition, the album contains a vibrant vibe full of cinematic delights. Eternal Embers is a breakout release that will transform Meltt into a dynamic musical force to be reckoned with.

Meltt (yes, the entire band) was kind enough to sit with AMP for this informative interview.

AMP: Can you give our readers a brief history of the band?

JAMIE: Chris and I knew each other for quite a while. We go back all the way to kindergarten. Chris played guitar from a really early age and my dad was a drummer, so I messed with them when I was younger. Around 6th grade, I took part in a school talent show and I had so much fun that I told the guys that I played with that we should start a band and we should bring in Chris.

We started playing elementary school dances and other events. We loved it so much that we kept the band together during high school. James joined in 8th grade. We played covers around youth centers and small venues. After high school, we split up. James went to Montreal for school. Me and Chris stayed in Vancouver, jamming and messing around. That’s when we started to write our own material.

During the summer, James returned. We pooled all our musical ideas together and released an EP. We went through a series of bass players. Ian had played with us a couple of times but he also was going to school. When he moved back, we decided to make him a permanent member. That’s our short story.

AMP: Describe your creative process?

IAN: It varies quite a bit but the general overview is that we each write and make our own little demos. We bring them to the group and choose our favorites. Then, we start working on the chosen ones together and develop them to a point. A group demo comes next. We usually work on the music first, even down to the melodies. After that, we work on the lyrics. Chris has a good term for our songwriting; The Meltt Filter.

AMP: Your new album, Eternal Embers, is a sonic masterpiece. Can you give us some insight into the music?

CHRIS: As to the sonic value on the album, we had a lot of downtime when we started writing the demos. We had a lot of free time to experiment with new plugins and equipment. We pushed ourselves to learn new things. With this elevated base of knowledge, we were able to explore more aural directions. We definitely expanded our sound. Because of this, we brought in novel intriguing textures and colors to our music. Some of the demos go back to 2018 but the bulk of them were written during Covid. Pandemic free time gave us the opportunity to grow as a band and widen our horizons.

AMP: What are some of the themes embedded in Eternal Embers?

JAMES: For this album, we ingrained a series of cyclical themes like growth/decay and death/rebirth. We focused on things ending but continuing to evolve in another fashion. It wasn’t preplanned. It all came together naturally. When you listen to the record, you will find a song about something breaking apart and another one about growing together. That’s the pattern throughout Eternal Embers.

IAN: There’s also quite a bit of nature imagery and songs about grief and remorse. Fire and smoke also plays a big part in our musical journey and subconscious. When we were writing these songs, there were massive wild fires all through Canada and those images were embedded in our psyche. Like James said, death and rebirth are major players in our writing. If you listen closely, all these themes intertwine.

AMP: Is there a particular track that totally resonates with you?

JAMES: We all have different ones and they vary day to day but the one I’m most into is “The Absent Sea”. We tried to set something sonically different with that one and I feel we achieved it.

JAMIE: We always go back and forth on that topic. Right now, the one that comes back to me is “The Fire”. I love the way it truly embodied the album. It starts very slowly with a spiritual feel and it ends on a super powerful and intense note. It has this three part journey and I find that trek really satisfying. We recently played it live for the first time and I loved it.

AMP: Who are Meltt’s major influences?

CHRIS: We all have eclectic tastes but we have something call “The Pillars Of Meltt“. Tame Impala, Foals, Radiohead and Glass Animals. These are the artists that genuinely influence us.

AMP: If you could support any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

JAMIE: Foals would be the one that we all would probably agree upon. Actually, it could be a realistic option. Zeppelin or Queen would be a past artist we all would enjoy supporting.

AMP: You wrote the new album in 30 days living together in a remote cabin. How did you not kill each other?

IAN: HaHa! That’s a great question. We transformed the entire living room into a recording studio. So, as soon as we rolled out of bed, we would start working on the record. After dinner, we would continue until we were exhausted.

CHRIS: Then repeat. That’s how we survived. We just kept working.

AMP: Do you feel Vancouver is a nurturing city for artists?

JAMES: It’s getting harder because Vancouver is such an expensive city. A lot of venues have shut down due to the price needed to stay open.

JAMIE: It’s hard to find a mid-sized venue that is accessible. Big show rooms are closing and most of the open ones are in the worse parts of town. It’s becoming difficult. There are some really cool bands and local labels in Vancouver but it is challenging to sustain a scene.

AMP: What’s next for Meltt?

JAMIE: We go on a North American tour including a super cool show in Mexico City. After that, we start writing the next release.

MELTT FALL 2023 TOUR DATES
Oct 19 – Foro Indie Rocks – Mexico City, MX
Oct 21 – Mohawk Indoors – Austin, TX
Oct 22 – Club Dada – Dallas, TX
Oct 24 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans, LA
Oct 26 – Drkmttr – Nashville, TN
Oct 27 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA
Oct 28 – Petra’s – Charlotte, NC
Oct 29 – Pie Shop – Washington D.C.
Nov 1 – Baby’s All Right – New York, NY
Nov 2 – The Lilypad – Boston, MA
Nov 3 – Diving Bell Social Club – Montreal, QC
Nov 4 – The Garrison – Toronto, ON
Nov 7 – The Hideout – Chicago, IL
Nov 8 – Cactus Club – Milwaukee, WI
Nov 9 – 7th St Entry – Minneapolis, MN

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