Savannaah Georgia’s Baroness have burned through the ranks of the underground music scene rather quickly with their unique blend of sludge/psychedelic music. Heavy rhythms, huge bass attack and a feeling as though the songs actually live and breathe have helped the band step out of the limiting arena that seems to hold captive so many southern bands.
Their new album “Blue Record” is a slab of sound, a juggernaut of sliding guitars and tidal waves of sonic distortion that literally crush anything in their way. At the same time Blue Record is a beautiful album filled with tiny moments and little quirks that allow light to shine through the muddy darkness. I got to spend some time talking with Baroness bass master Summer Welch. Here are the fruits of that conversation.
SUMMER WELCH: The four of us are life long friends that grew up together in a small town in the Blue ridge mountains of Virginia. We played in bands together in various forms throughout our middle and high school years. In 2001 everyone went of in their own direction to glean something different in life.
Sometime in 2003 John, myself, Allen and our original guitar player Tim (2003-2005) formed what is now Baroness in the heat of Savannah Georgia. We have been touring and writing music sense that point. There have been a few line up changes sense the inception but our integrity and resolution has stayed the same. Were just four friends playing music that drives us.
SUMMER WELCH: It did not come from the GI Joe temptress.
SUMMER WELCH: We really just play what feels natural and intriguing to us. We have always tried to let the songs happen rather then force anything into the writing process. I think a lot of it has to do with how comfortable we are with one another.
SUMMER WELCH: We wanted to create something that was timeless. Something that would not be viewed as new or dated. Something that sits in that sweet spot and never goes away. I think that was the biggest challenge for us, and time will tell if we even accomplished such a feat.
SUMMER WELCH: We did not approach this record as a concept record. There were specific themes and emotions that we wanted to address. We wanted the over all feeling of the record to flow, so I guess in a way that is a concept, but not in the sense that it is about one specific topic.
SUMMER WELCH: Most definitely. I think everything needs a balance. There is no dark without light. We strive to maintain that balance.
SUMMER WELCH: I can’t say it was better or worse. It was different. It was wonderful. Each recording experience we undertaken has been unique in its own right. I think that with our first recording it was at a time when we had no idea what we were really doing, and so the experience was incredible because everyone was excited and absorbing everything they could.
This time around, the excitement was still there but there was much more on the table so everyone was a but nervous. I think that anxiety adds to the end result. John says that if your not scared shittless when you’re creating something then it’s probably not worth doing. I agree with him.
It was terrifying and inspiring. John Congleton (producer) also was a major asset to this recording. His overall demeanor and laid-back attitude made everything flow. So our anxieties and fears were not really directed at each other rather they revolved around our personal involvement in the recording process.
SUMMER WELCH: I think we have all grown up a lot sense the first EP was released. Our musical tastes have broadened and our desire to push ourselves has grown stronger. I think we are learning how to relax into our strengths more and more as time goes on.
SUMMER WELCH: King Diamond: Them, English Dogs: Where The Legend Began, Heart: Dreamboat Annie, Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath, Harvestman: S/T
