Contemporary folk musician Isaak Salomon will debut his first solo release The Evening EP in an intimate show at Café Crema in West Vancouver tonight (July 24) at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 and includes a free CD. The 20-year-old Vancouver-based Salomon will be accompanied by fellow musician Colin Weeks who is opening the show.
Salomon's laid-back music style has conjured comparisons to artists such as Jack Johnson and John Mayer. He also takes cues from fellow Canadian musician Bahamas, while still making the music his own. The North Shore News caught up with Salomon for a Q&A ahead of his Café Crema show.
North Shore News: What or who was the inspiration for "Weekend in the World" - the first song off of the new album?
Isaak Salomon: While lying in bed on a Saturday morning, I realized something pretty simple - at one point in your weekend, it's the weekend everywhere in the entire world. Yeah, plenty of people work weekends and the world doesn't hibernate, but it's a nice notion - that everyone might share a few relaxing moments together. The next morning I woke up with the melody in my head, and the rest of the song came quickly.
North Shore News: Is that a slide guitar being used in "Weekend in the World?" What do you think that instrument adds to the overall song?
Isaak Salomon: I arranged a few different parts in harmony to be played with a slide on my electric guitar and I'm certainly emulating a pedal steel. It's a nod to the Western side of my musical influences, which often features that instrument. The rest of the instrumentation in that track is fairly dark and warm to leave room for those guitars on top.
North Shore News: The Evening EP - is it your first release?
Isaak Salomon: The Evening EP is my first solo release. I put out two albums with my indie rock band in high school - the best learning experience I could have asked for. I consider this is to be a more serious effort, and I'm grateful for the knowledge I gained from those years.
North Shore News: Where else do you draw inspiration from for the songs you write?
Isaak Salomon: I find it very important to stop and listen; to see the world with open eyes. It is so rewarding (though often very difficult). With that, each song is different. Sometimes inspiration comes from hearing a radio story about the current state of ancient artifacts ("You're Hadrian's Wall /Still long but not tall." - "Growing Pains"). Or looking back at my move to Canada in the middle of high school ("The give and take /Of the world gave a whirl to my life and I learned not to run." - "On The Run"). I try to be an experiential sponge, especially when writing, so I don't miss out on great inspiration. Another point is my love for reading (though I haven't made time for it recently). I wrote the song "Tintern Abbey" as a tribute to William Wordsworth's "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey." It's an incredibly beautiful poem with a lot of vivid imagery. I lifted a few lines from it.
North Shore News: What contemporary flavour do you add to folk music, or how do you make it your own?
Isaak Salomon: I spent a long time writing these songs with a very strict "no recording" rule (which can be hard when you write in your home studio). I wanted to write songs that stood on their own without production - pretty folky! - then to record them with a degree of subtlety and detail. The result, I hope, is simple and listenable songs that reveal detail and atmosphere upon repeat listening. The latter is a modern luxury, and I think that recipe equals "contemporary folk."
North Shore News: Is there a story about how you developed a deeper appreciation for music? Did it start when you were younger?
Isaak Salomon: I started playing violin when I was three, when my mom started playing the instrument. (My mom is amazing - when she turned 40 she said, "I'm going to play violin for the next 10 years" - she did.) I was too stubborn for group Suzuki classes, so I graduated to lessons with my mom's teacher, who taught us Irish fiddle. Over the next 10 years, I learned equal parts classical repertoire and Irish folk music. I've never considered devoting my life to any career besides one in music.
North Shore News: What can the audience expect from the Café Crema show?
Isaak Salomon: The Café Crema show will be really nice. I'm good friends with the Giannakos family who owns Crema, and they're so kind to host us. It's a beautiful space and we've been working hard to put together a good show in celebration of this release. The coffee and tea will be flowing, there will be plenty of CDs going around, and I'll be selling some merch that I'm very excited about.
North Shore News: How did you meet Colin Weeks?
Isaak Salomon: I met Colin at music school in Nelson. He has played a huge role in my musical development, and is a big source of inspiration for me. He's also my original connection to the North Shore - we moved back here with another classmate to pursue our music. It's always a lot of fun playing together, and we're looking forward to the (show on the) 24th.
North Shore News: How is the music scene in Washington, D.C. where you grew up?
Isaak Salomon: Washington, D.C. was a great place to grow up musically. I went to shows every month at the (famed) 9:30 Club downtown and got a great musical education experiencing and participating in that scene.
Editorial note: The 9:30 Club's claim to fame is showcasing up-and-coming artists interspersed with nostalgic acts ranging from Bob Dylan to the Beastie Boys.
North Shore News: A couple of your musical influences are Jack Johnson and John Mayer. How would you describe their style of music and what draws you to it? Isaak Salomon: What I admire most about Jack Johnson and John Mayer is the simple fact that they're so listenable. They never lose sight of their goal of creating beautiful music. In terms of guitar: John's playing is incredibly lyrical, and I think Jack's playing is hugely underrated - he's got tons of finesse. Both write very meaningful lyrics that wrap everything together so nicely. Some music gets so technically complex that, in my opinion, it becomes hard to enjoy without knowing what's going on "under the hood." I do not mean that it's bad (we need people pushing limits!), but rather that where my tastes lie right now, I'd rather sit back and enjoy music rather than run to catch up with it.
North Shore News: What other plans do you have for your music career? Do you want to tour?
Isaak Salomon: I'm already writing a follow-up to this CD, but I definitely want to take time to share these songs on stage. I've been locked up in the studio for a while and want to stretch my legs. Touring would be phenomenal. If folks in another town take notice, I'll be over there to book a show before you can say "tour manager."
