Saves The Witch is an intriguing new project from North Carolina, creating lovely atmospheric pieces of work like latest release, Abeam the Intrepid. It’s a rock song with a difference, going through several different movements that really help to shake the genre up. Find out more about Saves The Witch here…

By Jane Howkins

You recently released a new song called Abeam the Intrepid. What can you tell us about the track? What does the title mean?

The song was inspired by the Miracle on the Hudson, where an airliner hit a bird and had to land in the Hudson River in New York. I’ve always been inspired by the crew of that aircraft, and how well they performed under such pressure.

How has the reception to Abeam the Intrepid been so far, and where can it be purchased?

The reception started off slow, but picked up a few weeks after release. I’m a very small indie project, but I’ve always been surprised at how many people connect with the music. I never take that for granted. That track can be found pretty much all the normal places; Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, YouTube, etc.

Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future?

That might be the last single for this album, I’m not sure yet. There is a third full album coming, but I’m not pressuring myself on releasing it. I want it to be ready. But it is coming for sure!

The track is part of your third full-length album. What can we expect from the album, and when will it be released?

So like I said I’m not pressuring myself, but if I had to estimate I would say maybe early next year? I would expect the same vibe from previous albums. Some really peaceful meditative tracks, and some heavier items as well. I might also have a track with vocals for the first time, we’ll see!

You’re a solo artist. Why did you decide to produce music under the Saves the Witch moniker? Do you play all the instruments yourself?

I do. I play guitar, bass, drums. So far every song is just that. The more synth-like sounds I’m still getting out of my pedalboard. The Saves the Witch name came about as a way of saying that we should as people embrace each other’s differences. A few days ago actually I visited the Salem Witch Museum on vacation and it was really horrible what people who were deemed ‘witches’ went through. All because people feared what they saw as something different.

Your music has an experimental rock sound. What/who influences you most as an artist? What have you been listening to recently?

I’m a huge fan of Sleep Token and Coheed and Cambria. I’m also hugely inspired by Covet, This Will Destroy you, We Lost the Sea and many other post-rock bands. I’ve been listening a lot lately to Sleep Token’s newest record. It’s fantastic!

You’re based in North Carolina. What is the local music scene like with you at the moment?

So the town I live in is by the coast, so we have a lot of beach cover bands, that type of thing. I don’t fit in with that scene very well. We do have some indie music in the area though that’s really strong. I just have to travel a few minutes to really hear it. I may have some live shows in the future, but it will be a bit different and will probably include a lot of improv, since I can’t play everything at once live.

Do you have anything else exciting coming up this year?

Just more writing and recording for the new record! Possibly one more single, but we’ll see.

Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?

I wish I did! Unluckily I’ve not played live yet at all, but as I mentioned, I’m confident that I will. It just may be limited in scope.

Any last words for the fans?

I just really appreciate every single person who listens. I truly am grateful and never take it for granted at all. This is a piece of my soul I’m putting out there, so to see people connect with that is just amazing to me.