Author: Dylan Bos-Dowlen
The date was set. On March 2, I had an exclusive backstage pass to The Bootleg Theater in Silverlake, with intentions to interview Greta Salpeter, the previous lead singer of The Hush Sound and current front-woman of Gold Motel, Salpeter’s new project. With a sunny attitude and a solid self-titled EP under their belts, the future for the band looks promising.
Gold Motel consists of Salpeter (vocals, songwriting, piano/organ/keyboards), Eric Hehr (guitar), Dan Duszynski (guitar, vocals), Matt Minx (bass) and Adam Kaltenhauser (drums) of This Is Me Smiling. Each person in the band has ample musical expertise and experience that they bring to the table.
One of the things that Salpeter, who manages the band in addition to her other duties, stressed in our interview was the band’s determination. When I asked her to sum up the band in one word, she simply responded “hard-working.” But it is not only Salpeter that is significantly engaged in the project; Duszynski plays guitar, participates in songwriting and is the band’s audio engineer. The other band members are similarly devoted and involved. The band is currently unsigned, but they do not let this fact impact their integrity or spirit. Independent and confident, Gold Motel is in control of their creative product. This independence gives the band an authentic and organic sound, devoid of frills or autotune.
During our interview, Salpeter expressed that she aims to produce a “hopeful, poppy, smart, classic songwriting type of music” that follows in the vein of the Beach Boys, Elvis Costello and George Harrison. Although Gold Motel’s music is not political or radical, their upbeat tunes provide an escape from the stress of everyday life. Gold Motel would rather create a cheerful, down-to-earth product than what Salpeter describes as “the negative, narcissistic music on the radio.”
Salpeter’s upbringing in suburban Chicago by parents who nurtured her artistic growth was integral to both her music and her generally positive outlook. Her mother, who plays the piano, paints and writes, especially facilitated this growth by constantly supporting and encouraging Salpeter’s musical, artistic ambitions. With this creatively-fueled upbringing, Salpeter developed a passion for songwriting and classical piano at a young age.
This artistic upbringing helped Salpeter reach further success in adolescence when she co-founded The Hush Sound at age 16. The Hush Sound released three well-received albums during their four-year run, but the band parted ways for an indefinite hiatus in 2009. Despite their success and impressive fanbase, each band member was searching for something a bit different. Salpeter feels she has found what she describes as “the missing piece,” in Gold Motel’s Duszynski. Duszynski and Salpeter clicked immediately, and their strong rapport is indispensable to the band’s camaraderie and to their music.
Gold Motel recorded their self-titled EP in Duszynski’s living room, but this by no means lessens the quality of the album. Gold Motel’s EP has an indie rock flavor with a tinge of piano pop. Elegant, poetic lyrics mix beautifully with the fast paced drums, rhythmic guitar and thumping bass to flesh out the EP’s cheerier songs. The EP captures Salpeter’s optimism in the upbeat tunes “Perfect in My Mind” and “Make Me Stay.” These, plus “The Cruel One,” “Who Will I Be Tonight” and “Don’t Send the Searchlights” round out this hard-working band’s first EP. The EP’s songs sound more similar to 60s motown, folk and pop than the current mainstream radio tunes. Greta’s delightful voice, combined with the band’s general poppy feel, is sure to put listeners in a cheerful mood.
After our interview, I had the chance to see the band in action. At their March 2 performance Duszynski, Minx and Kaltenhauser really got into the music, jamming together on the stage. The lead guitarist, Hehr, was similarly engaged; he was grooving off in the corner with plenty of humorous facial expressions to accompany his performance. Salpeter stood at the front of the stage and was actively involved with the audience, keeping them jumping back and forth with the band.
Gold Motel is a band that has the potential to storm the music scene, armed with an honest, upbeat message and indisputable musical talent. Look out for their first full-length album, set to come out on June 1.
Check Gold Motel out at myspace.com/goldmotel or follow them on twitter @goldmotel or @gretamorgan.
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