Interview with

BEN SALTER

Interviewer – Lauren Connelly

New album

Back Yourself

Released September 1

through ABC Music/ Universal Music Australia

Pre-order HERE

National tour confirmed for

October and November

You’ve just released ‘Back Yourself’, your 3rd solo album which you wrote while living in Tasmania. How did the change of scenery and lifestyle impact on your songwriting?

I’m not really sure to be honest. I did end up writing a song called “Derwent River” which obviously was directly about Hobart and Tasmania but it didn’t make it on the album. So I’m not sure.

You’re a critically acclaimed musician who’s been in some of Australia’s best bands (The Gin Club) and you’ve collaborated with legends like Tim Rogers, Mick Thomas and Gareth Liddiard (The Drones). Yet one could be forgiven for never having heard your music before – how do you ‘Back Yourself’ in today’s music climate?

I guess you just gotta keep on keeping on, try not to compare yourself to others too much. Be grateful for all the things you have rather than focussing on the things you don’t have. I mean I consider myself very fortunate.

You’ve toured with some of the greats, including Something For Kate, Cat Power, and Built To Spill. What’s been your favourite touring experience?

Having Doug Martsch from Built To Spill up the front watching us play every night on that tour was pretty amazing.

Your Back Yourself tour is going absolutely bloody everywhere. How important do you think it is for musicians to tour regional areas?

I’m not sure if it’s important. I just like visiting new places and music gives me an opportunity to do that. There’s so many more places I would love to visit.

You’re taking local Adelaide legend Dave Blumberg & his Maraby Band on this tour, which is excellent. Who else should we be looking out for within the local scenes?

Oh I am absolutely the wrong person to ask that question. There’s a band called Local Coward from Melbourne who are amazing.. a lot of good bands in Melbourne at present like Root Rat, Bench Press, Tankerville, Ute Root. All The Weathers in Hobart, and Treehouse.