Dundonian four-piece Sahara make their hometown headline debut at The Beat Generator, marking the start of a monumental Summer.
I begin this coming-of-age motion picture with the Dundonian four-piece congregating in the backroom of a music venue on the night of their first headline show. Simultaneously reserved in demeanour yet exuding the buzz of an adolescent band on their most notable night to date, visibly retracing the steps of musical greats (of which there are many to choose from) from this currently thriving east-coast scene. Holding personal first gig memories seeing bands such as The View, they come fully equipped with the irony of once sneaking into the local venues they are now playing centre stage to, whilst still being teenagers themselves.
The quartet: Adam, Megan, Keir and Ally may be seen as the next set of fresh faced kids on a regurgitated indie block but a year's worth of media attention and a flurry of high profile support slots, not to mention the overshadowing of headline acts in the process, could suggest otherwise. Despite age being a question for everyone but them, they find nothing but positivity in the matter:
“I think being young in a band is definitely a benefit, if it works to your advantage, that is until you try and get a drink at the venue. If anything it’s improved our chances, because we’re all leaving school now we can bring in a crowd, which we couldn’t really do with our other bands. We probably have more of a following now because it’s all people from school, and they bring people, who bring people. In terms of getting gigs elsewhere, particularly in places like Glasgow it can be a struggle, but it could be worse. There are worse places than Dundee. I love Dundee as a city but music wise and contacts wise it is getting better. The music scene in Dundee, it’s pretty small but surprisingly good, I love it, our music scene is quite underrated, it’s overlooked I think.”
This statement is made as the bands gig playlist echoes throughout the venue, with the achingly raucous Clash serving as a backing track to the support slot soundcheck, also a local musician. Both of which Sahara find influence from, with their slowly cultivated signature sound falling somewhere between the old and new there is a clear eclectic range of sounds there:
“Our influences right now? Most of who I’m listening to are Scottish: Neon Waltz, Baby Strange, The Lapelles, JR Green. I like Declan McKenna, Bottlemen, Jamie T.” Megan begins, whilst Adam interjects: “Really into the psychedelic stuff at the moment like Tame Impala and Brian Jonestown Massacre. But the influences do combine and I think that’s what our sound is.”
As anticipation mounts for their debut release, listeners can discard the hopelessness of overplayed Soundcloud mixes for a richer, more substantial set of tracks, descending the Sahara we know into their next stage of evolutionary development; the EP. Of which consists cherished classics "Scratch" and "Blind" already nostalgia fuelled favourites from live performances; compelling hooks and smooth as silk vocals layered upon tight, utopian instrumentals. With the addition of new track "Cough Syrup" as a delicately sincere addition to the back catalogue.
“Our EP is more advanced, more jive out, sounds bigger and bassier. The three songs that are on it all sound completely different to each other, with a few nice wee melodies here and there. You can hear our sound more with these tracks, so it’s us trying to come up with a sound we’re all happy with and that’s what the EP is just showing what we are.”
“Our EP is more advanced, more jive out, sounds bigger and bassier. The three songs that are on it all sound completely different to each other, with a few nice wee melodies here and there. You can hear our sound more with these tracks, so it’s us trying to come up with a sound we’re all happy with and that’s what the EP is just showing what we are.”
Stream the saharas new EP here for free https://t.co/f7UmsGSXS7— SAHARA (@saharatheband) August 6, 2016
At present, we’re reaching the height of festival haze, with the band pursuing their first taste of Summer shows nationwide, with the rest of 2016 looking equally as optimistic:
“With the rest of the year more gigs, hopefully some new songs but we’re skint so that’s difficult. The only good thing about being in school was getting the student discount but not anymore. Ally and Adam are moving away for uni as well so it’s finding a way to continue, I’m (Megan) going to uni here, Keir’s staying here as well. We’re going between Edinburgh and Glasgow so this could be an overly positive look at it but we could see that as a good thing, having two gaff’s in two different cities.”
Sahara play Y Not Festival this weekend and have just announced a Baby Strange support on the Dundee night of their September tour. The EP is out now on all major platforms.
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