Breaking ground with his new sound, Salvatore Costa is ready to introduce the world to Smashing Satellites. His latest venture is not solely a collection of new music, but a movement that challenges listeners to question their attachment to technology. We currently live in a world where we share music via social media.
Sal Costa urges us to rebuild the human connection and experience life and music together in real time. THEPOPFIX is honored to be a vehicle to help spread his message. We hope you enjoy our exclusive interview with Smashing Satellites’ Salvatore Costa.
THEPOPFIX: You have a new band and a new sound. Can you describe the transition musically from your time with My Darkest Days?
Sal Costa: Honestly, there hasn’t really been much of a transition for ME personally. I have been writing this type of music my entire life. Part of the reason I left My Darkest Days is because it was only fulfilling one facet of myself as a writer, musician, creator and performer – and that is the rock side of me. I’ve been in and out of alternative bands since forever. I have a pretty eclectic range of influences musically and I just LOVE so many different genres and styles. I was completely a fish out of water in My Darkest Days. One of my strengths as an artist is my ability to adapt, which is what I did for that band, but it was just too focused that I felt like it was killing my creativity. When you put up musical barriers, you’re also putting up creative barriers. I can’t exist like that.
I just want to write great songs without thinking that they need to fit in a box.THEPOPFIX: Smashing Satellites has appeared to be the result of your latest creative epiphany. An artist’s mind normally is constantly spitting out fresh ideas. What was it about this music concept that had you motivated to bring the idea to life?
Sal Costa: Truly – I feel as if humans are so disconnected from one another because technology has created this emotional barrier. I’m very close to the earth and animals. I share a connection with them, but I feel as time goes on, my connection with humans is diminishing because no one cares to look into my eyes anymore. They rather email me or text me. Even phone calls are becoming dated now. This void inside of me is what truly sparked the idea behind the band. I feel really passionate about it.
THEPOPFIX: Our attachments to technology are stronger than ever and in return our physical social interaction has dramatically decreased. You depict Smashing Satellites to be a movement to help us escape technology. Explain how you hope your music can rebuild human connection?
Sal Costa: Great question. I want to use the success of this band as a stage to speak to a greater audience. The majority of my songs are about really, really personal events in my life. Both current and past. Things that many people are afraid to speak of with others…things that are easier to Google an answer for, rather than open up to another person about it. I suffer from insomnia, depression, anxiety and in the past – bulimia. It can be debilitating at times, and it can be a very scary place to be. But I know I’m not the only one out there that goes through this type of internal madness. It’s so easy to Google yourself to death with answers, but the truth is – nothing feels better than talking to other humans…opening up…connecting. It is therapy. I hope that my songs serve as a reason for people to discuss these type of emotional disabilities. I feel that if I can talk about it to the world, others shouldn’t feel scared to talk about it either. Secondly, we’re pressing this record on vinyl. Part of the reason for this is because I truly want to bring back the synergy people use to have back in the day where you would call a friend to your house, put the record on and just enjoy each others company. Give people a reason to get together and talk again, and be excited together about hearing something together for the first time. I was too young for the vinyl days, I missed out on that era, but I discovered it later on in my life and it truly brings back that excitement sitting around with your good friends just listening to your favorite songs. Beats playing video games by yourself, or if your lucky – playing against someone you don’t know half way across the world.
THEPOPFIX: During the many hours of studio time put into this EP, can you share with us any memorable moments from when you were building a song?
Sal Costa: Probably the most memorable moment was the first time I met producer Bob Marlette. I was such a fan of all the records he made in his career and I was just excited to meet up with him for a one day writing session in LA. I assumed we’d write together and I’d be on my way. I remember meeting him and him asking me if I had any ideas. So I picked up my guitar and started singing him this song I had started writing a few nights before. I could tell he was intrigued, but he told me he wasn’t sure about the lyric I had for the main hook. About two minutes later Bob’s door bell rang – it was a FedEx dude, so he left to answer the door. All of a sudden I had a waterfall of lyrics just swim into my head. It was like someone turned on the light in my brain. I started writing like crazy! Bob came back into the studio and I was like, “Hey Bob, what do you think about this?” I played him the chorus of what became the song “Waterfall.” He was like “I love that. I love your voice. I like you. I like this. Who’s producing your record?” Bob and I finished writing and recording the track and he offered to produce the record, so I ended up living out in LA for months creating this band and all the songs. I wonder sometimes what would have been if that moment never happened. It was life changing. I will never forget that. Bob really is the one who gave life to what was then just me by myself writing songs. Bob opened the doors of creativity, and gave me my moment to shine. I owe so much to that man – and I love him. He is a true friend, and one of the most talented people I have ever met.
THEPOPFIX: I understand you like to mix a guitar with a synth. What other instrument collaborations can we expect to hear?
Sal Costa: Yes! I love creating sonic landscapes from odd and classical instruments. We used everything from violins, violas, cellos, trumpets and trombones to vintage organs, clavs, bells, and keyboards like the Fender Rhodes (which makes an appearance on almost every song). We also played around with SO many different guitars, amps and also synth and beat programs. The production was endless, which is what makes this record beautiful. We did not shut the doors to any ideas or instruments, and this provided for endless creativity.
Sal Costa: I’ve always felt like an outcast. I feel like I’ve always been on my own planet mentally and emotionally. The artwork depicts my perception of the world. How it is…and how I wish it could be. It is dark, but it reflects a glimmer of hope.
If you take the time to really stare at all the artwork, I think you will see yourself somewhere in there. There is a place for everyone in this world, and a place where I think we can go. It is the distorted reality we live in through my eyes.
THEPOPFIX: Within the music video we see depicted masquerade scenes in an outer dimension illusion. Did we have a lot of fun shooting the video?
Sal Costa: Shooting “Hounds” was truly a lot of fun. Essentially, I got to re-create the artwork and bring my perspective to 3D. My car (Helene) also makes an appearance in the video, and my werewolf beauty is played by model and friend Arielle Reitsma.
THEPOPFIX: Can fans expect you to hit the road and share these songs live?
Sal Costa: Absolutely. Right now we’re finishing up production rehearsals and are starting to do one offs, but we will definitely be full bore touring in the near future. I cannot wait to start playing these songs in front of people. There will be no better feeling than having an audience of people singing them. That is when I think I will feel some sense of true accomplishment. I think.
THEPOPFIX: In regards to your movement, how do you feel about cell phones at concerts?
Sal Costa: My honest opinion is that they take away from the show in SO many ways. First of all, you spend more time filming than actually watching and listening that you lose track of enjoying the moment. Everyone beside you is doing the same thing and nobody is looking at each other singing the songs and enjoying the energy. Part of what makes music great is that it brings strangers together without feeling like strangers because you have this shared love for something so special. Secondly, people end up posting videos of the artist that never do them justice. Other people will then go on YouTube and will judge a band and their show based on someone’s distorted iPhone or Android video. It really diminishes the value of the artist and is a big reason in why people don’t go out to concerts anymore. They can watch an entire tour worth of shows on YouTube while folding laundry! Kinda ridiculous. People are missing that era of artists like Queen, Prince, The Bee Gees, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd…and the new artists trying to fill that void are having a hard time getting there because it takes people coming out to shows to create that atmosphere. The talent is on the stage, but the audience is in front of their computers watching it the next day.
“SoniceAluzions (A-Side)” will be released on September 30th 2014. Click here to pre-order the EP and to stay connected with the band visit their Facebook page.