Sallie Ford. Photo by Jeremy Okai Davis. Find him at http://www.jeremyokaidavis.com.
As you may have heard, Portland’s newest buzz band, Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, is playing a free show at Bend’s McMenamins Old St. Francis School at 7 tonight. Be there or be square, friends. And until then, familiarize yourself with Sallie’s sound by giving her a listen and reading the following interview with her, conducted by yours truly via electronic mail!
Frequency: I read that you experienced a “musical upbringing” in Asheville, N.C. What exactly does that mean? Where did you hear the most music (home/school/church/etc)? What kind of music did you listen to?
Sallie Ford: Both my parents are musicians, so we would sing a lot of songs together, like rounds and such. We listened to a lot of the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor and musical theater (my older sister was super into musical theater). I started playing classical violin at age 9, and played till I was 15. I wanted to do something more edgy than classical music.
F: Many have compared your sound to Billie Holiday, Etta James, etc. Did you listen to those artists in your younger years? Do you consider yourself heavily influenced by them?
SF: I did listen to Etta James when I was younger. My older sister introduced me to a lot of old jazz and soul. We used to dance to Aretha Franklin in our living room. I definitely got some of my sound from those soul and jazz singers.
F: I understand you moved to Portland “on a whim,” according to your bio, but there must’ve been some reason you landed there. Were you aware of Portland’s strong music scene? Did you hope to turn your music into a career? Or was there some other reason you chose Portland?
SF: I actually didn’t start writing my own songs till I moved to Portland. Right before I moved, I was thinking about starting a band, but I mostly moved to Portland because of its artsy reputation. I just bought a one-way ticket and stayed at the hostel for a few nights till I found a place to live on Craigslist.
F: The vintage sound of your band’s music is obvious. What specifically do you all do to try to bring some contemporary feel to it?
SF: At first it was the swearing, although you can find some old music with cuss words. But I guess it’s inevitable that it’s lyrically modern cause I write mostly about my life. Also, the guys bring in more modern creative ideas.
F: Can you quantify how much being voted Willamette Week’s “Best New Band” has affected the band? Did you seen an instant uptick in booking inquiries, press inquiries, Facebook friends, etc.? What, if anything, has been the coolest/weirdest/most interesting thing that’s happened as a result of the “Best New Band” title?
SF: I think being recognized around Portland. My boss hung up the picture at my work. It’s weird to still have a day job (as a waitress at a Vietnamese restaurant). I’m ready to make this my job, and hopefully things will keep rolling.
F: When you look at the ballots for that “Best New Band” poll, it’s pretty amazing to see how many include votes for the Sound Outside. Over the past year, did you and/or your bandmates get a sense that buzz was building, and that people were impressed by what y’all are doing? Or were you fairly oblivious?
SF: I knew things were going really well with the band. We recently got an awesome booking agent and our show turnouts have been really good!
F: I would imagine your band’s future seems a lot brighter now than it did six months ago. What’s your hope for the future of the Sound Outside?
SF: Like I said before, I’m ready to make this my job. Everyone else in the band is unemployed. I just wanna be able to tour around the U.S. and then some day to Europe and Japan!! As for the next couple months, we are looking for a record deal!
F: Last, but not least: Name five records you’re loving right now and, if you’re willing, take a sentence to tell me why you love ‘em.
SF: 1. At this very moment I am listening to the new Black Keys album, “Brothers”. I’m lovin’ it ’cause it’s got an aesthetic that is modern yet antique.
2. Wilco, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”
I am just getting into Wilco, and I’m lovin’ this album ’cause the songs are catchy even though they are calm and laid back.
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s greatest hits
This is the theme of our tour van. It’s something everyone in the band can agree on. It’s especially Bertha’s favorite! (That’s the name of our tour van.)
4. Beach Boys, “Pet Sounds”
This album is a classic. Also something everyone in the band likes.
5. Tom Waits, “Blood Money”
I love this album ’cause of all the quirky noises and layers of sounds there are on the songs. Tom Waits is my favorite ever!
Man! I have so much to get done tonight but I don’t wanna miss the show! I guess laundry’s out the window.
They have a great sound, vintagey, Rockabilly, old-jazzy. ALSO, completely unintelligeable singing enunciation, seriously. I thought she was singing in Swedish, like a Swedish Ethel Murman, maybe possessed by Bjork having a joke on us, with a touch of Bjork screetch. 100% Less understandable than Saturday Night Live’s Buckwheat singing “Wookin Pa Nub in all Da Wong Pwaces..”
It will probably be great background music if you need to concentrate on studies. The teenage hipsters were just loving it though, dancing in unison.