Over these last few months, emerging outfit Soul Deception have been quick to carve out a fresh and distinctive direction in which to call their own. And with plenty of buzz building for them lately, they are now continuing their upward ascent with their vibrant new studio album ‘Good For The Soul’.
So with the new record available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them over the years.
–
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
John: I started playing guitar at the age of 10 switching from piano. By high school I found myself playing in rock bands doing covers. I continued to play in cover bands for quite some time. Eventually forming An original band “Alien Agent” and now all original songs. Time went on and myself and Fred Mahoney decided to start tailoring the music for a female vocalist. In 2015 reformed “Soul Deception” And began performing live and put out our first album.
Samantha: I joined SD as a backup singer when an acquaintance mentioned that the band was looking for another singer. I was at a point in my life where I was ready to sing again, and this seemed like a perfect situation. I eventually became the lead singer and John and I started collaborating more on songs, and the rest, is history!
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
John: I grew up on a mixture of Hollywood musicals and film soundtracks in 60s rock ‘n’ roll. Have always had a love for great harmonies and good backup vocals, and I’ve always worked him into anything I have written. Though I don’t write musical film I apply a lot of their construction to what I create. The Beatles were a big influence when it came to how to write a song and how to put in Backup harmonies. They were so good at it. I also fell in love with Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith and Blue Öyster Cult, Pink Floyd, Head East, The Eagles and 10cc. And loved a variety of albums.
Samantha: For me, I grew up with Ella Fitzgerald, Bonnie Riatt, and Tracey Chapman blasting through the house, along with all other styles of music. Listening to female powerhouses, with soulful voices and vocal intricacies intrigued me, and they definitely shaped the way I approach music, especially with the way John writes. His music seems to fit really well with my style.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
John: Probably sounds corny but when I watch the Beatles film help, I said to myself, I would like to do that for a living. It looks like fun. Hence switch to Guitar and a passion for creating my own music. Then more seriously after high school when I found I could make some money in a variety of bands.
Samantha: Not really, I just enjoy performing and challenging my voice, sharing that with others and watching how it might impact them. If other people enjoy what I do, it’s a bonus, but not my main focus. I just want to create.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
John: As far as creating a song, I always look for interesting music that can become a song. So I’ll play around on the piano or the guitar or even a bass and try to come up with something that sounds intriguing that might work well for having a melody laid over it. When it comes to the lyrics, I try to apply a subject matter that seems to fit the music. this is a hit and miss process, of course, but it works well for me.
Samantha: Usually, John will come up with the skeleton of the song, bring it to me, and see if I like it and if I think there is something there. He typically writes the lyrics and a basic melody, and I work out what I think suits me and the song for the melody. We collaborate on the structure and backups, and it’s a really fun process (rarely any tears!), and definitely fulfils my creative side.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
John: I find inspiration in all kinds of music. I’ll listen to a jazz piece and something will make me start thinking how some music might go along in a way that’s completely different and I’ll pick it out on the guitar and turn it into something. Same goes for listening to a movie theme or listening to some other band it will all inspires different ideas, beats, rhythms and feelings. So many different feelings when it comes to music.
Samantha: Since I am an abysmal lyricist, I rely heavily on John to come up with the main message of the songs, and I then try to portray that through the melody. The only time I change lyrics is if they don’t feel natural or flow with the song, but its generally a collaboration between us.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
John: I put social and political content into my lyrics, but I don’t make it obvious. I prefer to keep it subtle and not blatant. If one truly looks for the meaning in the lyrics, they will find it. However, a lot of the lyrics are just about having fun or heartache or the different colours of the emotional palette.
Samantha: One of my favourite things to do when I listen to music for the first time is to really be attentive to the lyrics, and see how I might apply them to situations in my life and to find a meaning in the song that way. I dually hope people can do that with this album, and also find songs to shake their butts to. I find those things equally important.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
John: I think I’ve come to ignore a lot of the challenges in the music industry and just keep pushing forward believing that we have a quality product that like-minded people will enjoy the music. If a record label becomes interested in you that’s great, though unlikely. The artists will always be their own best advocate.
Samantha: Generally it’s difficult to get people to connect with live music if they don’t know the songs already. Generating interest in original songs that aren’t your typical structure and don’t fit neatly into one genre can be challenging. Ultimately though, I am just happy to be singing in any capacity.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
John: The most rewarding thing is watching a song grow from just a few scratch chords to a fully produced recording, and a performance on stage that works for everyone, especially the audience. Have them love the music is the best reward.
Samantha: Completing two albums from start to finish has been incredibly rewarding. I don’t even care if only my dad listens to it. We worked our butts off to bring this music to life, and other than birthing a human being, I can’t say for sure if I have ever done anything more rewarding in my life.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
John: Stay true to myself, just by writing the music that I enjoy listening to and that I think I can be proud of. Though I can write in many styles and orchestrate. For Soul Deception, it’s about the music that makes us happy.
Samantha: I am also constantly evolving and changing, being exposed to other artists and new genres, and that will also affect my sound and what I want to bring to the table. John is the same way. I think we try to push ourselves out of our comfort zones, to try something new and see what happens. At the end of the day though, it’s just a pure love of music and the creation process that keeps us moving forward and ultimately, being true to ourselves in that aspect.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
John: We’re currently working on getting some live performances going for this year and we have a new album out by the end of the year. Hopefully in a few months, we’ll see some preview songs from the album. And some videos as well.
Samantha: Anything is possible. The world is our oyster, and I hope you brought your bib… Like a lobster bib. Which I guess doesn’t make sense in this analogy. Whatever. Frankly I don’t know what to expect from us, but I know there will always be new music, and performances.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
John: Hoping to continue to write and create music over the next five years with a growing fan base and some live shows allowing us to bring it to the audience. Hoping to do a tour of Europe, that would be fantastic.
Samantha: Hopefully happy and creatively fulfilled, finding purpose and meaning in sharing my art with others. Maybe I’ll even learn how to use a maraca.
–
Listen to Soul Deception’s new album ‘Good For The Soul’ below.
