David A Saylor returns with his new album only a year after his previous one. David seems to be in a writing mode for quite some years now and all the AOR fans all over the world are grateful for that. Grande Rock talked with David once more about his new album among other things…
Hi David… always great talking to you dude. It seems that you’ve wasted no time at all and your new album is out almost a year since your previous one. How did that occur?
D: Hi mate, well yes, I’ve been in writing mode since I’ve started my solo CDs back in 2013, so, I’m pleased the songs have kept coming, haha. I’m already writing for my next CD 2017.
Hence, what does “Ship to Nowhere” declare?
D: Well it’s a metaphor for emotions and feelings we all have, sometimes miss guided and not sure where they are going in life and love. Also it describes those relationships where after a lot of effort seem to go nowhere, and end up lost or just end.
Also you new album “Ship to Nowhere” has the best cover artwork you ever had so far. Who made it and which was the idea behind it?
D: Well, the artwork is idea of Paul Rudland at my record label, between him and kelv they sort all that out. They have done a great job with all my CD covers so far. I’m very pleased.
Moreover, the great vocalist Phil Bates sings with you on “We Won’t Sacrifice”. Where did you spot Phil and how did the idea to make a duet with him come about? The song is amazing by the way…
D: Thanks mate. Well as you might know, I met Phil years back when myself and Tony Mills sung backing vocals on his Atlantic CD “Power”. I’ve always been a big fan of Phil’s voice, specially singing AOR, so I got in touch with him and asked him if he would be up for duetting with me on a song from my new CD. So after hearing the song he kindly said yes, and so we recorded “We Won’t Sacrifice” together.
If I’m right, this is the first time that you used an “intro” on one of your albums. What’s the idea behind the intro that takes you right away into the homonymous track?
D: Initially the idea of an opening instrumental piece came from my record label director Paul, I thought it would be a good idea as well, so we connected the end of the instrumental to the first song of the CD “Ship to Nowhere”. I like the way it worked out…
Do give us a hint about each track…
D: “Tempest”: This song is meant to give a stormy ship journey feel as it builds from the start to the end…
“Ship to Nowhere”: Like I mentioned before, a song about loss of direction in life, love or relationships.
“We Won’t Sacrifice”: This song is about 2 people how can never commit to anything, and therefore never take a chance.
“Open Door”: This song is about finding that someone that makes you feel complete.
“Blood in My Veins”: This song is about a guy who loves a girl so much he doesn’t care what she does to him.
“Make It Right”: I sung about regret, wishing you could go back and change things for the better, or fix things that went wrong.
“Hearts on Fire”: This song is about falling in love at first sight with someone… believing in destiny.
“Pray for Time”: Missing a loved one after a break up, praying for time to be able to fix the relationship again, make it right.
“Have It All”: A positive outlook of life between two people in love that feeling of being able to do anything they want together.
“Don’t Go”: This song is about something that happened to me back in high school, I wrote this song in 1980 in Dallas Texas. It’s about a Cheerleader at my school, I played on the football team and I really like this girl, but I couldn’t tell her my feelings, so I wrote this song to say what I felt at the time. She never heard this… haha, probably best! (lol)
“Can’t Break Away From You” (bonus track): This song is about 2 people that are very different but are very attracted to each other.
How did you choose to cover John Waite’s “Missing You” and add it as a bonus track on the album?
D: Well, in the last 12 month I lost my father and my younger sister, so I’ve dedicated the CD “Ship to Nowhere” to the 2 of them. and I wanted a song to dedicate to them also. “Missing You” was a song that my Dad and Sister loved very much, so I felt it would be perfect to dedicate to them. It’s also one of my favorite AOR songs of all time. (i.n.: I’m very sorry to hear that dude.)
I do not remember well but is this the first time that you fully produced your album? If so how was the experience and what drove you to do so?
D: No, I’ve produced or co-produced all my CDs. On my first 2 CDs I co-produced them with my friend keyboard player Jon Dewsbury. My new CD “Strength of One” and “Built to Fight” I’ve produced on my own but had help on mixing and mastering from my drummer and good friend Rob Hewins… very talented guy. Also my good friend bass player Paul Pryor played bass on my last 2 CDs.
How was the cooperation with Rob Hewins (drums), who mixed & mastered the album? Are you satisfied with the final outcome?
D: Rob has been fantastic! A great drummer, plus he really helped me in the mastering and mixing… my ears aren’t what they were haha. So his input has been priceless…
Do tell us a few things about the other participants on the album: Rob Hewins on drums, Paul Pryor on bass, Brett Hammond & Ray Hatfield (ex-Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash) on additional guitar solos, Jon Dewsbury on keyboards and Erika Jones, Cristian Antonio & Romany May on backing vocals.
D: Well, these guys are all people I’ve used over my solo CD recordings starting back in 2013. Rob, Paul, Brett and Nik are all my old band mates from Push UK. Ray Hatfield, Brett, Nik and David Mark Pearce are excellent guitarist who have sessioned on my songs over the years. They have all really added so much to the songs, very talented bunch. Also on my last CD “Ship to Nowhere”, Rob Hewins and I played a few gtr solos.
A video for “Ship to Nowhere’ is already out, as we speak. Do you plan to release any other concept or lyric video anytime soon?
D: No, I don’t have planned to release another video at the moment. It’s worth mentioning that the video clip to “Ship to Nowhere” was produced by Jon Dewsbury. And my video clip from my previous CD “Built to Fight” was produced by my mate Brett Hammond.
Would you like to give some gigs at some point or you mostly prefer to work on the studio?
D: I have been thinking of doing a show or two, but it’s proving to be more difficult than I thought to put a band together. I hope I will manage it someday.
What are your expectation from “Ship to Nowhere” and what are your future music plans in general?
D: Well, what my label and I hope is to sell the copies we have pressed of “Ship to Nowhere” that way we will be able to re-invest in another project for next year. I have been lucky enough to slowly increase my fan base every year, so hopefully more projects will follow god willing.
I’ve written (twice or so) that you’re one of the most underrated vocalists & songwriters on the AOR/melodic rock scene. What do you think about that? Do you believe that good things happen to those who wait in general?
D: I’m grateful for your kind words my friend. I believe that if you keep the standard of your work to the highest you can and have patience, good things will come.
It’s time for our “weird questions”!!! If you were an animal, which animal would you be and why?
D: It would have to be an eagle… I love seeing everything clearly in life, and what better place to do that from, than from high in the sky…
Which are the top 3 melodic rock/AOR voices of all time?
D: 3 of my personal favourites are: Steve Perry (Journey), Eddie Money and Lou Gramm (Foreigner)…
Fill in the phrase… “AOR wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
D: The hardcore fans that have kept it alive all these years!
Put together the best AOR rock line-up. Who plays what?
D: On bass Richard Page (Mr Mister) or Paul Pryor (Push UK), on guitars… either Neal Schon (Journey) or Steve Lukather (Toto), on drums Jeff Porcaro (Toto ) and on vocals Steve Perry (Journey)…
If you could “erase” one thing from modern music, what would it be?
D: Sampling…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
D: Too many to mention one (haha)…
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
D: “Dark side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd…
If you had the chance to travel in time… where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
D: The future, as the past I’ve seen already!
Where would you like to live… in Middle Earth, in the Seven Kingdoms or in a post-apocalyptic world like the one on “The Walking Dead”?
D: A post-apocalyptic world…
That’s all for now David. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. Wish you the best on your future endeavors. Take care dude!
D: My pleasure Thanos as always… thank you and take care.
D: Hi mate, well yes, I’ve been in writing mode since I’ve started my solo CDs back in 2013, so, I’m pleased the songs have kept coming, haha. I’m already writing for my next CD 2017.
Hence, what does “Ship to Nowhere” declare?
D: Well it’s a metaphor for emotions and feelings we all have, sometimes miss guided and not sure where they are going in life and love. Also it describes those relationships where after a lot of effort seem to go nowhere, and end up lost or just end.
Also you new album “Ship to Nowhere” has the best cover artwork you ever had so far. Who made it and which was the idea behind it?
D: Well, the artwork is idea of Paul Rudland at my record label, between him and kelv they sort all that out. They have done a great job with all my CD covers so far. I’m very pleased.
Moreover, the great vocalist Phil Bates sings with you on “We Won’t Sacrifice”. Where did you spot Phil and how did the idea to make a duet with him come about? The song is amazing by the way…
D: Thanks mate. Well as you might know, I met Phil years back when myself and Tony Mills sung backing vocals on his Atlantic CD “Power”. I’ve always been a big fan of Phil’s voice, specially singing AOR, so I got in touch with him and asked him if he would be up for duetting with me on a song from my new CD. So after hearing the song he kindly said yes, and so we recorded “We Won’t Sacrifice” together.
If I’m right, this is the first time that you used an “intro” on one of your albums. What’s the idea behind the intro that takes you right away into the homonymous track?
D: Initially the idea of an opening instrumental piece came from my record label director Paul, I thought it would be a good idea as well, so we connected the end of the instrumental to the first song of the CD “Ship to Nowhere”. I like the way it worked out…
Do give us a hint about each track…
D: “Tempest”: This song is meant to give a stormy ship journey feel as it builds from the start to the end…
“Ship to Nowhere”: Like I mentioned before, a song about loss of direction in life, love or relationships.
“We Won’t Sacrifice”: This song is about 2 people how can never commit to anything, and therefore never take a chance.
“Open Door”: This song is about finding that someone that makes you feel complete.
“Blood in My Veins”: This song is about a guy who loves a girl so much he doesn’t care what she does to him.
“Make It Right”: I sung about regret, wishing you could go back and change things for the better, or fix things that went wrong.
“Hearts on Fire”: This song is about falling in love at first sight with someone… believing in destiny.
“Pray for Time”: Missing a loved one after a break up, praying for time to be able to fix the relationship again, make it right.
“Have It All”: A positive outlook of life between two people in love that feeling of being able to do anything they want together.
“Don’t Go”: This song is about something that happened to me back in high school, I wrote this song in 1980 in Dallas Texas. It’s about a Cheerleader at my school, I played on the football team and I really like this girl, but I couldn’t tell her my feelings, so I wrote this song to say what I felt at the time. She never heard this… haha, probably best! (lol)
“Can’t Break Away From You” (bonus track): This song is about 2 people that are very different but are very attracted to each other.
How did you choose to cover John Waite’s “Missing You” and add it as a bonus track on the album?
D: Well, in the last 12 month I lost my father and my younger sister, so I’ve dedicated the CD “Ship to Nowhere” to the 2 of them. and I wanted a song to dedicate to them also. “Missing You” was a song that my Dad and Sister loved very much, so I felt it would be perfect to dedicate to them. It’s also one of my favorite AOR songs of all time. (i.n.: I’m very sorry to hear that dude.)
I do not remember well but is this the first time that you fully produced your album? If so how was the experience and what drove you to do so?
D: No, I’ve produced or co-produced all my CDs. On my first 2 CDs I co-produced them with my friend keyboard player Jon Dewsbury. My new CD “Strength of One” and “Built to Fight” I’ve produced on my own but had help on mixing and mastering from my drummer and good friend Rob Hewins… very talented guy. Also my good friend bass player Paul Pryor played bass on my last 2 CDs.
How was the cooperation with Rob Hewins (drums), who mixed & mastered the album? Are you satisfied with the final outcome?
D: Rob has been fantastic! A great drummer, plus he really helped me in the mastering and mixing… my ears aren’t what they were haha. So his input has been priceless…
Do tell us a few things about the other participants on the album: Rob Hewins on drums, Paul Pryor on bass, Brett Hammond & Ray Hatfield (ex-Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash) on additional guitar solos, Jon Dewsbury on keyboards and Erika Jones, Cristian Antonio & Romany May on backing vocals.
D: Well, these guys are all people I’ve used over my solo CD recordings starting back in 2013. Rob, Paul, Brett and Nik are all my old band mates from Push UK. Ray Hatfield, Brett, Nik and David Mark Pearce are excellent guitarist who have sessioned on my songs over the years. They have all really added so much to the songs, very talented bunch. Also on my last CD “Ship to Nowhere”, Rob Hewins and I played a few gtr solos.
A video for “Ship to Nowhere’ is already out, as we speak. Do you plan to release any other concept or lyric video anytime soon?
D: No, I don’t have planned to release another video at the moment. It’s worth mentioning that the video clip to “Ship to Nowhere” was produced by Jon Dewsbury. And my video clip from my previous CD “Built to Fight” was produced by my mate Brett Hammond.
Would you like to give some gigs at some point or you mostly prefer to work on the studio?
D: I have been thinking of doing a show or two, but it’s proving to be more difficult than I thought to put a band together. I hope I will manage it someday.
What are your expectation from “Ship to Nowhere” and what are your future music plans in general?
D: Well, what my label and I hope is to sell the copies we have pressed of “Ship to Nowhere” that way we will be able to re-invest in another project for next year. I have been lucky enough to slowly increase my fan base every year, so hopefully more projects will follow god willing.
I’ve written (twice or so) that you’re one of the most underrated vocalists & songwriters on the AOR/melodic rock scene. What do you think about that? Do you believe that good things happen to those who wait in general?
D: I’m grateful for your kind words my friend. I believe that if you keep the standard of your work to the highest you can and have patience, good things will come.
It’s time for our “weird questions”!!! If you were an animal, which animal would you be and why?
D: It would have to be an eagle… I love seeing everything clearly in life, and what better place to do that from, than from high in the sky…
Which are the top 3 melodic rock/AOR voices of all time?
D: 3 of my personal favourites are: Steve Perry (Journey), Eddie Money and Lou Gramm (Foreigner)…
Fill in the phrase… “AOR wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
D: The hardcore fans that have kept it alive all these years!
Put together the best AOR rock line-up. Who plays what?
D: On bass Richard Page (Mr Mister) or Paul Pryor (Push UK), on guitars… either Neal Schon (Journey) or Steve Lukather (Toto), on drums Jeff Porcaro (Toto ) and on vocals Steve Perry (Journey)…
If you could “erase” one thing from modern music, what would it be?
D: Sampling…
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
D: Too many to mention one (haha)…
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
D: “Dark side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd…
If you had the chance to travel in time… where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
D: The future, as the past I’ve seen already!
Where would you like to live… in Middle Earth, in the Seven Kingdoms or in a post-apocalyptic world like the one on “The Walking Dead”?
D: A post-apocalyptic world…
That’s all for now David. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. Wish you the best on your future endeavors. Take care dude!
D: My pleasure Thanos as always… thank you and take care.