motel void

MOTEL VOID: You’re from Brooklyn, New York. How would you describe the current music scene there? Do you feel that you’re part of it?

SAM ZALTA: I’m not sure how I would describe the music scene in Brooklyn right now. As much as I’ve been a part of the scene for many years (playing in Bambara, being a very regular show attendee, working at labels, etc.) I’ve never felt fully at home here musically. It’s not an intentional “let me stick out” thing, but I never felt what I’ve done musically has aligned with whatever musical trend that’s popular at a given moment. Maybe that’s why it’s taken me as long as it has to start playing my solo gigs more regularly and properly releasing my own music.

MOTEL VOID: Your favorite local venues and artists?

SAM ZALTA: I played a show, last year, at Purgatory — a new-ish not quite DIY spot here in Brooklyn and really loved the vibe. It’s a small room with a unique visual aesthetic and I really enjoyed being in the space as a performer and then watching the other acts that night.

In terms of my favorite local artists, I’ve got a lot of great bands that I’m close with through a weekly basketball game I organize (Monograms, Consumables, Mary Shelley, Hnry Flwr, Chemical Bathhouse, Russian Baths, Bodega). I’m not too familiar with the rest of her work, but I really liked the Daneshevskaya record that came out last year. That’s probably my favorite recent release from an NY musician.

MOTEL VOID: You released your last album Memento Mori last May, could you tell us more about the recording and writing process of this album? Were you satisfied with the reception?

SAM ZALTA: Memento Mori was the COVID love child of existential dread and some legendary films from the 60s and 70s (specifically The Holy Mountain and 8 1/2). The past few albums/EPs I worked on had very specific intentions. I did It All Ends The Same as a practice in restraint — fewer tracks per song, shorter lengths, etc. — I have two other unreleased EPs (one is a pure old-school pop effort, the other is a noisy dance record).

With Memento Mori I really tried to take off the restraints and intentions and see what would happen if I just sat at my desk and made music. What came out was something both familiar and completely fresh for me. I wish the record would’ve reached a larger audience, both with listeners and the press. I didn’t make it with an audience in mind at all, but once I felt the need to give a proper release my expectations grew higher than they probably should have. At this point, I’m in the process of making a new record, so my own perception of Memento Mori — the music and the life its lived beyond the creation — is a bit skewed.

MOTEL VOID: Your biggest inspirations right now?

SAM ZALTA: I’ve been obsessively listening to the Beach Boys podcast “Sail On“, specifically the episodes logging the sessions for Today!, Pet Sounds and Smile. I CAN’T WAIT until they get to Love You and Adult Child.

I was at an Indian restaurant in London last year and came across a cover of “I Just Called To Say I Love You,” by Lata Mangeshkar and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Their duet has been a big inspiration for what I’m working on next. Their track is titled “Aate Jaate Hanste Gaate”.

I sort of self-discovered my love for the bombast of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” I love the arrogance, the gaul, the pride. I’m not a fan of the classic crooners, but there’s something about that track that has really been speaking to me lately.

I’ve also being doing a rewatch of the Fargo TV series, replayed Red Dead Redemption 2 (with an AMAZING soundtrack produced by of of my personal favorite producer Daniel Lanois) and am just escaping a serious David Berman hole.

MOTEL VOID: You also play guitar and keyboards in Bambara from Atlanta. You toured the world, played alongside names like IDLES, Girl Band and Daughters… so is your solo project more like a ‘side project’? Do you have enough time and energy for it?

SAM ZALTA: I don’t view anything I do as the primary focus of my pursuits. Everything I do gets the bulk of my attention, and the individual project informs each other. Speaking of bands I’ve toured with, keep your eyes peeled for my next album, which will feature collaborations from many artists I’ve befriended across the world.

MOTEL VOID: Your other plans for 2024?

SAM ZALTA: As I mentioned a few times, I’m currently working on my new record. It’s the most narratively based album I’ve made with a very linear story. Musically, I’ve been describing it as Spiritualized scoring Twin Peaks with analog synths.
Other than that, I’m just going to keep playing my own shows until Bambara gets back on the road again.