The power pop supergroup Salt Collective will release their latest album, ‘Life,’ May 12th via Propeller Sound Recordings.

An immensely collaborative new album has miraculously brought together an international “supergroup” joining Salt and their guests Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Matthew Sweet, Juliana Hatfield, Richard Lloyd (Television), Anton Barbeau, Susan Cowsill (Cowsills), Mitch Easter, Matt Douglas (Mountain Goats), Chris Stamey, Peter Holsapple, Gene Holder and Will Rigby (the dB’s). This new album is produced by Chris Stamey (the dB’s) and recorded at Fidelitorium (Kernersville, NC), Ferber Studios (Paris), and Modern Recording (Chapel Hill, NC), as well as at artisan studios. Salt is a Paris-based collaborative music project led by French guitarist and songwriter Stéphane Schück around a core group formed in the 80s with Benoit Lautridou (drums) and Fred Quentin (bass), Salt offers shivering songs based on transcendently melodic guitars and vocals.

Of the immensely creative ambitious follow up, maverick maximum pop recording maven and artist Chris Stamey says, “In the midst of chaos, upheaval, and uncertainty, the impulse to make art remains strong. Matthew Caws sings of having “found asylum [on] this hillside,” and in many ways this recording project became a similar place of sanctuary for an extended musical family during a time when we didn’t know what new calamity the next day might bring. Life persists, hope remains. Always, it was helmed and inspired by the ceaseless optimism of Stéphane Schück, who shepherded and cheered each stage of its circuitous evolution.”

“The nature of music: collaborations!”

It’ really fantastic to have you. We have been really enjoying your upcoming album, ‘Life’. What led you to form The Salt Collective and who all is part of the album?

Stéphane Schück: The Salt Collective is based on a core group formed over 30 years ago, the French band Salt, consisting of Benoit Lautridou on drums, Fred Quentin on bass and myself on guitars. We have always been very open to collaborations and with the album ‘Life,’ our dreams have become reality, we would never have imagined that! On the album our guests are Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Matthew Sweet, Juliana Hatfield, Richard Lloyd (Television), Anton Barbeau, Susan Cowsill, Mitch Easter, Matt Douglas (Mountain Goats), Pat Sansone (Wilco), and Chris Stamey, Peter Holsapple, Gene Holder and Will Rigby (the dB’s).

What was it like working with Chris Stamey (the dB’s)?

Working with Chris Stamey has been an incredible experience for the amateur musician that I am. I’ve admired him since I was a teenager with the Db’s or his solo albums. He is one of my absolute references. And working with him was fantastic thanks to his kindness, his benevolence, his proposals, and we found together an alchemy that I would never have suspected. It is a tangible prediction that sometimes in life dreams come true!

I would love it if you could share some words about the tracks featured on the album. What was the songwriting process like?

I co-wrote all the albums with a very creative process. Half of the songs were recorded by the rhythm section of the Db’s (Peter Holsaple, Gene Holder, Will Rigby) without any instructions other than the demos I sent them. It took place at Mitch Easter’s studio. I recorded the other half with the core of Salt here in France. Then we worked a lot with Chris Stamey and sent the backing tracks to the singers, with any instruction and a total freedom to capture what they wanted. This process is really great, it’s the nature of music: collaborations!

Are you happy with the overall vision of the album and how it turned out sound-wise?

Yes, it was the best musical experience of my life!

What are some future plans?

We are planning to give concerts. Not simple to organize, but we’re optimistic! Concerts in Paris and in the US are under study!

Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?

‘Repercussion’ by the Db’s, ‘Revolver’ by The Beatles, ’25 O’Clock’ byThe Dukes of Stratosphear, ‘London Calling’ by The Clash, ‘Surfer Rosa’ by The Pixies, ‘XO’ by Elliott Smith and so many others that I could fill pages and pages. We are music lovers; it creates a very special highway in our brains! Recently I listened a lot to a band called Spoon and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.