L.A. Salami… Meat and greet
Interview: L.A. Salami
Published on September 12th, 2012 | Jonny Abrams
Rocksucker went to see Luke Roberts and the Bull and Gate in Kentish Town last week and was really rather impressed by support act L.A. Salami and his band, so we fired some questions over some questions Lookman Adekunle Salami – as is his real name – which he replied to after returning from playing at Bestival over the weekend. First, though, have a simultaneous butcher’s at and earful of this delightfully lyrical number…
What’s the line-up of the band? How did you all meet, and how long has the band been going for?
I’ve been lucky enough to meet loads of great friends who are great musicians on the circuit. I have a lot of songs which require a band for them to be complete, so I asked the guys to play/record with me during the festival period, and it started from there really. Geno Carrapetta’s on Drums, Joel Sarakula is on keys, Christopher Lane is on lead guitar, and Bart Oostindie is on bass.
All these guys are doing their own thing as well: Geno’s in many bands including Foxx On Fire, Joel and Bart are singer-songwriters themselves as well as multi-instrumentalists, and Chris was in Florence Welch’s first band. Check them out!
How would you describe your music, if pushed?
Song-writing heavily influenced by folk and rock and roll
Where are you based, and what do you use to record with?
I’m based in London, and record with wits and generosity.
Are you signed to a label?
No, not at this moment.
Is there a full album in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it? (Feel free to be as abstract as you like…)
Yes, but there will be a string of EPs over a short period of time beforehand, so keep an ear out.
Where can we hear your music online?
http://www.facebook.com/L.A.Salami/app_204974879526524
Which have been your most exciting gigs and/or overall moments so far?
Playing on my own, there have been a few; as a band however, the best experience so far was playing at Bestival. It was a messy set, and loads of things were going wrong, but that was part of what made it what it was. It was extremely fun.
Got any more coming up? (Gigs, that is…)
I’m playing an unplugged thing this Thursday at the Dissenting Academy, which is in Newington Green, five minutes walk from Dalston or ten mins from Stoke Newington. I’ll be playing at The Rich Mix in Shoreditch on the 15th as part of Love Music, Hate Racism. Then at Folk Rising at Cecil Sharp House on the 20th; then two gigs on the 28th, one at The Silver Bullet in Finsbury Park at 6:00pm, and the other at The Black Heart in Camden.
Are there any obscure and/or up-and-coming acts that you’d like to recommend or give a shout-out to?
Yes, I’m blessed to have become friends with many people I respect deeply for what they do, including:
Peter & Kerry
Laurel Collective
Moon Visionaries
The Black Sparrows
Finally, if you were forced to spend the rest of your days in solitary confinement, but were allowed to bring the entire works of five different artists along to tide you over, whose would you choose?
Bob Dylan
The Velvet Underground
The Beatles
Souls Of Mischief
Joanna Newsom
L.A. Salami, thank you.
For more information please visit www.lasalami.co.uk
About the Author
Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.
