As the weather gets warmer, the music gets cooler—at least that’s the case for Summer Salt, the alternative rock duo consisting of Eugene Chung and Matthew Terry. And with a name like Summer Salt, it’s no surprise that their newest album, Sequoia Moon, is bringing the heat for everyone’s favorite season.
The pair met over a decade ago in high school, where their mutual affinity for music blossomed into the making of a band. Together, Eugene and Matthew released their first EP in 2014, “Driving to Hawaii,” which reigned in 26 million streams on Spotify alone. And the rest is history because, “We never stopped hanging out and making music together,” Eugene remarks.
The new 12-piece album, released on June 26th, covers anything from longful love interests to just chilling in the woods. As two avid “woodsmen,” Eugene and Matthew centered the title of their work around a hypothetical feeling of being above the world, on top of the Sequoias, peering at the moon, or “a feeling so close you can almost touch it,” states Matthew. After going back and forth a few times, the title was ultimately settled on due to its “prettiness.”
The album itself is infused with the memories and experiences of the articulate artists; however, they invite the listener to find meaning within each melody and lyric. For Eugene, “Colors of Your Love” is particularly special to him: “It’s about leaving your significant other and longing for them while you’re gone,” he recounts. This all-too-real ideal resonates with both the artist and the listener, creating a deeper connection with the album. As for Matthew, he enjoys “Trouble in Paradise” simply for the feeling it evokes within him. For both the listener and the artist, “it’s kind of like a journal entry!” explains Matthew.
Making the album itself was no easy task for the melodious men. With Matthew based in Texas and Eugene in San Francisco, a large amount of the writing was completed via Zoom calls and other internet phenomena. When the actual recording process was underway, the two met in the rainy, yet relaxing Seattle to work with Phil Ek, a distinguished mixer and producer. With 24 days of studio time, the group conquered all the recording duties on the 24th day exactly. “We were ‘medium’ nervous, but we were pretty prepared,” tells Matthew. As for Phil Ek, he was awestruck at the organizational skill and recording capabilities of the pair.
With “Sequoia Moon” wrapped in a bow and presented to the public, Summer Salt is ecstatic to announce two tours, a “mini” tour in July and a cross-country tour in Fall 2021. “We’re really excited to do some Halloween shows and go down through California and hit places we’ve been meaning to go to,” says Eugene regarding the pair’s larger scale tour. Their future is looking bright!
For future plans, writing is already underway for Fall 2022, with singles being released along the way. Staying on “the up-and-up” is important for the band and inspires them to visualize what’s down the road. “I hope everyone is looking forward to our album, and we’d love to hear your feedback and hope you can relate to our songs,” Summer Salt signs off.
Ready to relax this summer with none other than Summer Salt? Stream Sequoia Moon on Spotify and Apple Music. And check out the deluxe version of the album for three exclusive songs, which happen to be some of Eugene and Matthew’s favorites!
