February 22, 2006 Issue
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February 22, 2006 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Webmaster Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or ©2005 Chestnut Hill Local Winner of Three |
Local Grammy winner has loads of Sax appeal
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We can all relate to a song that speaks to us. Depending on the circumstances in our lives, song lyrics and melodies can bring out our best and worst emotions that float below the surface of our demeanor. Songs that remind us of people, events or moments create the soundtrack of our lives.
Scot Sax, who is playing at the Chestnut Hill Coffee Company Friday, Feb. 24 (the show starts at 7 p.m.), has been writing song lyrics that he describes as simple and to-the-point since he was 13 years old and living in Plymouth Meeting.
“I’m not ultra-artistic for the sake of being artistic,” said Sax. “Life is tricky and complicated, so when I write a song it’s pure and simple. That’s why I think I love writing songs; it all just comes out, stream of conscious-like.”
Sax’s lyrics are heard in the songs of his two bands, Wanderlust and Feel. Wanderlust, with a RCA record deal, toured with Collective Soul and The Who, but broke up in 1998.
After Wanderlust’s break up, Sax moved to L.A. where he did some solo work and eventually started a new band, Feel. Previously signed to Curb Records, Feel is based in L.A., and though Sax is still involved with them, he just moved back to Philadelphia in the fall.
With his two bands, Sax’s songs have reached as high as number 28 on the Billboard charts (Wanderlust’s “I Walk”), and number 18 and 28 on the National Radio charts (Feel’s “Won’t Stand In Your Way” and “Got Your Name On It,” respectively).
“People have a tendency to take simple lyrics and pop music as less important,” said Sax. But he said that these simple, pop lyrics, are not less meaningful than “heavy lyrical songs;” he just expresses his emotions, thoughts and experiences in a more direct way.
Sax has written lyrics for artists such as Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, including their duet, “Like We Never Loved At All,” composed by Scot in collaboration with John Rich and Vicky McGehe, which won a Grammy for Best Country Duet this year.
Sax said that although this was an amazing honor, he remembers being more excited when he finished writing the song than when he received the news of the Grammy. “(The Grammy) is more exciting to my family and friends,” said Sax (who also now feels the pressure of having to top a Grammy win), “but I honestly got more satisfaction out of just knowing that I had written a really good song.”
Some of his solo material, which he worked on with Wanderlust bassist Mark Getten, is under the alias Bachelor Number One. Their song “(I Am the) Summertime” was on the American Pie movie soundtrack.
Sax, not only writes songs and sings but also plays the drums, guitar, bass, piano and harmonica. He described his music as “big and fat,” explaining fat as meaning “not bashful or shy, but bold.”
“I enjoy songs that come on the radio that are like a breath of fresh air, feel-good music,” said Sax, which he also tries to create. He said he enjoys all types of music, but his all-time favorite is Bob Dylan.
On Friday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m., Sax will be performing at the Chestnut Hill Coffee Co., 8620 Germantown Ave., with Chestnut Hill singer/songwriter David Cope opening for him. It’s Sax’s first show on the east coast since his move back to Philadelphia from L.A. Sax will be performing songs from his years with Wanderlust, as well as solo material and songs from Feel.
Sax revealed to the Local that he is working on his next project, an album that is quite different from his other work, a “white version of Outkast (a popular hip-hop band) that has some Philadelphia soul in there.” But it will be released under an alias he was not ready to disclose.
Sax and his band Feel will be performing together in Philadelphia on June 3, though details are not finalized. For more information about Sax and Feel, visit online at www.scotsax.com or www.feelband.com.
