Philip Sayce Talks New Album, Music Gear And More

 Guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Philip Sayce has been a musician who has been honing his craft since his teenage years and has been building a solid fanbase ever since. He chatted to JLTT about his new album ‘The Wolves Are Coming’ and much more:

Your new album ‘The Wolves Are Coming’ is out in February 2024. How did you want to approach the making of this album?

It’s an honest expression of what I have been observing over the past couple of years navigating life. Also, some deep and impactful personal experiences – some difficult and some uplifting.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

It was mainly recorded at Station House Studio in Los Angeles, and I produced the album.

Do you have any interesting, funny, or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

Tracking started during the pandemic, so there were only three of us in the studio for some of the sessions. Michael Leasure played drums on some of the songs, Mark Rains engineered, and myself. For the majority of the sessions, it was just Mark and me. The studio became a safe space while the outside world was upside down. It was a strange and dark time, and the sound and feel of this bleakness is in some of the recordings. I wasn’t sure if this music would ever be released. The sessions were a way to remain creative and to push myself, grow, and stay motivated during a time unlike any other.

Your latest single is ‘Backstabber’. What was the story/inspiration behind that song?

This is a song about fake friends and a ruthless music business. The lyrics speak loud and clear, and the weight of the track conveys the intensity of my feelings. It is a jungle out there; watch your back. This song also speaks to my lifelong journey with OCD — named one of the ten most disabling disorders by the World Health Organization — and this burden that many others and I live with every day. 

What was the experience like recording the new album?

When I first started writing and recording these songs, society was upside down from the pandemic. The studio became a real spirit-lifter for me during the sessions, a very fun and free atmosphere, as opposed to the outside world. I recorded with Grammy winning engineer Mark Rains at Station House Studio in Los Angeles during a number of different sessions over the course of a year or so. I booked some three-day sessions and we’d try recording the new songs I was writing. Michael Leasure played drums magnificently, tracking live with me during some of the sessions and then I would record overdubs with Mark and decide if a song was going to be a keeper. Mark mixed a few songs on the album including “Intuition” and you can really feel and hear the vibe and sound of the studio during the sessions. Brian Moncarz had brilliantly mixed songs on my previous album, Spirit Rising, so I just had to reach out to him with these new songs. He absolutely nailed it with his mixes taking The Wolves Are Coming to another level. It is a such a pleasure and privilege to work with this wonderful and talented team.

What did you set out to achieve with the Wolves Are Coming that you have not achieved on your previous albums?

I’m always striving to do something better today than what I’ve done before. I’m a student of music and life, and my intention for this album was to be more deeply connected to spirit, inspiration, and creativity, and to record and make this music to push myself as an artist.

What is it that is so special about the new album “The Wolves Are Coming”?

It’s a personal journey and a diary. These new songs and recordings became a lifeline to me during the pandemic and illustrate some of the highs and lows I have been navigating since releasing Spirit Rising in 2020. The Wolves Are Coming was created during the bleakest of times, really not knowing if I would ever release these songs, or what being a musician and artist would look like moving forward.

Why did you call the album “The Wolves Are Coming,” and what does it mean?

It has a lot of meanings for me, which are definitely illustrated in some of these songs. The title covers a lot of areas for me, and I encourage listeners to see what comes up for them personally when they hear this title and listen to the new songs. One obvious meaning is…to get it in gear, to get going and get moving!

On your forthcoming tours, will you perform tracks from the new album, and if so, will you be looking forward to performing them for the first time?

We’ve already been performing a few of the new tracks live and they feel great. “Oh! That Bitches Brew” was debuted live during our UK tour, and we’ve been working up more of the new songs during rehearsals and soundchecks. Sam Bolle and Bryan Head are such outstanding musicians and we’ve been really bonding as a group during our live tours and through playing this new music together.

There’s a John Lee Hooker track on the album. What is it called, and why did you decide to cover it?

I used to love listening to this song in the car with my Dad. It was John Lee Hooker’s “This Is Hip” from the album Mr. Lucky, with Ry Cooder on guitar. What a great track and the song just always kind of stayed with me. I’d been playing it during live shows on solo acoustic, so we tracked it and Fred Mandel played exquisite piano on the recording. I think it’s fun!

 Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Los Angeles is now my hometown. Vibrant. Beautiful. Golden. Magical. Delicious.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals etc?

For live performances, my vintage 1963 Stratocasters “Mother” and “Big Daddy” and my PRS Silver Sky guitar. Tommy Cougar amplifiers and Cesar Diaz effects pedals are always my go-to effects pedals, along with a few others.

Who created the album artwork?

Dingbat Design in Toronto created the amazing artwork, and Phyx Design in Los Angeles created my name logo.

How do you look after your voice?

I’ve studied and practiced the Seth Riggs singing techniques for many years. They are incredibly important to the well-being of my voice.

What are your plans for 2024 and do you plan to support the new album with another tour of the UK and Europe at all?

My new album will be released on February 23rd, and we plan to perform in the US, Canada, Europe, and the UK this year. It looks like our dates in The UK will be in November and December, and I am deeply grateful and super excited to have the opportunity to return and perform. We hope our friends will spread the word and join us at the shows!

Do you have a specific process when it comes to songwriting such as lyrics before melody for example?

I try to follow the inspiration and not let my head get in the way. Follow my heart. Most often, I start with a musical idea and then follow with a vocal melody and lyrical content, but it’s not always this way. Sometimes a vocal lyric and melody will inspire the rest of the song, really, it’s about staying free and remembering that there are no rules when being creative.

What makes Philip Sayce happy and what makes you unhappy?

When I’m playing and living from my heart, in a place of flow, following my intuition, and living with gratitude is what makes me happy. When I stray from this path, I feel lost, lonely, and ultimately unhappy. My soul thrives in the light and yearns for connection.

Photo Credit: Matt Barnes 

Philip Sayce’s new album “The Wolves Are Coming” is released by Atomic Gemini/Forty Below Records on February 23 2024 via www.philipsayce.com and www.fortybelowrecords.com