Image by Jack Moran //
On one hand, it’s always fun to read about the influences, ingredients and stories behind your favourite music…
But Salarymen have always been one of those bands where you catch whispers from all kinds of genres pushed through this funnel of upbeat melancholia, and closing your eyes trying to work out what artist or decade they pulled inspiration from is one of our fave games to play.
Take It or Leave It is the result of years of Renee de la Motte and Thomas Eagleton’s songwriting, as well as lived experience, with the album tracing the highs and dips of long-term love. Nostalgia echoes both sonically and lyrically as the band wallow in this kind of scorned will-they-won’t-they territory, while hitting us with dreamy hooks and groovy beats. Those moments of juxtaposition are the best spots on the album.
As longtime Salarymaniacs (which is what they should totally call their fans), we’re stoked to share their track-by-track below. If you want to make a game of it, listen to the track and try to put your finger on who they were listening to when it was written – just a thought… take it or leave it…
- Just Because You Can
The opening song on the album was inspired by the legendary soundtracks of spaghetti western films. It’s about betrayal, regret and leaving behind people and things that are holding you back. Going out on your own can initially be daunting, but it’s also incredibly liberating, so this song channels that moment of realisation we all experience throughout our lives. It’s sort of giving Yeah Yeah Yeahs / early 2000s indie revival vibes. We borrowed our friend’s vintage car and filmed some dramatic driving scenes out in the countryside, and even sampled a thunderstorm on our phones for this track, so we’re very proud of our creativity on this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glm3TEtD0Ys
- Truth
‘Truth’ is a comical take on the absolute dumpster-fire that is US politics at the moment, and how misinformation seems to spread so damn easily on the internet. In a world where common sense has seemingly been overtaken by click bait, it’s getting harder to locate the truth, and some of the world’s most influential politicians are using this to their advantage. You can’t tell what’s real and fake sometimes, and it makes you wonder how much worse it’ll get….If you like Alice Phoebe Lou and Drugdealer, you may dig this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScwuP-eSi_s
- Holding On
This track is about having to tell someone you don’t love them, even though they are still holding on to the relationship. You know it’s the right thing to do, and you’re ready for this next chapter of your life, but it’s also bittersweet as you know they’ll be gutted. There’s a certain nostalgia and youthful recklessness which we really tried to capture on this track, with plenty of jangly guitars inspired by our heroes like The Strokes and Alvvays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDGTnIcCttg
- Let Me Go
This was such a fun song to write!! It’s our take on french disco, inspired by the likes of Tame Impala and Jungle. We started off with nothing more than a bongo riff, and built the entire track around this. It’s about the tendency people have to just stay where they’re comfortable, even if it’s hindering their potential. Nowhere is this more evident than in relationships, where people remain in an unhappy or even abusive situation out of fear they’ll never find anything better. It also features our mate Harvey Geraghty of the Lazy Eyes on keys!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORGi4oTcoQ0
- Surrender
I think we accidentally wrote a post-punk track, which is a pretty random but also brilliant combination with French Disco if you ask me. This track is a lot darker than the others on the album. It was written about going through a rough patch in a relationship and coming out the other side for the better, “surrendering” to the realisation that you do want to spend the rest of your life with this person. It’s giving some serious Joy Division vibes which we love.
- If You Want Me
This is the oldest song on the album and probably the most emotional, so it feels strange to have finally released it. It’s about losing your soulmate, and all the unfinished business two lovers have after parting ways. Thom and I are essentially playing the guy/girl who are admitting that they’ve wronged each other, and lamenting the fact that it’s over. It’s a 1950s-inspired ballad channelling the likes of Beach House, Mac Demarco and Arcade Fire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0lugnnbbHM
- We Could Be Together
If George Harrison, Weyes Blood and Frank Ocean had a baby, this would be the result! It was inspired by the hypnotising piano groove in Elton John’s ‘Bennie and the Jets’ and it’s sort of new territory for us – we basically dipped our toes into the world of RnB/soul and fused it with classic indie rock. It was written about the disillusionment that comes from failed relationships and captures the frustration of lowering your standards just to feel wanted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYtvH45qM68
- Like You
We teamed up with one of our best mates Zoe Catterall, lead singer of The Buoys on this track! It’s about “small town syndrome” and the desire to escape the limitations of where you grew up. Life isn’t just about staying in your little bubble, popping out some kids and never experiencing anything new. So this track is about not following the path that’s expected of you. It’s a heartfelt duet inspired by the likes of Father John Misty and Car Seat Headrest.
- Unimportant
This song was written about an old friend (and nepo baby) who thought it was their god given right to also be famous. As they got older, they developed a chip on their shoulder after realising they were just like everyone else. But it could equally be about anyone in your life who is self-centred / narcissistic. It’s a mixture of indie rock, folk, and psychedelic – we were basically trying to channel Grizzly Bear!
- Too Many Times
The final song on the album gets a little crazy. It’s got a jazz inspired drumbeat and lots of psychedelic, atmospheric sounds, inspired by some of our favourite bands like Radiohead and Mildlife. It was actually written about the endless conflict and war we’ve seen in recent years, and how violent humans can get in the name of religion. It descends into complete chaos at the end of the song, channelling all the mayhem going on in the world right now.
