A. Savage, known for his role as co-frontman of Parquet Courts, is set to perform at Mohawk in Austin, Texas on October 13, 2024. The performance coincides with the release of his second solo album, “Several Songs About Fire.”
Savage describes the album as a metaphorical escape from a burning building. “Fire is something you have to escape from, and in a way this album is about escaping from something,” he says. He envisions performing these songs in an intimate setting akin to “a small club that is slowly burning.”
The creation of the album involved collaboration with several artists and was marked by constraint and simplicity. Savage explains, “Every song had to be able to be stripped down to just an acoustic guitar.” This approach allowed him to focus on the core elements of each track.
Produced by John Parish over ten days in Bristol using a 1” 16-track recorder, the album features contributions from musicians such as Jack Cooper, Cate Le Bon, Euan Hinshelwood, Dylan Hadley, and Magdalena McLean. Parish notes that no decision could be deferred during production: “I loved erasing good but not great takes.”
Le Bon reflects on her experience working with Savage: “It was really special to see them come into existence and then be in the studio working on them with him.” She describes the songs as having “such a strong character that they would naturally dictate what was needed from everyone.”
The record explores themes of wealth and poverty through Savage’s lyrical prowess. Parish praises his ability for “emotional openness guarded by a laconic wit.” In tracks like “David’s Dead,” Savage opts for a poppy refrain rather than somber tones when memorializing his friend David Lester.
Savage draws inspiration from songwriters like Sybille Baier and Townes Van Zandt while offering listeners a blend of secular life’s bleakness with grand antiquity. His lyrics juxtapose everyday imagery against vast natural landscapes.
Reflecting on his creative process, Savage states: “I don’t really remember the process of writing. I just see the evidence of it when I reopen a notebook.” With “Several Songs About Fire,” he presents an exploration into sensory experiences that transcend mundane reality.
