This year The Rockpit is catching up with seven bands set to tear up this year’s Mayhem Festival in Nottingham—already shaping up as a strong contender for festival of the year— first up we turn our attention to one of the UK’s most exciting rising acts, South of Salem. Blending gothic overtones with hard rock swagger, the band have been building serious momentum, and their theatrical edge makes them a perfect fit for a festival stage. We spoke to the band ahead of their set to see what’s in store.
What does Mayhem Festival represent for South of Salem?
It’s an awesome event and really shows how the passion and dedication of a great team can create an incredible event with an even more amazing line-up.
What first pulled you into rock and roll?
I grew up with music. My parents were both into 1950s rock n roll and 1980s rockabilly and took me to lots of live shows in London growing up. As I approached my teens I discovered the likes of Alice Cooper, Kiss, Marilyn Manson and Motley Crue and something within their music resonated with me.
How has your sound evolved since your early releases?
My old bands were very punk inspired. Horror and stage theatrics have always been at the core of them but as I became a better song writer and discovered more inspiring bands like KoRn and Motionless in White, the style evolved into its own monster.
What inspired your latest material thematically?
We’re currently working on a new album and I think lyrically, at least, it has been inspired by some negative experiences we’ve gone through as a band, the growing popularity of AI and technology and the violence that the world seems to be experiencing.
How important is the horror aesthetic to your identity?
I have always love horror. My body is covered in horror tattoos and I have a collection of over 3000 horror DVDs. I think my love for horror has definitely shaped my image and what I consider fun (ie horror conventions and cinema trips). I’d happily be in a band that didn’t focus on horror, but I’d be more likely to lose interest.
What’s the darkest song you’ve ever written and why?
A song on the new album that can’t be named just yet. I wrote that after losing a friend, but after the loss of my step-dad the song took on a whole new level of significance.
How do you translate your theatrical style to festivals?
Festivals often give us a bigger stage to play with. We always like bringing the whole show to those kind of gigs because a lot of people won’t be there for us.
What’s your writing process like as a band?
I leave all the bass and drums to Dee and James. They are masters in their craft and always exceed all and every expectation. I am incredibly lucky to work with them. Although I am not an amazing guitarist I tend to write all of the chord structures and vocal melodies and then get a guitarist that knows what they’re doing to flesh it out with lead lines and riffs. On the new album however a lot of the riffs were composed by me due to line-up changes.
What song defines your current chapter?
I would say the title track of our second album Death of the Party. The tongue in cheek title, the dichotomy of good and evil, the punchy riffs, it sums us up pretty well and is a great prelude to what’s coming.
How do audiences respond differently across countries?
Every country seems to enjoy our stage presence and high energy set. I think where lyrics may be lost in translation the riffs do the talking.
What’s the most chaotic live moment you’ve had?
We had a gig where the drum kit started falling apart and the festival stage hand sat staring at it eating a peanut butter sandwich instead of helping. It was quite a challenge to piece together a drum kit that is being hit by James whilst simultaneously trying to sing.
How do you balance fun and darkness in your music?
Much like I balance fun and darkness in life. I poke fun at the bad and enjoy the good. My lyrics are often play on words that blunt the sharp tip of the point I’m making.
Who influenced your stage persona ideas?
Alice Cooper is a big one for me. Off stage I’m really shy and, through a childhood of bullying and belittlement, have a crippling lack of confidence. I chose (like Alice) to put on a stage persona that radiates confidence.
What makes a great South of Salem live set?
The energy and the fact that we genuinely love what we’re doing. People can spot a fake from a mile away.
How do you keep your shows unpredictable?
We’re just us and that in itself is unpredictable. You never know what you’re gonna get with SOS.
What’s your biggest goal for this year?
Finishing our new album. We are buzzing to release this monster of a record.
How do you want people to feel after seeing you live?
Happy. I see music as an escape so I hope people can find that in us.
What’s next after Mayhem Festival?
We have an EU tour with John 5 (ex Marilyn Manson / Rob Zombie and current Motley Crue guitarist) – cannot wait for that and then it’ll be all about the new album.
How has your fanbase evolved?
It’s grown so fast and has a real family atmosphere to it. I think we are starting to see a younger audience find us on their own via Spotify and TikTok etc so that’s very cool.
What keeps your creative fire burning?
My brain doesn’t let me stop. I hate resting and not achieving something. I think if I didn’t have a creative outlet like South of Salem I’d go insane.
What is the meaning of life?
42
If you could be a fly on the wall anywhere in rock history, where would it be?
I’d love to have seen some of the hair/glam metal bands back in they heyday on the Sunset Strip or some of those early Slipknot rehearsals where they were starting to put on masks and getting excited they were onto something big.
What’s the biggest myth about the band?
That we once released a cover of Savage Garden’s ‘To The Moon and Back’… who knows what to believe? Maybe we did, maybe we didn’t.
What should Nottingham expect from your set?
High energy, lots of lights, lots of horror references and 5 of the nicest, approachable and cheerful goths you’ve ever seen.
Mayhem Rock Festival