MUSICA: As a fourth-generation Californian, how deeply does the changing West Coast landscape shape the music of Sons of the Golden West?
ERIC BUTTERFIELD: It is definitely an inspiration. My West Coast roots have inspired explorations into Americana, surf rock, Spaghetti Western and (most recently) New Wave. The modern suburban sprawl is partially to blame for my nostalgic Americana, while more recent music trends plugged me into surf rock. So many musical styles have germinated on the West Coast, it’s tempting to want to explore them all.
MUSICA: Your sound blends Indie Rock, Americana and Singer/Songwriter traditions. Which of those influences feels strongest in your newest work?
ERIC BUTTERFIELD: My most recent Sons of the Golden West album (“Plastic Planet”) was a deliberate departure, exploring the New Wave of my high school years. It was fun to do, but it was definitely a sidestep and a stretching of the sonic territory of SOTGW. I’m usually more guitar driven, as I was on a previous album (“Punch Drunk Moon”), which was primarily Post-Rock, with influences of Chill Wave and a departure into Neo-Classical Pop. “When Lightning Strikes Twice” was more Indie Rock and Americana.
Future releases will continue to explore Indie Rock varieties and Americana textures. I don’t expect to return to New Wave, though it was a very fun experiment. As for Singer/Songwriter, most of those songs will end up on releases under my own name rather than as Sons of the Golden West.
MUSICA: What new releases, performances or creative projects are coming next for Sons of the Golden West?
ERIC BUTTERFIELD: The next album is in the very early stages. The style is still taking shape, but I’m expecting it to, in a sense, close the circle on the sound of Sons of the Golden West. By way of synthesizer rock, I’m aiming back toward a more guitar-driven sound, adding back more acoustic guitar, while still retaining the reverb-drenched “Big Sky” Americana guitar sound that became a signature of Sons of the Golden West.
