INTERVIEW: Satellite Train releases triple single

Based in Australia, newly formed outfit Satellite Train is comprised of accomplished musicians from both Australia and the USA. Featuring the likes of Michael Paynter of Icehouse, Gregg Bisonnete of Ringo Starr, John McCall of The Black Sorrows, Randy Jacobs of Paul Kelly, Shane O’Mara of Paul Kelly, Pasquale Monea of Stephen Cummings, Jamie Muhoberac of John Mayer and Jane’s Addiction’s Chris Chaney, as Satellite Train they’ve come together to deliver a dazzling sonic offering of pop rock music.

With the members all coming from diverse and varied musical backgrounds, they each bring their own unique flair to the project. Making their introduction in October 2022 with the release of their debut single “Broken Heart (Acoustic)”, they’ve been quick to follow up and share more of their captivating original material.

With each new release, they’re planning to focus each work on a specific theme rather than dropping standalone tracks. Bringing us one of their recent releases with a triple single, they now share Shameless, featuring the title track “Shameless” alongside “Lies” and “Broken Heart”, offering the perfect taste of the compelling Satellite Train sound.

We caught up with Tori Rosa, one of the band members to find out more about their inspirations, their new release and what they’ve got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Satellite Train below.

Hey Satellite Train, how are you doing?

Very good. Thanks for asking!

How did the Satellite Train project come about?

A few friends from Australian bands got together for a rehearsal. After the rehearsal, we started recording demos in each other’s small home studios. Different variations of musicians worked on different songs. The early material sounded immature and was very experimental, so we did not release anything until now.

How did you first get into making your own music?

In my childhood, when other students were out playing on playgrounds at lunch time at school, I liked to sneak into the music room and mess around with the piano. Several other musicians began playing early in their lives as well.

We started with a cover song and then experimented with originals. To get to the point where the songs sound right, it took time. When we formed, each musician had done some songwriting already so that helped.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?

The members of the band come from very different backgrounds. A few of them are from Melbourne, Australia and others are from the USA. There are some who have classical, jazz, or blues backgrounds. As a result, each of them draws inspiration from different sources, and that is evident in the music. Therefore, inspiration comes from within the band. Due to the musicians’ different inspirations, the music changes from song to song. There is no set musical direction. What you hear is what each musician decided to contribute.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

Experiences in life. Things others may relate to. Putting your emotional energy into music can be a release from things happening in your life. As a result, it is also therapeutic in a sense.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

That’s not something I’ve thought about. Perhaps on a long road trip. The song that precedes the appearance of a live band on stage. A song that was randomly played in a club.

You’ve just dropped a triple single, how did you find making these tracks?

To get there, it took a bit of experimenting with what we released and learning what platforms like iTunes and Spotify allow. However, we think we have found a formula that works. Each release will have a theme. The lyrical content of these three songs appears to be similar thematically. There will be an Australian theme in one of our upcoming releases and a romantic theme in another. Instead of releasing song after song, make each release interesting. We also want to release demos that will never be finished and live tracks here and there. Even if some of those songs do not sound particularly good, we wish to tell the entire story.

Was there anything specific you were trying to express with them?

We tried to express lyrically things people could relate to, while backing them up with music that expresses those emotions as well.

What was the biggest challenge in making them?

It is probably the same challenge we face with any song. It’s easy to belt out songs. But putting together a mini budget is challenging. We don’t have any industry support, and it’s just for fun. Although we have some good songs that we would like to release, finding the funding to do so has always been a challenge. We are not sure if we will be able to release all of them. A lot depends on interest. Interest seems to be building, but it’s too early to tell.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

We have received write-ups from blogs that are very passionate about music and discover really talented new artists, and they post new music regularly. I often listen to the songs they write and post about. These days, everything I play from these sources sounds great! In terms of album format, I am not listening to any particular artist or artists.

What’s been your favourite live show so far?

I used to make it to a lot of live shows before Covid, but not since, but Crowded House has always been a band that I enjoyed seeing perform. Neil Finn’s songs are not necessarily spectacular live, but they are very melodious, so watching them is quite enjoyable. The fact that his band is largely composed of family members is also appealing to me.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

The concert should be in an open field. An outdoor concert. They’re a lot of fun. In recent years, Australia has developed an entire outdoor music scene. Red Hot Summer is an example. If I could see three artists before my time, I would like to see them. It would be surreal to see Jimmy Hendrix, The Doors, and The Beatles together.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

Since we have just released our first material and have not found any success yet, I may not be the right person to ask this question. For what it’s worth, take it lightly and do it for fun. Whether you find success or not, you can certainly enjoy the process. In case things don’t work out, have a backup career option. If you have a backup career, whether it is playing covers or something outside the music industry, you will be able to continue performing and recording music throughout your life.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

There are a couple of Australian musicians who are working on a new song, and there are a couple of American musicians working on a different song. Also, we are preparing to release some brand-new songs that we have completed. I believe that in 2023, there will be a good mix of releases with a variety of themes that will appeal to a variety of people.

Listen to Shameless below