Alternative Rock Band Ink to Spill has recently released their new track ‘Chalk Lines’ in the form of a music video! Ink to Spill has received high praises from Grit Daily, The Hype Magazine, Thrive Global, and many more. The music video displays hard to swallow realities about America’s current political climate.
The Hollywood Tribune had the pleasure of talking to the Songwriter of Ink to Spill, Bob Sauer. Read the interview below to know the story behind the song and how it came to be!
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into music!
It all started as a bit of a joke on a dare. I was waiting for a friend in a hotel lounge in Chicago to get dinner and he texted me to say he had to ‘pick up a woman at baggage claim’ and asked if we could postpone. I knew he had a band, so I texted back ‘sounds like a song title’. He texted back ‘write it,’ then moments later ‘I dare you.’ So I sent him back a chorus a few minutes later:
‘I picked her up at baggage claim
Headed off to beds untamed
She never really gained much fame
But I’ll never forget ol’ what’s her name’
Anyway, it inspired me to continue writing and he and I recorded some songs before he eventually farmed out one of my songs to Ryan and Gus without telling me. They recorded a demo of ‘Hyd’N’ and really nailed the sound I was looking for. A couple of weeks later, they called me and asked if we could create an album together. I was all in!
We would love to hear about your new music video “Chalk Lines” and the ideas behind the song.
We would love to hear about your new music video “Chalk Lines” and the ideas behind the song.I was away for a weekend trip with my family and we were having a late breakfast and sipping coffee, etc. when the news footage of the Philando Castille shooting came on. The whole scene with the juxtaposition of the boy being led out of the car, the rational response from Philando and his partner and the violent response from the officer was too much for me to process. It wasn’t the first time my woke alarm clock had gone off, but it was especially loud in that moment. I kind of emotionally isolated myself that afternoon and it occurred to me that far too many gain their fame for the chalk lines left behind. The rest wrote itself. The idea that it keeps happening drew me to the concept, that there never seems to be enough rain to wash it all away.
What were some of the challenges you faced while producing the song/music video?
We’re a virtual band with Gus living on Vashon Island and Ernie in Chicago. I’m in Virginia Beach. So, communication is always a challenge, but Gus and I are almost always on the same wavelength and he got the ball rolling. Ernie came in a little later and suggested a slight change in direction. We pivoted and once we had the vibe down, Ernie added the ear-candy with the church bells, etc. He had taught Brandon as a student and recommended him to me to develop the video out of Boston.
Brandon had been in Chicago and got some video of the BLM marches. He also had had an actor do a scene with the flag that turned out to be the perfect way to end the video with this moment that said something about both, hope for the future and yet acknowledges there’s plenty of work ahead of all of us.
Who do you like listening to? Who are your favorite artists?
I like just about everything, but I gravitate toward alternative rock. Collective Soul is a band I love and I once took my family & some friends from Jersey to British Columbia to see them perform in a small arena. The Foo Fighters put on the best shows since Springsteen’s hey day concerts in Philly. Lyrically, ‘Ship To Wreck’ by Florence & the Machine is tough to beat.
If you had to list 5 things that you want in your life right now, what would those be?
- Political stability in America
- An end to crazy conspiracy theories
- A vaccine or two in every arm
- A group hug with a ton of friends & family
- And…A great joke…We all need a good laugh right about now….;>
Are you working on anything else that you’d like to talk about?
Are you working on anything else that you’d like to talk about?I mentioned ‘Hyd’N’ earlier. It’s the first song Ink To Spill recorded and the song that brought this group together. We’ll launch it the first week of March. It’s a bit of a different sound than what we’ve put out there so far.
I spent a lot of time in the 2000’s listening to what I call the ‘Fargo Blues Sound’. Johnny Lang’s ‘Wander This World’, Kenny Wayne Shepperd and Shannon Curfman’s ‘Loud Guitars and Big Suspicions’. I wanted this song about my Dad’s addictive spiral toward his death to have that sound, and again, Gus and Ryan nailed it on the first take.
Do you have any advice for artists who have just started out in the industry or are looking forward to?
Don’t be afraid to get to know the business side. When I took this project on, I immediately registered for a Music Convention in Miami, the Winter Music Conference. Since then (except for ’20), I attend a Music Convention once a year, most recently the ECMC in Norfolk, VA that Drew and Grace Little of Brinks Records host. This is an industry where most people have open hearts and minds. They are willing to support newcomers. It doesn’t mean it’s not hard to get noticed, but there are people and small companies out there that can support you. And you meet a lot of interesting artists in the process.
That’s all for this Friday’s Feature and we hope to have you back next week! See you then.
Don’t forget to share this because everyone should listen to “Chalk Lines” at least once. We bet they’ll be moved by it. And as always, stay tuned to The Hollywood Tribune for more awesome song recommendations, music videos, and Exclusive Interviews of super-talented musicians and artists! For more exclusive content, head over to THT EXCLUSIVES and subscribe to updates!
