News, Reviews and Airplay

Great review by Juss Russ of Sommer Saffron's Ebb and Flow! 

https://jussrussradio.com/trending/sommersaffron-ebbandflow

Take a moment to listen to the new song from Sommer Saffron titled “Ebb and Flow”, on Juss Russ Radio. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Sommer Saffron; based in Fresno, California., she crafts songs that range from relaxed and downtempo Electronica to upbeat with a retro Pop infusion. This sentiment is true with her new release “Ebb and Flow”, which carries a relaxed and downtempo electronic theme. Sommer Saffron floats elegantly overtop this production with ease, giving a heartfelt and passionate vocal performance. 

The song also serves as the introduction to her very first album release “Dream”, a 12 track project that plays through like a story of emotional distress to serenity. With a fresh and original approach to her sound, she really makes a great first impression with the album. As 2020 nears the final few months, it is safe to say that Sommer Saffron will head in to 2021 with some new momentum. We can’t wait to see and hear what’s next for this rising star. You can stream the full version of this song on Spotify or any of your favorite music streaming platforms.

Sommer Saffron interview in Camden Monthly 

https://www.camdenmonthly.com/an-exclusive-interview-delving-into-sommer-saffrons-latest-release-dream/#respond

An exclusive interview delving into Sommer Saffron’s latest release “Dream” 

By Matt Herman 

Posted on 10th October 2020 

COMMENTS 

LESLIE BLACKWELL LILES is the driving force behind Sommer Saffron’s latest release. She wrote all of the songs on Dream, and she recorded all vocals and instruments. Sommer Saffron is Leslie Liles. 

Leslie grew up in the Atlanta, GA, area, where she studied classical piano and had dreams of becoming a concert pianist. A love of pop music and a college class in electronic music set the course in a new direction, as she began writing and recording her own songs. 

Today, Leslie wears many hats – singer/songwriter, elementary music teacher, pianist and accompanist, recording engineer and producer. She also sings soprano in her local community choir. Leslie currently resides in Fresno, CA. 

Leslie’s music combines elements of pop and electronica, with vocals that are sometimes airy and wistful, sometimes focused and energetic. We first hear the leading song, Ebb and Flow, with its’ smooth, downtempo groove and seductive vocals. This is followed by Avatar, with a sound that is upbeat, lively, quirky, with layered harmonies in a retro pop style. Included on the CD is a dance track, Vitality, that features a repetitive, airy, vocal motif over a driving instrumental background. Also included is a beautiful ballad, Climb, that is full of longing, and Solitude, a more abstract song that incorporates the sound of the ocean and a poem written by Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Ocean). The water is featured in several songs, and the music sounds almost meditative at times. There are recurring themes of relaxation and self-reflection. In this time of unrest, Sommer Saffron clearly wants you to relax, unwind, and enjoy yourself. 

We caught up with Leslie for an exclusive interview on Camden Monthly.. 

What inspired you to get into music? 
I started out wanting to be a concert pianist. I started taking piano lessons at age 7, and there was never any question in my mind that I would have a career in music. I majored in piano in college. It was there that I signed up for classes in electronic music and sound recording. I had always been passionate about pop music and I loved to sing. It was only a matter of time after college until I began writing and recording songs. 

How would you describe your music? 
My music is a mix of pop and electronica. Songs range from the upbeat retro-style pop sound of Avatar to the dreamy electronic pop songs such as Far Away from Home and Ebb and Flow. There is also an ambient tune called Serenity that contains only synth sounds that I designed myself. I wrote this song while enrolled in a sound design class through Berklee Online. Vitality has a trance sound with a driving beat and ethereal vocals. There are also several songs that have a folkier, singer-songwriter style, Drivin’, Ashore, and Climb. All of the songs were produced electronically. 

What would you say is your recording and song writing style? 
I took a different approach with this album. In the past I wrote lyrics and then wrote music to fit the lyrics. For this album, several of the songs I composed and mostly arranged and recorded before going back and composing the lyrics and vocal line. Ebb and Flow, Far Away From Home, Harmony, In the Stillness are all examples. I compose from the keyboard. Some songs originate with just piano. For other songs, I like to create the drum and bass track with basic chord progression first. 

Where would you like to see your music career in 5 years time? 
I hope to find an audience for my songs on radio and streaming platforms. I am interested in writing for film and tv. In five years, I hope that many people are familiar with Sommer Saffron. As an artist, I want to continue growing and creating songs that others will enjoy hearing. 

Where can music fans listen your music? 
Songs are available on Spotify, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, iTunes, Apple Music, Pandora, Deezer, YouTube, and many more places online. You can also listen to and buy Sommer Saffron’s songs at sommersaffronmusic.com. 
Facebook.com/sommersaffronmusic 
Twitter.com/sommersaffron 
Instagram.com/sommersaffron 

RELATED ITEMS:DREAM, SOMMER SAFFRON

Sommer Saffron on Radio Wigwam! 

https://www.facebook.com/radiowigwam/photos/a.486397278227768/1533142230219929/?type=3

A WHITE KNUCKLE RIDE ABOARD this week's BANDWAGON show on Radio Wigwam with more of the best under-the-radar indie and unsigned talent from all over the world - all in one show! Steering the BANDwagon will be Christian John (@Seedsroy) at 9pm WEDNESDAY (BST and again 9pm Central US and again SATURDAY 7pm) and tune in to the BANDwagon show on Radio Wigwam for 2 hours of great indie via www.radiowigwam.co.uk, iTunes, Sonos, SmartSpeaker or TuneIn (& many more). 

This week's show features the following awesome acts: 

  • Firekind 
  • West Wickhams 
  • Among Your Gods 
  • Diving Station 
  • Bourbon House 
  • Sommer Saffron 
  • 50 Year Storm 
  • Blacksheeplad 
  • Ten Katestraat - The Band 
  • Fabrizio Grossi & Soul Garage Experience 
  • Jackie Beverly 
  • Brittle Head Girl 
  • The Power of Dreams 
  • Jeremy Harry Harris 
  • Second Cities 
  • Big Baby Music 
  • Blue Statue 
  • Voodoo Moonshine 
  • Katherine Aly 
  • The Barely Responsible 
  • Gefahrgeist 
  • BEAST & FISH 
  • LordDivine 

 & more!

#bandwagon #indie #newmusic #indieplaylist #newindie #newindiemusic #indierock