In Session: Elephant Back
VERNON – Ambition seems to run in access – and then some – for husband and wife, Dave and Sarah Snediker, with their rock band, Elephant Back. On the heels of releasing their double album, The White Album and The Black Album, the creative songwriting force is showing no signs of slowing down with plans of touring and videos. With their feet fully on the gas, and a year of highlights behind them, including recording at the renowned Abbey Road, the duo is just getting started.
I had a chance to sit down with Dave and Sarah this past week. What follows is our conversation.
Lucas Garrett: Thank you, to both, for taking time out of your night to discuss your double album! How are the two of you?
Sarah Snediker: Great!
Dave Snediker: Good! How are you?
LG: I’m doing well, thank you. Most people can hardly get out one song, let alone a double album. You don’t really hear about that happening anymore. What was the thought behind doing that?
SS: We had a lot of ideas going and it ended up being that we had a decent split between a bunch of rock songs, and more acoustic, singer-songwriter ones.
DS: Our last album was a series of rock songs, and acoustic ones. It had a cool flow, but we didn’t want to do that again. We had enough songs where we could split it and do something new and fresh.
LG: Tell us a bit about Elephant Back, and how the band started.
SS: COVID happened, and [we] found ourselves with a lot more time on our hands. Dave and I already knew each other, and we started hanging out. I had this secret notebook in my basement that had prose I had written. He found it, and started writing music to some of the lyrics in there, and it morphed from there.
DS: We started recording the first album, and then we did the videos. I had the name Elephant Back for about ten years. It’s been in my wish list; my thought with the name was, “elephants are a symbol of strength. People have won wars on the backs of elephants.” We came up with a logo and took it from there.
SS: It just so happened that the songs weren’t specifically one genre. We were having fun not worrying about staying inside a box.
LG: You’re recording in Duanesburg, Syracuse, and Boston… then all the way over to Abbey Road? How did that happen?
DS: I wrote a song for her on Valentine’s Day called, “Let it Be.” We had this idea of recording in different studios, and we’d just gotten married. We said, “What are we doing? I’m not going to sit on a beach! Let’s go to London!” We had the song and were both like, “Let’s record at Abbey Road!” I laughed because I didn’t think it would happen.
SS: I reached out to Abbey Road for giggles… but they responded and checked out what we were doing. They said the way this is going to work is if [we] could put up or shut up. We went for it. We did it.
DS: We got a gig at The Troubadour in London. Bob Dylan played there; Adele; some of the guys from the Stones.
SS: Ed Sheeran; Jimi Hendrix.
DS: It’s a wicked cool venue, and all this stuff just happened. It was an awesome trip – a trip of a lifetime. We look forward to going back there and doing some more recording, that’s for sure.
LG: Writing a song in your room is one thing. Playing it out at an open mic is another, and gigging is a whole thing of its own. But you’re talking about playing and recording in the same room of countless rock and roll royalty, including, but certainly not limited to: The Beatles; Led Zeppelin; all those guys. How did it feel to do that?
SS: Amazing.
DS: It was an out-of-body experience, but it’s all about hardwork and practice. We practiced our butts off, and we were prepared. I remember the engineers saying, “You guys are so relaxed and look like you’re having fun. This is a pleasant surprise!” I’m of the age where I’m appreciating everything.
SS: It was a really surreal moment. I knew we were going, but even when I got on the plane, I didn’t believe that’s where we were going and that’s what we were doing. If ever there was a moment for me to shine, that was it. It was complete relaxation. It was a very proud moment for us. When you’re sitting there and realizing the history of where you are, it was absolutely amazing. It was the best recording experience I’ve ever had.
DS: For sure.
LG: Your double album came out this past Friday (Dec. 22nd). I’m very impressed by it.
SS: Thank you!
LG: So, I gotta ask, Who The Fuck is Corey, anyway?
DS: That’s all Sarah. Hahaha.
SS: Haha. Honestly, it rhymed! When I say in the song, “I just needed a rhyme…” it was a funny joke. I was thinking in my head when I said that what Dave would say to me. That was just a joke. I literally just needed something to rhyme.
LG: What’s next for you two?
SS: Touring. We want to promote the heck out of this album because we worked so hard for it. At the same time, we’ve already got six songs that we’re working on for the next album… I’ve got pages and pages of lyrics and ideas, and so does Dave. All the music videos for The White Album and The Black Album will be coming out this year.
LG: The two of you certainly don’t like to stay still. When is your next show?
SS: Jan. 6th we’ll be playing in Syracuse at the Jugg On Teall. On Jan. 27th we’ll be at The Riff. On Feb. 18th, we have a show at Al’s Wine and Whiskey.
DS: We don’t sit around and watch TV. We’d rather write a song, or practice, or record.
LG: Describe your live show. There’s a lot of sonic information on these records. How do you handle that with only two people?
DS: I play the guitar, and I have an octave pedal that fills in that bass part. My first instrument is drums. I’m having a lot of fun figuring out how to do [the live show]. Rhythmically, I have it as far as having the bass with guitar. It fills out good. Sarah plays simple, but it’s full and perfect for the song. I have a harmonizer, and she sings harmonies, so our choruses are big. We make it work.
LG: Is there anything else you’d like to elaborate on?
DS: We’re going to keep playing out! Our second gig was in L.A. and we opened up for Green Jelly. We’re going to be doing something more attuned to that, and we have Austin on our minds.
SS: Our overall thing has to been: if we can think of it, we’re going to try it!
DS: No holds barred!
LG: Thank you, again, Dave and Sarah, for your time tonight!
SS: It was great to talk to you and we really appreciate what you’re doing for us!
LG: More than happy to help!
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