NEEDTOBREATHE is joined by Drew & Ellie Holcomb and Ben Rector at the 2014 NEEDTOBREATHE Classic.
Photo by Paul Kim.
NEEDTOBREATHE play Charleston Performing Arts Center September 18.
I recently got the opportunity to talk with Seth Bolt, bassist and backing vocalist of Needtobreathe. It was such a cool experience to talk to an artist who’s made it big from right here in S.C. Here’s what he had to tell me:
Kalyn Oyer: So, you founded Plantation Studios in Summerville at age 16. That’s a pretty incredible feat. How did you make that happen?
Seth Bolt: I had no idea what I was doing. The first couple of times I recorded music, it was on a tape deck and I was hooked. I was in the Smoky Mountains of South Carolina with friends, and from there ended up building a recording studio in my dad’s garage. Band of Horses and Michael Trent from Shovels and Rope really helped at the beginning of the process.
KO: Speaking of other local artists, what was it like working with Honeysmoke in the studio for their recent release?
SB: Their release show was actually last Friday at the Royal American. Honeysmoke are good friends of mine and really great people, so it was an awesome experience. I met them this year and we became fast friends, so that’s how that happened. They came to me, had already done a lot of recording, and asked me to help out with the mixing. They recorded one song at Plantation.
KO: So, who are your favorite up-and-coming artists in S.C. right now?
SB: Shovels and Rope! I’m a huge fan of their music, and have been a fan of Michael for a long time, even back before we lived in Charleston. They’re the first band we really connected with, and that parlayed into other Charleston artists.
KO: Let’s take it back to the start. How exactly did Needtobreathe come to be?
SB: I met Bear and Bo when I was just seven. They were a little older than me, but I got to experience childhood with them before music was really a thing. I think I learned a lot just playing sports with them and going to summer camp together. It was a strong foundation.
A little after that, we each had our own different bands. Because our personalities are so driven, we were sort of the leaders of our own bands. I looked up to them, because they were the most talented people I knew and still know. And they’re talented in multiple ways. Bo designs record covers and back in the day, hand painted our show posters. He’s also a phenomenal songwriter. Then Bear has the best voice I’ve ever heard. I am seriously so lucky to play along with them.
KO: Your latest album with Needtobreathe was Rivers in the Wasteland released back in April of this year. What’s your most recent project? Are you guys working on a new album and if so, can I snag some details?
SB: Yep, we came out with Rivers in the Wasteland back in April, and we just released some live acoustic sessions at Ocean Way studios in Los Angeles on the 18th. We recorded this before we went back out on tour, which was a landmark time for us. It was kind of the band getting our mojo back. The sixth album is still in the very early stages, so we don’t know what it’s going to be yet. It seems like it’s going to be really different, though. We’ve had some demos done on little laptops in the studio, and we’ve never been a band to have computerized beats, but that’s how it’s been starting in the demo process. We’ll see if those beats stick.
KO: So, how have your influences changed over the years? Six albums later, what’s different?
SB: They’re changing constantly. We’re big fans of music. All of us listen to a lot of music and enjoy going to concerts. Funny story, I went to Spring Jam in Charleston this year and didn’t even know Bear was going to be there, but he was. For most artists, when music is your business and your job, you avoid it when you’re not working. But that’s not us. We’re constantly inspired by seeing other musicians live.
KO: Tell me more about the golf tournament you guys have been hosting on Daniel Island that raised $80,000 in 2013 for Palmetto Medicinal Initiative.
SB: We are going to be hosting the golf tournament again next year on March 23. It has been a lot of fun! We are doing some stuff this year that is going to be really entertaining for golf fans and music fans alike…and I don’t want to brag but the team I was on won last time…
KO: What does the cause mean to you?
SB: We are actually going to be heading to Burundi, Africa this December to be able to witness it first person. The clinics don’t cost much to build, and the first clinic in Uganda has already helped over 70,000 people. These people are living with a lot of pain. What we can do just in one day of fundraising can build a clinic.
KO: Bringing it back closer to home, what are you going to be showcasing specifically to the show at the Performing Arts Center?
SB: I am in Austin, Texas right now kicking off the second leg of the tour. We all get bored really easily, so we like to change things up when it comes to the live shows. We realize we have fans that will come and see us half a dozen times during a tour, and we want to give a different experience each time. I think the concert at the Performing Arts Center is going to be good for us, being near home and seeing the energy. Anytime you play a theatre and someone stands up the entire time, it is amazing. I think the crowd will be great!
KO: So, what are you guys doing after the tour wraps up at the end of September?
SB: We will have a short run in Europe that will end in the trip to Africa.
KO: When you’re not in the studio and not on tour, what are you doing?
SB: I just moved downtown, so I’m still learning my way around. I’ve been going to the beach a lot, and it’s been good to me. I like how laid back everyone is here, and I’m a little bit of a foodie so I guess I’m in the right place.
KO: P.S. I’ve been a big fan of yours ever since I saw you open for Train a few years back at the Family Circle Stadium, so this is a really cool experience getting to talk to you!
SB: Aww, haha! Thank you so much. Hope to see you at the show!
YES!!! My life is complete.
You can win 2 tickets to the PAC show by entering a contest on Tunespeak! Check it out here.
