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SALT LAKE CITY — Westward the Tide has become a local favorite through the years. Since its creation, the group been singing about love and loss to the country-infused folk rock layers of a six-piece band.
With multi-talented members, the sextet has created the perfect summer sound for lounging, driving or falling in love.
Westward the Tide will be a part of The Dreamathon at Granite High School. Along with other local bands, the group will be celebrating the aspirations of artists through a week long interactive exhibit sponsored by The Dream Press. Westward the Tide will be performing Friday night at 6 p.m. Tickets are $3.
KSL: What's your origin story? How long have you been playing music, what inspired you to create a band, etc?
JACKSON LARSEN: Most everyone in the band has a musical background. Kaitie has had vocal and piano lessons since she can remember. Cam has had years of drum lessons. The rest of the gang (other than me) have had lessons of some sort as well. Kaitie, Megan, and I had known each other before. They had written and recorded a song together a little while back. I came to them with a song and they really liked it. Within two weeks we added Cam and Jordan, who were friends of Kaitie, and had a secret tryout for a bassist. We all have stuck ever since.
KSL: Give me the thousand-foot view of your sound and style.
LARSEN: As of right now, I'd say we are an Indie folk rock band but that could be subject to change. Depends on the kind of art we want to create. The songs we've started writing for the next album have a very high energy to them.
KSL: What inspires you? Who are your musical influences?
LARSEN: People. Stories. Lives. Art. I love diving into the feelings of other people, their situations and their trials. I also dig deep into my own heart for some things I'm afraid to face. The songs that come out are usually a grey area where the two meet. I feel the musical inspiration ranges so much for us it's hard to name any specifics. From Johnny Cash to David Bowie, The Killers to Fleetwood Mac, Chromeo to Local Natives. Just a few of the many. New to old, we stay inspired.
KSL: What do you tell yourself before a performance?
LARSEN: Give them everything you have every single time.
KSL: What is your five-year plan with your music?
LARSEN: We definitely want to be on the road sharing our music with the world and making full time careers out of this. We are very goal-oriented as a band. From headlining Velour's 8th Year Anniversary Show to playing the Twilight Concert series, It's been insanely humbling. Our fans are incredible.
KSL: What has been the most exciting thing to happen in your career to date?
LARSEN: Twilight Concert Series, Red Butte Gardens, and The Complex all in one year. (Thank you, City Weekly.)
KSL: Who have you most enjoyed collaborating with and who is your dream collaboration?
LARSEN: Joshua James, for sure. He was an inspirational artist for a lot of us so having the opportunity to work with him has been incredible. He is one of the most passionate people I have met to date and it is so inspiring. A dream colab would be with Win and Regine of Arcade Fire.
