Halifax five-piece SALTLAMP describe their sound as “lesbian mom rock”, which is already difficult to improve on. Their album I Dreamed You Loaned Me Your Telekinetic Powers explores queer love, surviving harm, vigilance and protection, written from inside a relationship finding its way through a dangerous time. Ahead of LOUD WOMEN Fest Halifax, we caught up with Jaime Burnet and Katie Wayne to talk childcare, Wet Little Shrimps, Margaret Killjoy, dream bills and the small matter of getting married at a gig.
First things first: why SALTLAMP?
Our joke band name was going to be Wet Little Shrimps, but then we looked at the salt lamp on our bedside table and it felt appropriately weird and comforting.
Who are SALTLAMP?
Katie Wayne does vocals, guitar and synths; Jaime Burnet is on vocals; Lucy Niles plays bass; Lydia Langille guitar; and Clare Macdonald drums.
We’re from Halifax.
Musically? Lesbian mom rock.
Tell us about I Dreamed You Loaned Me Your Telekinetic Powers.
It’s a journal of the sweetness, ferocity and anxiety of queer love in a dangerous time.
We wrote it together at the beginning of our relationship while navigating a horrible situation that is still present. Queer love, surviving harm, vigilance and protection are big themes.
The album moves between punk, alternative, electronic and pop, and includes ‘Serrated Little Teeth’, which LOUD WOMEN has already borrowed to soundtrack our Halifax advert on CKDU.
What’s the Halifax music community like?
The overlapping Halifax music scenes are super active, with so many talented bands and musicians.
We don’t feel like we necessarily fit into one particular scene, but we also feel very welcomed.
If you could rewrite one rule of the music industry, what would it be?
Guaranteed pay, on top of the normal show fee, to cover childcare for parents playing gigs.
It’s so expensive!
What’s the wildest thing that’s happened at one of your gigs?
We got married.
Have songs ever come from unexpected places?
We’ve written a new song, not on the album, inspired by the best tagline ever, for Margaret Killjoy’s book Escape from Incel Island.
Who’s on the dream bill?
Dilly Dally, because they were amazing queer and trans Toronto grunge.
Garbage, because Shirley Manson forever.
And HUNTR/X, to slay demons and impress our kids.
What’s next?
We’re playing LOUD WOMEN, another music festival we’re not supposed to announce yet, and recording and releasing four new songs.
Listen to and support SALTLAMP on Bandcamp:
Catch SALTLAMP at LOUD WOMEN Fest Halifax at The Seahorse Tavern on Saturday 24 October, alongside Alanna Matty + Altered by Mom + Amygdala Hijack + Burry + Freya Milliken + Penny & The Pits + Shoulder Season + Warlet + We, Cassie.
