A spotlight interview with Saya Oliva of LA's Clarion
How did you choose your band name?
I named our band Clarion after a song from a japanese shoegaze/punk band Macdonald Duck Eclair. I loved their song clarion so much it inspired me to want to make my own band again. Clarion is also a loud war trumpet. Us being a pretty loud and in your face band, I think the name is very suiting.
Who’s in the band, and what do you all play/do?
Anthony Sanchez plays guitar. Javier Flores plays drums. I Saya Oliva play bass and sing.
Where do you call home (geographically and musically)?
Los Angeles is my home. I know the streets in and out. Musically my heart has no home. If I were to show you my spotify account you’d be so surprised by all the different genres I listen to.
Describe your sound in three words
Loud, Shameless, Abrasive
Tell us about your music
I went though a lot of big life changes while recording this EP [Blue Fairy]. Without going too big into detail, I lost a lot of what was my life before the release and what it is now. However it’s left me feeling like a bigger better woman. A version of myself that I’m proud to call me. It would touch my heart to hear other girls and people in general listen to this if they’re going through drastic changes as well.
‘Cover Me’ is about a mentally abusive relationship. There’s fight and flight but what people don’t talk about is fawning. Where the safest place to be is right next to and near your abuser. Not feeling like you’re good enough to be the bigger person to leave and obliterating everything in the worst way possible. I hope fans can’t connect with this song but I know it’s a reality very common for most.
The lyric “On top of the world this time” from ‘Media Mediocracy’ is a little nod to Hatsune Miku. Her song Miku by Anamanaguchi she says “i’m on top of the world because of you”. Miku is a big inspiration for me!
What’s your local scene like — and how do you fit in, or stir it up?
Being from LA you see so many different types of genres and scenes. It’s such a big mixing pot of music. Clarion always stuck out like a sore thumb no matter what bills we were out on. We were too punk for the shoegaze shows. Too soft for the hardcore shows. Too emo for the indie shows. I think however that was a good thing. It made people curious about us!
What’s the wildest/strangest thing that’s ever happened at one of your gigs?
A fan once got kicked out of our shows for crowd surfing. He then climbed the building and watched the rest of our set through the ceiling windows. After our set we were loading out and he saw us from the top of the building, shouted HEY!! Continues to slowly climb down. Anthony and I tell him to stop it’s really dangerous! He tells us “it’s cool i got this!”. Then proceeds to fall into a dumpster like from one flight of stairs distance wise. Anthony and i stood there in shock as he pulled himself out of the dumpster then wiped himself off. He then smiled as if nothing just happened and said “can I take a picture with you?!” so crazy lol.
What’s the biggest hurdle you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
The biggest hurdle i’ve faced is probably trying to figure out what to do with my life when I’m not doing anything with my band. I usually will spend my [free] time reading manga and cooking but I’m usually always trying to write new music lol.
What’s the proudest moment you’ve had so far as a band?
Playing our show in Dallas with Rehash was a big moment for me. I felt so many eyes on me and no fear was felt at all. Just pure excitement and joy. I knew in that moment this is where I am supposed to be. This is what I was made to do.
What’s a dream gig or collaboration you must make happen before you die?
I’d love to play a show with Pierce the Veil. One of my top favorite bands.
Dream lineup: you + three other acts (alive, dead, or imaginary). Who’s on the bill?
Pierce the Veil, Joyce Manor, Turnstile
What’s next for you?
Once we get back home I want us to try to pump out a few more songs before we book up our next tour. We will most definitely be out on the road again this year.