Sons of the Mellow Mafia just announced their self-titled debut album, named after a collective of 1970’s studio musicians, Sons of the Mellow Mafia blends elements of jazz, pop, Americana and more to create memorable sounds that are to be listened to on repeat. We spoke to the band about their musical influences, the way they create their soundscapes, and their achievements!
Hi! Could you introduce yourself, your genre, and your musical influences?
“I am David Lockeretz, bassist and founder of Sons of the Mellow Mafia. My biggest influences are yacht rock and other subgenres of the 70s and 80s (Steely Dan, Earth Wind & Fire, Police, Joni Mitchell, Electric Light Orchestra) but I also draw on the blues/folk/Americana world, classical, showtunes and a little bit of metal here and there. “
What inspired you to start making music and what inspires you to keep going?
“I got to hear a lot of music in my house growing up in Brookline, Massachusetts, both on record and played live; there are musicians on both sides of the family. I also heard a rock band play at my school and was drawn to the high energy of the oldies they were playing – Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and the like. Since then I’ve been to Berklee College of Music, spent twenty years on the west coast and have been back on the east coast since 2019. Staying motivated and inspired for all of these years has been a challenge, but as tempting as it is to say that I’ve seen and heard it all by this point (at age 50), there’s a lot of new ground to explore: new stuff coming out, new-to-me older stuff and things I used to ignore but now connect with on a different level. Music doesn’t feel as urgent to me as it did when I was first starting out, when the world seemed to hinge on me getting the exact gig or band situation that I wanted, or when I’d discover an artist’s catalogue and suddenly feel as if I had my new sound, but with time also comes a sense of cyclicality. There are times when I don’t feel inspired but I know they won’t last forever, and that inspiration might show up in an unexpected place.”
How do you decide on what instruments to throw in the mix, what inspired your eclectic mix of musical instruments?
“The instrumentation was a tribute to my dad, a lifelong music lover who played many different instruments, mainly harmonica, piano and mandolin. I thought that those three, coupled with a rhythm section of drums and upright bass, would be an interesting combination.”
Where do you, in general, get inspiration for your music and song-writing?
“All over. Sometimes it might be something I hear and I decide I want to do my own take on it, like “Buck Jones” which is influenced by the music of Jimmy Webb (the groove and chord progression resemble his song “Up, Up and Away” which was made famous by the 5th Dimension, and there’s a repeating rhythmic figure that echoes “Wichita Lineman”). Sometimes it’s an idea; for example “Shade from Burned Oaks” was inspired by a walk I was taking in an area that had recently been razed by a wildfire. There was a big oak with charred limbs, but it still provided shade, which made me think about how it can often be difficult for people who’ve survived trauma to give of themselves, but here was this tree, doing it naturally and unconditionally. “Uncle Funny Plays with the Bass” was born from a comment made by my then 3-year old nephew.”
Who would you like to work with in the near future and where would you like to perform in the next three years?
“I don’t have any particular artists I want to collaborate with, but I’d be open to working with anyone with whom there would be a mutually beneficial relationship. With venues, I also don’t have any specific goals. I’m more interested in the connection I have with the audience and the overall experience than I am with a venue’s history or reputation. I’m not saying that I’d decline an opportunity to play the Opry, but I’ve also found that putting too much emphasis on one goal can create a sense of letdown when it’s done. The dopamine released by anticipating a reward is the same as the dopamine from receiving the award (see: Vegas, Las.)”
Which musical achievements so far are you most proud of?
“‘Sons of the Mellow Mafia’ is the seventh album of original music I’ve done. I’ve already done two under my own name, plus four with Outside Pedestrian, which is an eclectic instrumental trio that I founded with guitarist Anthony Fesmire (who also mixed and mastered the Sons of the Mellow Mafia debut album). I’d say that seven original albums and counting is probably my proudest achievement so far.”
What do you hope to achieve by releasing music with followers old and new?
“I hope that listeners hear themselves, so to speak, in my music. With instrumental music, there might not be as explicit a connection compared to words that can directly speak to someone’s experience or identity, but I do think it’s possible to find yourself in music even without the prompt of lyrics. A tune like “October 9th” is peaceful, but with a melancholy flavor; I hope that it might have a calming, comforting effect on the listener, telling them that things will be OK without feeling like sugar coating. On the other end, “Rule 34″ is written with a certain mischief to it, and it’s also deliberately awkward and clunky, so I hope that people who listen to it enjoy its unpredictability and maybe listeners who don’t feel like they fit in with the world might relate to it.”
What are your plans for this year and what are some of your dreams?
“My immediate plans are shifting gears to work on the next album by Outside Pedestrian. We have already been writing music for our next record, which will be our fifth. I’m also working on some music that hopefully will eventually become the ground work for the next Sons of the Mellow Mafia album.”
Aside from music, what are some of your hobbies and interests, we’d love to know more about you as a person!
“Lately, I’ve found that I just enjoy spending time with my wife and our three dogs. Our old guy is a basset-pit mix and he’s perfectly happy to spend a summer afternoon lying in the sun for hours on end, or a winter day lying on the couch for hours on end. Maybe it sounds like Hallmark-card stuff, but he always reminds me of how little it can take to be happy. Humans need more money, cars, prestige; all a dog needs is a warm spot to lie down.”
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