Special Feature: Interview with Savvy Savage of Sweet Cambodia

Hey, everyone! So a few quick updates on my adventurous life so far, I came back to Nashville because my time here is not yet done, I just got a job working as a caregiver at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, I turn twenty-six this month, I met someone new who loves my three cats as his own, and for my birthday, my mom finally agreed to get that tattoo done with me. Just kidding! I'm still trying to convince her. Anyway, I have some more book ideas, interviews, and special features coming up and while working with Kindle Direct Publishing to get my publisher account back in order, I managed to get a solo interview with the bassist of Sweet Cambodia, Savvy Savage! I met Savvy when I did my first interview with Sweet Cambodia six years ago in Fort Walton Beach, Florida when they played their first show in the Florida Panhandle at the Green Door Venue. Savvy hails originally from Cali, Colombia, takes part in lucid dreaming every night, and music has always been his passion. He has played bass guitar for nine years and is one of the founding members of Sweet Cambodia, playing in the band for seven years. When starting his passion, Savvy stated that music saved his life. “I really didn't have much that resonated with me growing up so at certain points I felt quite lost. To put it frankly, music saved my life. It inspired me to keep going. It gave me confidence, discipline, and passion. So if I can write one song that saves one life, I'll be fulfilled.” The creative process for the Sweet Cambodia bassist has changed over time. “I used to base my writing on the requirement that I had something intense happening in my life that gave me a source of inspiration. That's not necessarily the case anymore. Lately, I've gained the discipline to turn on my creativity like a faucet, instead of having to wait for inspiration to strike.” Savvy says that the genre that inspires his music and lyrics come from alternative rock music. “Lyrics are always deep rooted in all of our personal experiences. While at the same time carefully making sure we don't get so specific no one can relate.” When starting up, it can be an awesome yet tedious experience for anyone going for their passion. For Savvy, it was overwhelmingly ambitious. “Full of tons of surprises and pitfalls. We wanted to prove ourselves. We wanted to share our music with anyone who would listen. We were hungry, and we still are.” Even while starting up and continuing the drive for success, every artist is going to have difficulties along the way. For Savvy and Sweet Cambodia, there was definitely some struggles along with the success. “People don't succeed because they didn't have any struggles. They succeed despite the struggle. One tour we broke down outside of Tampa, got the van fixed, drove to Alabama for a music festival, and then our van burnt down on the way to Tennessee. It's just life testing you to see how bad you want it.” I remember back in 2016 when I went to see them in Chattanooga and then in Nashville after the van fire chaos, the dedication Sweet Cambodia had to still continuing the tour is still inspiring to this day. However, thanks to friends, family, and fans, Savvy said the tour went on to be a success. “Maybe even a little bit of luck helped us on the way. From the sheriff helping us with a tow truck, to the tow truck driver offering us his office to leave our gear, all the way to his mother in law driving us forty-five minutes to the nearest hotel. Not to mention, Donnie's Mi'Maw coming down to help us rent a car to keep moving. Lastly, we did set up a GoFundMe page that received enough donations so that we could buy a new van. We couldn't have done it without the help of those around us.”

Savvy is a huge fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and states that they inspire him the most. “Red Hot Chili Peppers inspired me to start my musical journey, but ultimately Victor Wooten's words on music have influenced my view, and education deeply as I've grown. One of my favorite quotes when I met him was: 'The world doesn't need another great musician. It needs another great person.' Bringing light and love into what I do, is all I aim to do.” Savvy says that his biggest support system is his best friend, Matthew Kronz. “I've known him since I was eight years old. He's seen me go from struggling to flourishing. In my darkest moments, he has always been there for me, and stayed honest with me. A man who truly stands on his morals.” When it comes to a target audience, Savvy focuses onn creating music for people who are struggling. “Everyone and anybody who loves music with live instruments. Angsty teengers, disgruntled adults, lovers, and haters.” When it comes to his biggest influence, Savvy gives credit to his older brother. “My older brother is a master of discipline. I grew up watching him grind on his saxophone. He graduated from the University of Central Florida, and was first chair in every ensemble he took part in. Some would say he is even a prodigy. He posesses an insane work ethic that honestly intimidates me. I look up to him for his intensity and intelligence.” Savvy also reminisced about his favorite memory being a part of Sweet Cambodia so far. “The best memory I have with all of us so far is sitting up at the top of Lookout Mountain, while Eric played guitar and Donnie freestyled. It was quite a quintessential moment of being alive and in the moment.” Savvy hinted that Sweet Cambodia has some major and important current projects in the works. “We are currently finishing up our first album. The first single of that album is finishing up production as we speak. We will be dropping a new music video, a lyric video, and a whole redesign of band merchandise alongside this new song.” The festival that Savvy dreams of playing at and headlining one day is Hulaween. “Hulaween is a huge camping festival, for one. Nothing better than a fest in the woods. Sweet Cambodia started in Florida so it would only be fitting that it's a festival here. I've been to a few festivals at the grounds in Suwannee and each one is amazing. There was this one time where my tent flooded. I had no clothes, no blankets, and no idea what to do. I was saved by the strangers who were camped around me. They clothed me, they fed me, and simply put they cared for me. I want to give back to Suwannee, and Hulaween would be a dream come true.” When it came to thanking specific people, Savvy wanted to give a shoutout to his parents. “I want to give a big thank you to my parents. They came to the United States for us and I'll never take that for granted.” When asked about giving advice, Savvy says that vision is everything. “When you have a clear vision of what you want, it keeps you going when you get lost in the process. You'll never wake up questioning why, because you know what you want, and you're gonna take it no matter what. Don't be afraid to admit what you're doing isn't working, access and adapt. Also, read, no matter what you want to do, someone has already written a book about it.” This statement, as an author, I can definitely confirm. If there was any mythical creature Savvy could have as a pet, it would be an Eastern European Dragon. “I'd want an Eastern European Dragon because cloud gazing while soaring through the skies, and soul bonding with Salazar would make for a great time. Also, I've read way too many books on dragons as a kid so I feel weirdly qualified to handle the situation.” For links to Sweet Cambodia's work and band member solo projects, you can find them here at https://found.ee/sweetcambodia . I really enjoyed getting to hear Savvy's story and I cannot wait to hear the new single Sweet Cambodia has in store! My next few plans are to interview Sweet Cambodia's drummer, Donnie Fuson, and an outreach worker for YAIPaks here in Nashville who has helped many homeless and unhoused citizens here. I hope you all enjoyed this one and I'll be updating more soon. Happy Reading! -Melanie Lane