Body Salt writes leaf-songs

“The worst experience we’ve had playing a show was also one of the best,” says Jonathon Bruhin, half of San Diego’s Body Salt. “It was our very first performance at a large private gathering in Big Bear. We weren’t sure what to expect as it was touted as a ‘mini festival.’”

“It pretty much ended up being a lavish party in the woods. No one knew who we were and it felt like we were back in an awkward social situation in high school and we were not part of the clique.”

“We were supposed to play the first night we were there at 10 pm, but the guy who was bringing the PA system was drunk and ended up being like three hours late. We didn’t go on until like 1 am, and it was about 30 degrees out. Our hands were numb, my keyboard broke, the PA system had no bass... Meanwhile everyone was either wasted or high on psychedelics, and making absurd comments about our set... It was pretty painful in the moment, but it ended up making us that much stronger as performers.”

But a year after that, adds the band’s other half, Ezekiel Morphis, “One of our favorite memories was the first time we were booked playing the Casbah. Tim Pyles had recently reached out to us and asked us if we wanted to do a feature on 91X, which felt like being nominated for a Grammy at that point. We were so grateful.”

“It culminated in him building out a show for us on a Wednesday night. We promote harder than anyone we know, and we were determined for a good turnout even on a Wednesday night. We ended up packing the place out and throwing down so hard. It was a magical experience and one we will never forget. We are thankful to have Tim in San Diego!”

Music came naturally to the twosome. “I constantly write,” says Morphis. “Being a songwriter is like being a little deciduous tree in the soil of your life experience. You create leaf-songs that fall to the earth, and then you instinctively need to generate more, and the process never stops.... It’s connected to our minds, bodies, and spirits.”

The two met over darts and beer at the Triple Crown Pub on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights, and soon it was off to Bruhin’s basement studio, for what Morphis terms “A whirlwind of burritos, beer, shisha, and some left-field musical ideas.” The new single “Please Avoid Your Grave” hit the web a few weeks back, and the next step is to wait for the venues to open again.

“We desire for our music to bring hope and the ability for people to be okay with being human in all its absurdity, to allow others to truly feel how and when they need to in a pure way,” finishes Morphis.

“We’re so grateful for everything we have accomplished, and it inspires us to spread Body Salt to everyone we can.”