When you conjure up the type of acts you expect to see at a music festival - especially one called Howling Moon - Salt and Steel would certainly be up there.
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This grunge, rock, roots duo are passionate edgy female performers who love to interact with their audience.
"I think the biggest part of what we do is perform shows in spaces where people can come and watch and be in the music in the moment, having a good time, letting go. We love to let loose and have a good time," says drummer Elle Steele.
She and singer guitarist Briony Edgar decided to try their hand at busking when they were travelling together in New Zealand four and a half years ago. "Our stationwagon broke down in Wellington and we had a couple of days before any money could transfer to our New Zealand account, so we started to busk to get some money," Steele says.
From that time to now the pair has consistently honed their talents. "We just kind of let it flow. We try not to write to a certain genre. When we first started, I just used a hand drum and that grew to a drum kit."
She says she has always wanted to play the drums and has put in a lot of hard work to get to where she is now. "We've performed a lot over the last four years. It's [our sound] really developed a lot. We have love, passion, and drive for performing."
This month the girls played Blues on Broadbeach and then road-tripped south to the Bulga Beats Festival at Hamilton near Newcastle and back up to the Gold Coast for another appearance at Blues on Broadbeach - all in the one weekend. "No we don't have a teleporter, just lots of road trip snacks and a warrior of a HiAce van."
Steele says they both listened to a bit of heavier music from an early age and that has influenced Briony's guitar riffs. The inspiration for their songs comes from experience and their "journey".
"Briony was a singer writing songs when she was younger. She is the lyricist. She picks pieces of the puzzle out of the universe and writes them down. There's light and dark and that comes out in the music. Everyone has some darkness, its all about the balance. The ups and downs, the hard times, overcoming those, and growing stronger."
Steele says the time taken for them to write a song varies. "Briony came to me with a song one time and we had it ready in a day. But another song we have is half recorded; we're still writing it and it's been there for four years. Some things don't resonate with us straight away."
They released their debut EP Breathe Connect Grow in February last year. In February this year the first of their element songs Violet Skies (air), was released and the second of the foursome (fire) The Beast, the Devil and Me drops today, (May 31). "It's about unleashing your inner beast, be wild and free an be okay with who you are," Steele says.
They hope to put out an album in 2020. "We have been in the studio and we'll just keep writing while we release the singles.
An overseas tour is in the future for these dynamic women. "We're looking at different countries. We've got a tour from Gladstone to SA for The Beast, the Devil, and Me. It's really great to see so much music happening on the East Coast. Our goal is to play as many festivals as possible. Not only in Australia but overseas."
