“A Brazilian, a Frenchman, a Canadian, & an American walk into a bar…” This isn’t the intro to a terrible ethnic joke, but the Twitter caption, and essentially the story behind up and coming pop-rockers Saints of Valory, now hailing from Austin, Texas. Their roots originated when lead vocalist and bassist Gavin Jasper befriended guitarist Godfrey Thomson as kids in Brazil, where their parents worked as missionaries together while Gavin and Godfrey daydreamed of someday making it big as musicians. Eventually they moved away from each other, but continued to pursue music while still keeping in touch. It wasn’t until 2008 that they finally reunited again, along with Godfrey’s French friend and drummer Gerard Labou to begin focusing on what would become Saints of Valory. The lineup became complete in 2010 when Gavin called upon another childhood friend he met from Brazil, keyboardist Stephen Buckle, and the group migrated to Buckle’s studio in Boerne, Texas to start working on their first self released EP “The Bright Lights”. After working up the ranks of various social media platforms and finding a vibrant home in the vast music scene of Austin, Texas, Saints of Valory finally gained enough ground to sign with Atlantic Records this year, and released their major label debut EP “Possibilities” in July. I chatted with Gavin about the band’s journey, sharing stages with their idols, and trying not to sound like Audioslave.

Q: The songs and production on your latest EP “Possibilities” sound like a band that lyrically brings new listeners up to speed with who you guys are as a band while leaving some room for fans’ own interpretation, especially on “Kids” and “Long Time Coming” which specifically allude to the path your band has taken to get to where you guys are now. But the music also sounds like a band that’s anticipating the change in bigger venues, bigger sound equipment, etc, so what did this move to Atlantic Records mean for you guys in terms of band progress and moving forward, etc?

A: You’re right, it’s exactly about telling our story and at the same time compensating with that and being open enough for people to interpret their own way to make it the soundtrack of their life. Working with Atlantic and a bigger label like that; number one is so many people on your team are just as passionate with your music and pushing it further as you are. The harder we work, the harder they work. When you’re an unsigned band on your own, you don’t have these people pushing you. Having a label to back you up lets you focus more on the music, so those opportunities are great for any band to help spend time pushing songs over the edge and add depth to the songs.

Q: I have to ask about the background of the band, because it is a pretty incredible story. You’ve known (Guitarist) Godfrey Thomson since you were a kid growing up in Brazil. How did your reunion with Godfrey come about? How were you guys able to still keep in touch after your families went their separate ways and was there always a feeling you’ll get back together?

A: For sure. Even though our families eventually went different ways, we were always involved in music together in Brazil at a very young age. Before we got back together, he was in a different band, and he actually invited me to play in his band around 2008, to play at a Hard Rock Café or something, and that was how he got back in touch with me. We got closer through that, and he knew what I was doing and what I was into, so we were definitely keeping in touch. But we kind of knew that eventually something would work out.

Q: It seems that Saints of Valory took years of persistence and setbacks to finally get your feet off the ground and get noticed. Once you guys finally got everything squared away; your members relocating from all over the world, starting the initial rehearsals, etc; what was the route like for your band after believing what you had was something special?

A: We were extremely excited, and wanted to get out there right away. When we did our first record, “The Bright Lights”, it cracked the top 50 on Triple A Radio, and we started to get an immediate response. We found ourselves getting invited to do all these shows so it was great to be out on the road meeting new people and new fans.

Q: I read that initially you guys were under pressure by one of the first labels who noticed Saints of Valory to distance yourselves from the musical direction you guys were adamant on. Was it tough sticking to your guns while knowing you guys could be squandering an opportunity that you guys had been working so hard for?

A: It was funny because starting out, we had a bunch of songs and the style was emulating what was on the radio at the time, sort of like an ‘Audioslave-ish’ kind of sound, something that was stale. Moving to Austin actually had a lot to do with us changing our sound, checking out the festivals, and we were amazed with the underground sound that was happening there. And that’s why South By Southwest is so cool. It had such an impact on us that we wanted to go back again and do our own thing, get down to the roots, even if it wasn’t as radio friendly or whatever. We told the label that we’re writing some new songs to record and they were like, ‘Oh boy’.

Q: Everyone knows how important Austin TX is to breaking new bands and discovering new music. What did the permanent move to Austin mean for you guys in terms of shaping your sound as well as continuing to strive for notoriety?

A: I think the main thing is that Austin is such a great measuring stick for new bands. It’s like Nashville, where the community is so strong that if you’re pretty good, people will hear about you pretty fast because they support each other down there. There are always people looking out to see what the next cool band is, so it’s a great city to start a band in. If you’re doing something wrong, they’ll let you know. Austin definitely took us in when we started out there.

Q: I’ve read that your parents and Godfrey’s parents were missionaries. Do you ever feel with all the breaks, ups and downs, and geographical changes your band has gone through, that it’s more divine fate or mere coincidence and persistence that your band has started to succeed?

A: I don’t know if we’ve thought about it in that way. The way things are and turned out; we’re just four guys from different corners of the earth who lucked out. At the same time, were all childhood friends, so we have that mutual respect for knowing each other so long, and it is sort of incredible. I think it’s just the best for both worlds. Who knows? Maybe it is divine, (laughs).

Q: Once things got rolling for you guys with the release of your EP “Kids” and Billboard selecting you guys as one of the top six unsigned bands in the nation to watch out for, where does that momentum carry you, in terms of handling expectations and perhaps dealing with more distractions?

A: It only burns you out if you don’t wanna work. Nothing ever distracted us very much. We’re very much a live show band, so when someone comes up to us at the show and says, ‘I’m here to see you because Billboard said you’re a band to watch,’ we love that pressure. A rock band always has to be getting better and better.

Q: I have to say, your recent cover of Lourdes’ “Royals” was great and also displayed an eclectic range for you guys. Let me ask, how did that cover and video of you guys standing in the middle of nowhere in Red Rocks, CO come about, and what drew you guys to covering it?

A: When we were doing our record in Nashville, our producer (Joe Chiccarelli) showed us “Royals” when it had like 30,000 views or something. We approached her to record with us, but she was already doing her record. When we were gonna play at Red Rocks this summer, we wanted to do a cover, and we wanted to do something new but original with our own twist on it. So we sat down for an hour and wound up with that cover, and I think it came out really good.

Q: You guys have been touring with other rising bands like Fitz the Tantrums, and have upcoming shows and tours with Grouplove, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Counting Crows, and more. Of course you’re playing Rock in Rio soon, which has to hold a special place in your heart personally, as well as also performing alongside names like Muse and 30 Seconds to Mars, bands who you guys are often compared to. How does playing alongside these up and comers and well established names rub off on you guys.

A: I think it’s one big amazing experience. It’s mainly fun. You’re watching someone that’s been where you are a couple years ago, and now it’s your turn to sit back and think of what can we learn from this experience. We played a fest with Muse and the Foo Fighters before, and it’s definitely a big learning experience. We’re so excited for Brazil, we’re heading out tomorrow, it’s gonna be a blast.

Saints of Valor will be touring alongside Grouplove this fall on their “Campus Consciousness Tour”, and is also gearing up for the release of their full length debut, “Into The Deep” which is expected to be released in late 2013. 

Photo By Josh Fletcher