By JULES SHINKLE
BG Independent News
The Motet is set to headline this year’s Black Swamp Arts Festival, the closer for Saturday night’s mainstage concert (Sept. 12 at 10 p.m.).
Dave Watts has been laying down grooves with The Motet for nearly 30 years. As the band’s founder and drummer, he’s guided the group’s evolution through the decades. He talked with the BG Independent about his inspirations, keeping things fresh, and what to expect for their BSAF performance.
When Watts moved to Colorado, he embedded himself in the Boulder music scene. Then in 1997, he launched his own project: “I wanted to start playing my own music, original music, music that got me excited – percussion-oriented, world music, afrobeat.”
The “early” sound of The Motet is a smorgasbord of jazz and dance music sonorities. No two songs sound the same on their 2006 album “Instrumental Dissent.” Bouncy, electric disco beats sit side-by-side with bongo solos and tight brass licks. One track, a sample of Alice Walker over ambient synth; the next, a shrill whistle launching into samba.
It’s a stark difference from their current brand of funk and soul that The Motet has settled into.
An emphasis on rhythm and improvisation persists, but their latest album “Love Time” indicates more focus.
The Motet has cycled through many musicians, with the longest mainstay (besides Watts) being bassist Garrett Sayers. “[The lineup] has a propensity to change, but the music … we found our love for funk music. Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai … lots of improvisation within our sound. So we’ve kind of locked in to that style of music,” said Watts.
He credits the rotation of musicians as a good thing for the band’s longevity. “Honestly, changing up musicians has helped keep things fresh,” said Watts. Each person brought their musical ideas, bringing The Motet closer to what it is today.
“We like to improvise, jam, mix it up. Every night there’s something different that happens … keeps things interesting and challenging.”
Vocalist Sarah Clarke joined the quintet in 2023 and features prominently on “Love Time” as well as their recent live recordings. “I just love her stage presence because she’s a very compassionate person … I think people really feel her authenticity,” said Watts.
She’s a singer who injects the group’s already strong songwriting with catchy melodies. The title track from “Love Time” has a punchy, compact groove – the kind Watts and Sayers have been perfecting for over 20 years – and Clarke’s voice glides easily over the whole track.
There’s a winning chemistry between the musicians here; it’s easy to understand why Watts feels confident in the band’s sound. Though change has defined The Motet, their continuous growth has remained a constant.
“The integrity of our musical choices is what we’ve held onto. We’ve always been like, ‘Let’s play good music, great music.’”
