Music - One High Five

Tomi Choi and David Sauer of One High Five

Los Angeles-based band One High Five consists of David Sauer on guitars, bass and vocals and Tomi Choi on drums. The band has taken many shapes over the last few years including solo performances, acoustic duos, a six piece rock and roll spectacle and, currently, a quick and gritty two piece using an invisible bass player and bass click tracks.

David Sauer provides the songs and most of the direction while Tomi Choi joined in mid 2010 as the 1st member of the regrouping. Using Craigslist and the power of word of mouth Sauer hopes to complete the band and, simultaneously, conquer the world.

What things inspire you to create music?

David: Things that inspire me musically are nice bright days. These days put a swagger in my step and help me to sing random melodies that tend to form into bigger pictures. I'm pretty quiet because typically I have seemingly a million songs in my head. I would love to write them down and burn a CD called “The Soundtrack of my Life.” I walk around singing out loud and use keys in my pockets to act as cymbals. This helps me write drums and riffs and all the good stuff.

What effect do you hope your music has on listeners?

I hope the music makes them move and dance around, especially on their own time as you don't get a lot of dancing at shows these days. I hope that the lyrics make them think and reflect on themselves, if only for a moment. To me, that makes a difference and puts an extra value in the amount of hard work that not only I but all other musicians put into their craft. There is a lot of talent out there spending time and money on the things they love. Being a musician is a hard job, but getting through to the listener is one of the best pay outs.

What are some long-term goals of the band?

Right now we are making a better Web site and focusing on new material. New material is important to me because writing lyrics is so cathartic and fun. Finding new members is top priority (do you know anyone interested?) - this will help inspire new music and a new breathe of air into the group by letting us play more shows as what I want to be our true sound. New members will equate to a tour timed well with the release of our 2nd EP.

How would you define success?

Success is any step in a positive direction. Success at the more pure level is simply taking the first steps into starting a journey. Completing lyrics, putting ads out for new members, finding time to produce the Web site, reaching out to fans, finding management and working hard to get your foot in any door are all journeys I have started. I always feel like I can and should do more. It's a double edged sword that inspires and frustrates me all the same.

What are you currently listening to?

1. Julian Casablancas Phrazes for the Young 2. Belle and Sebastian Write About Love 3. The Descendants 4. Neko Case Middle Cyclone 5. My girl and I are exchanging mixed CDs which introduces me to new bands and helps me go through my music collection more deeply than I do 7. Music of people I meet. As I go on my adventures talking about One High Five, when I find a musician, I like to get their music in my ears. Collaboration and support is fun to supply.

What bands would you like to tour with if you could choose any?

Foxboro Hot Tubs, Reel Big Fish, NOFX, The Happy Hollows, of Montreal, Superdrag.

Check out and listen to One High Five here.

Written by Spencer Flanagan 

Photographs by Matt Clayton

Feb '11