Everclear Discuss the Origin of “Santa Monica”
In 1995, Everclear released Sparkle and Fade, one of the decade’s alt-rock staples that feels as strong and fearless now, as it did 
back then.
Starting today, the band’s creative force, Art Alexakis, is travelling America on what’s being dubbed as a ‘Songs & Stories’ tour. Each night, he will play stripped down Everclear tunes, as well as share stories about them and his decades of rocking and rolling.
Ahead of the tour, Riffyou.com caught up with Alexakis and asked him about the origin of Everclear’s most popular song, “Santa Monica.” Here’s what he had to say about it:
“Most bands got signed for their big hit, but I hadn’t written “Santa Monica” before we’d gotten signed to Capitol Records. We signed the contract in June 1994 and went on tour that day. When I got home in August, I got a note from the label to work on some new songs.
“I’d write at night after my eldest daughter – who was two at the time, went to bed – and during the day, the band would come over and we’d go to the basement and work out songs. I remember our A&R guy came over to hear the songs before we went into the studio and said, ‘it’s a great record, and that one song there is a smash hit. I think you have two others, but that ‘living with your ghost song,’ what’s it called? ‘Swim Out Past the Breakers?’ I said no. ‘Watch the World Die?’ ‘No, it’s called ‘Santa Monica.’
“He goes, ‘but you don’t say Santa Monica anywhere in the song.’ I said, “I don’t care,” (laughs).
Stay tuned next week for our feature interview with Art Alexakis. We’ll talk about Everclear’s forthcoming album Black is the New Black, family life, as well as his past works.
-Adam Grant
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