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Much missed artists one and all, the classic Southern Rock class of ‘69 is revived fully and more on the 2025 album by Euphoria Station. Highlighted by 13-tracks, the 64-minute Smoking Gun album is very much rooted in Americana rock. In fact, Euphoria Station takes the classic American rock music sound from 1969 and adds in a touch a much needed earthiness delivered part and parcel by group founders and main composers Saskia Kraft van Ermel (vocals) and guitar ace Hoyt Binder. Supported by Toss Panos (drums), Ronald van Deurzen (keyboards), Jorgen Carlsson (bass), Tollak Ollestad (harmonica), Rebecca Kleinman (flute) and more, the full-bodied wall of rock sound on Smoking Gun is instilled with a vast melodic edge and a progressive rock affirmation. With their devotion to 1970s UK prog, Euphoria Station also echoes the wealth of classic prog-pop sounds crafted by the late great Chris Squire who gave the YES group its firm rock style and melodic Beatles style continuum. Unlike Jon Anderson, who gave YES its classical and New Age designs, it was Squire who delivered the goods as a progressive rock solo artist that also gave us all time classic prog albums by Esquire, the SYN, Squackett and Conspiracy. That prog-rock design that landed music in a new direction is jettisoned into the 2020s by Euphoria Station. Featuring a great lineup of songs, on Smoking Gun Euphoria Station steers the new state of classic rock in a fresh direction with every hook-laden track on the album a hit. In addition to the classic, catchy songs there are also two instrumental guitar-based rockers that reveals yet another side to this rising yet still underrated band. Fans may flock to the Marshall Tucker Band cover of “Take The Highway” but they are further encouraged to read along with the lyrics sheet that accompanies the CD. With Smoking Gun, Euphoria Station brings 21st century classic American rock music to the next and much higher level.
mwe3.com presents an interview with Saskia & Hoyt of EUPHORIA STATION
Hoyt: Saskia and I met in Los Angeles back in 2002 when I was trying to put together a progressive rock band that didn't pan out. We became friends, spent all our time together discussing music and began writing and demoing songs that would eventually become our first album, One Heart, and we have released 3 albums so far. We began playing as an acoustic duo for many years in Hollywood. There was a period where we seemed to play every Sunday night at the Cat Club for one Summer. We gave ourselves a lot of time to think of the direction we wanted to go in. Our music started out with the concept of being all encompassing, with heavy, pop, jazz and prog influences, that evolved over time into a more singular focus that the listener can really feel and connect with. We homed in on what we truly loved and what pulled on our heart strings; music from the 1970s that was earthy, organic and full of surprises while being grounded in a folk, Americana, Southern or even Western sensibilities. Bands like The Doobie Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, YES, Kansas, The Eagles, Loggins & Messina and many more spoke to us. Saskia and I produce the albums, and the current lineup is Saskia on vocals and percussion, me on guitars, dobro and harmony vocals. Toss Panos (Robben Ford) on drums, Jorgen Carlsson (Gov’t Mule) on bass, Ronald van Deurzen on Keyboards, Tollak Ollestad on harmonica, Rebecca Kleinmann on flute and Mike Disarro on harmony vocals. Mike has been our secret weapon since The Reverie Suite. A great friend and singer who’s helped us craft our vocal harmony sections. mwe3: Tell us about the 2025 Euphoria Station album Smoking Gun and how did you arrive with the idea to dedicate the album to the great Southern Rock artists such as the Allmans and Marshall Tucker Band? Tell us about recording “Take The Highway”. Saskia: When I first heard “Take The Highway” I knew I had to hear it again and again, etc.. It was one of those songs that would be a part of my life. I wanted to cover it and was very happy when Hoyt told me we were going to record it. It was really an honor for me. I don’t take covering a song lightly. I only switched a few words around, but wanted to have most of the original sound and lyrics. When I love a song, I will listen to it for the rest of my life. I thought it would be cool to have “Amazing Grace” played by Hoyt on his dobro as a precursor to the start of the album.
Hoyt: For what we are doing, YES is less of an influence, but they were for me, the more emotional choice from the original prog greats. We love songs like “And You And I” that have equal amounts of folk and progressive classical influenced moments, the best of both worlds. For what we are doing, the Capricorn Records artists are much more of an influence. Saskia was heavily influenced by the Marshall Tucker Band, and I came to know their music much later. I was listening to a lot of Allman Brothers in high school. Saskia: I was influenced by music itself as a kid because of my father. But as I grew older, rock stole my heart. And when I heard songs that had harmonica, flute and other textured sounds from the woodwinds or percussion family, it added a whole new perspective for me. Loggins and Messina is one of my favorites. Journey is one of my all-time favorites because of Steve Perry’s voice and the writing was also great. When I listened to Marshall Tucker, Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd… I always had that ‘home’ feeling. A kind of Americana sound… mwe3: Who is in the current lineup of Euphoria Station and how has the band evolved over time? Tell us about the chemistry of the band lineup on Smoking Gun and what can you tell us about the way you write your original songs and do both Saskia and Hoyt contribute lyrics and music? How do you split or combine the songwriting? Hoyt: The lineup has changed over time, mainly in the rhythm section. On the first two albums, Chris Quirarte played drums and Paulo Gustavo played bass. They are both virtuosos in their field and fit perfectly for the progressive leanings on those albums. This time around, we wanted some earthy 1970s vibes and performances that were wild, uncontrollable even. Both Toss Panos and Jorgen Carlsson delivered in spades here. They brought an unpredictability to the album that speaks volumes, and they are both world class players in the L.A. scene. Saskia and I split things equally. Sometimes I come up with an idea on guitar or piano and she’ll write lyrics for it as well as contributing melodies. Other times, like on the title track, “Smoking Gun,” she came up with the melody and lyrics for the chorus first and I wrote music to accompany. Other times, she’ll write lyrics first that inspire me to create something around them.
Hoyt: Saskia learned how to have a great ear for producing by working in recording studios when she was younger. She’s always loved music with great melodies and decided to take a stab at singing in her 20s and found that not only could she sing well, but her lifelong ability to write lyrics and poetry became a huge asset. I started to get serious in high school, which was a bit of a late start, but I made up for that by studying music at Cal State Long Beach. It took me a while to find my voice, but my goal has always been to be as good as my idols but never imitate them. I write on piano but I’m not a piano player. I play guitar mainly but I record all the banjos, mandolins and dobros you hear in our albums. I play a Fender Tele and an Ibanez Super Strat for the main electric guitars and a Martin acoustic. For me the amp is more important to the sound than the guitar and I used a Mojave Peacemaker on this record and on The Reverie Suite. It is a boutique amp replicating a late 1960s Marshall Super Lead, which for me is the sound of Rock n’ Roll, with Eddie Van Halen's amp being the pinnacle. If I had to pick one guitar it’d be a Super Strat, like Eddie, as it gets the job done the best, but my beat up Tele does look pretty cool. mwe3: The harmonica sound of “Nowhere Junction” is a bit startling! The song is another catchy pop classic. But it’s rather heartbreaking. Is the song based on real life or is it another heartbreaker of a song? Your songs have great lyrical symmetry. Saskia: “Nowhere Junction” is a name I came up with when Hoyt and I lived in a town for a short period of time. It is about the experience a person has when they believe the love of their life is cheating on them. And then when they are caught, for example: at the train station, the heart shatters into a million pieces. Feelings are the messengers to the heart… I believe that anyway. Sometimes it may take years to shake off a lie. To me the song has a melancholy feel to it and the ending, with 8 instruments vying for their heartbreak sound was the perfect vehicle. It’s one of my favorite pieces. mwe3: “Off The Beaten Path” comes as kind of a relief after the intensity of the first three tracks. Did you set out to create a moment of pop-rock serendipity on “Off The Beaten Path”? It’s a little like Alice In Wonderland in its vibe. The combined flute and guitar solo is very inventive. Was that done live in the studio? Flights of Fantasy!
Hoyt’s guitar work is the ultimate cool for me and toward the end, it has a Choo Choo sound and I see musical notes dancing in the air. Great to dance to! Hoyt: Yes, we tracked the flute and guitar together and the band as a whole; we tried to keep a lot of interaction and live takes to keep that 1970s feel. This is the most progressive song on the album, but comes across as deceptively simple. I'm really happy with the performances and how this turned out. Mike Disarro and myself had a blast performing the harmony vocals. mwe3: “My Mistake” is another track about unrequited love. The sheer power of the riffs and pain of Saskia’s vocals gives the song a potent edge. What’s the message of the song? (don’t fall in love? lol) I guess we all make mistakes! Saskia: The song is about a woman who falls in love and unfortunately catches her man cheating on table felt playing poker. After a time of thinking she knew him well, she didn’t. So now she needs to move on. If he’s cheating at gambling, what else is he doing? Fortunately, she knew it was time to go. There are real men out there and maybe in the next album I’ll come up with one… mwe3: Tell us about the two instrumentals on Smoking Gun. Like the Allman Brothers, Euphoria Station also excels at rock instrumentals. Even with a great singer like Saskia, it must be cool to have some great rock instrumentals. Are rock instrumentals an underrated rock form? The Allman Brothers had quite a few. Does that further fit the album into the classic Southern Rock style? What inspired “The Ballad Of Grace Malloy” and what guitarists influenced it. The Slide guitar sound is quite cool. What guitars does Hoyt feature on that track? Hoyt: These were Saskia’s idea to include. I was always a fan of the Allman Brothers instrumentals, but she turned me on to similar, even shorter segues from The Doobie Brothers, Loggins & Messina and The Eagles that are in the same vein. This track is my ode to all those influences and yes, I feel these types of tracks further the Southern Rock experience. The slide was done in one take as I really wanted it to sound a bit vulnerable and it is definitely inspired by Duane Allman.
mwe3: How about “Carolina On My Mind”? There is also a track with that name by James Taylor, or was it Livingston? Who is the track dedicated to? It’s very hook-friendly as are all the tracks here. Tell us about Carolina. Does the melody have to pass the test to make it as a Euphoria Station track? Don’t you wish all bands and songwriters could be held to that same standard. Saskia: According to what I have read, The Marshall Tucker Band came from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Toy, Tommy and a third brother that was not in the band. All are now deceased. It breaks my heart when I know stories like that. I covered “Take The Highway” in honor of the band. I wrote “Carolina On My Mind” in honor of Toy and Tommy Caldwell. In the song, I do a play on words. Within the lyrics of the chorus, I wrote “Can’t You See” and “Heard It In A Love Song” within the context. I also mention in the second verse a line that says ‘You left us all behind’ referring to Toy Caldwell. I wanted to express the countless times and adventures I had taken listening to those songs. It was shared with my best friend on many fantastic road trips. Quite special to me. The music carried an everlasting beautiful feeling. mwe3: “Sweep Me Away” is a pretty straight ahead rock-based love song. The flute / guitar interplay is pretty impressive. Is it easier to write a love song than to right a track with more hard-hitting lyrics? I guess you vary to give the listener a wide range to choose from? Saskia: “Sweep Me Away” was about Hoyt. After 5 years of dating, he finally popped the question. We both talk about music 24/7. Coming from different backgrounds was and still is a fantastic asset. 3 albums and 16 years so far and it’s only getting more exciting! mwe3: Is “Here With You” a song about devotion to a relationship? I didn’t ask if Hoyt and Saskia are married? Is that song about your own relationship and partnership? If only all relationships were so devoted. It’s tough to find empathy in a marriage and also in careers. Loyalty runs in tandem with love. Sad not enough people find it...
The last ten years or so I find myself in a different way. I defer to my heart. It will always tell me the truth. I intentionally stay positive as it gives me great joy. Marriage has no room for deceit. No room for power over the other. Respect is a two way street. Yes there is give and take. Hoyt has strength in certain areas I don’t and vice versa. mwe3: Another instrumental, and one of the best tracks on the album “Dusty Roads” is the next to last track on the CD. I like it even better than “Grace Malloy”. If it’s an indicator track, I say bring it on. How was that written? Sound like you could add lyrics or no? Did Saskia have any contributions to the instrumentals? What guitars are featured on “Dusty Roads”? The keyboards and flute add even more symmetry to the song. Hoyt: Thank you! The development section was written first and evolved from there, trying to impart the feeling of a lone cowboy traveling a long and lonely road. Yes, it could have been a vocal song, but Saskia wanted me to keep it instrumental. She is always a part of the production and helps me decide on directions quickly. I agree, Rebecca’s flute playing on this song is very emotional, especially at the climax before the chorus comes back in. Ronald’s organ is incredibly cool during the development section after the second chorus and reminds me of some progressive greats. mwe3: So now with Smoking Gun out, what are you hoping listeners will come away with after listening to this future album classic? Are planning more videos and concerts? Fans of vintage Southern Rock will love Smoking Gun. Keep your options open! Hoyt: We are hoping that this collection of songs impacts each listener in an emotional way and truly connects. We are not intent on displaying technique and our only goal has ever been to write unique, original music that’s passionate and doesn’t follow trends. If we can make someone feel lifted from the mundane, even for a few minutes, it makes us happy. We just wrapped up filming the video for the title track, “Smoking Gun” and we are beginning to prepare for our album release party/ live show on June 21st at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California and we look forward to seeing everyone that can come out and hang with us!
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Back in the Fall of 1969, the American rock scene was growing up. Blessed with a year that featured new and groundbreaking albums from the rock elite, a new sound arrived. Best known as Southern Rock, the album that shot it all forward was the debut self-titled album by The Allman Brothers. One thing led to another and in no time, the entire Capricorn Records roster, from the Allmans to Marshall Tucker band and even Wet Willie, was all the rage.
mwe3: Can you tell us where Euphoria Station is from, how many albums are released and how the band’s music has grown and changed over time? Who started the band, who produced the albums and who is in the current lineup?
mwe3: Tell us the other influences Euphoria Station have. I know you also cite YES as an influence. Funny how YES and the Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker were basically signed by the same man, Frank Fenter of Atlantic Records, Frank also started Capricorn Records in Georgia in the late 1960s. Who was a bigger influence, YES or the classic Capricorn Records sounds?
mwe3: Tell us your musical backgrounds. What instruments do you play? Does Hoyt play other instruments and can he tell us about his guitars. What guitars does Hoyt play on the Smoking Gun album?
Saskia: “Off The Beaten Path” was a perfect opportunity to take the whimsical, light and happy upbeat track and run with it! This song is so much fun to me. I wrote about a dream that I never want to end. I had the vision in my head shortly after naming it. 
Saskia: I love listening to an album that has instrumentals. The instruments themselves have a lot to offer, in my opinion. Acoustic guitar alone is beautiful to hear. An electric guitar as well… The diversity of songs with vocals and songs with just instruments are always welcomed. One doesn’t need to think when listening to an instrumental, just feel.
Saskia: We are married. FYI: I am the youngest of 5 girls. I keep my Maiden name Kraft van Ermel for my stage name. It is to honor my father as he had no sons. My father is deceased but I believe he’s busy in Heaven listening to Youtube.