Saliva Carries On With “New” Singer, New Album in the Works

While many would be intimidated to replace a lead singer in a band that had found major success, Bobby Amaru says joining Saliva has been no sweat. After 15 years of rapping hits like “Always” for the Tennessee metal band, Josey Scott left Saliva in 2011 to sing Christian music as a solo artist. The remaining three members of Saliva wanted to keep their musical fluids going. Through a mutual friend, they were introduced to Amaru. The Jacksonville native was raised by his father to love Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, and Black Sabbath but feels confident he fits right in with Saliva’s trademark brand of nü-metal.

“It’s been three-and-a-half years, and I see a huge difference not just us bonding but on stage too,” Amaru told New Times as the band's tour bus made its way toward the Saturday show at Revolution Live. “In the beginning, I wasn’t nervous, though, because I wasn’t trying to be him. Most of the fans were positive.”

Saliva has released one album with Amaru – 2013’s In It to Win It – and Amaru says more new music is on the way.

“We’ve got six or seven songs done, and we have to mix three more,” he says. “We don’t have a name for the album yet; titling is the last thing we do.”

Fans wishing to hear live renditions of the new songs will have to be patient.

“We don’t play the songs on tour until we have time to analyze the mixes,” he says. “Hopefully, we’ll start playing them in a few months when we release the single.”

Amaru is excited as always to play shows in his home state.

“We’re going to be high-energy," he says. "It’s going to be a lot of fun. I love Florida. It’s definitely the state that gives me the most inspiration because that’s where my kids live. And they’re my main inspiration.”