A Quick Chat with Sainthill

Can you tell us a bit about your inspiration for your single ‘The Black Bull’

The origin of the song (like all others on my upcoming album) began from an animal-themed dream - this one was, unsurprisingly, about a black bull. The dream became the framework for a lyrical narrative, taking the metaphor of a black animal as depression and telling the story of someone taking matters into their own hands – in this case training as a matador to overcome it (as grotesque as bullfighting is).

What are you influences and how do they affect your songwriting?

For this one, it was the textures and sounds of bands like Slowdive and The Cure who often weave pulsing bass with shoegaze elements along with a bittersweet, melancholic atmosphere. I accidentally lifted half the chord progression from REM’s ‘So. Central Rain’… that song uses what’s called a ‘borrowed chord’ (grabbing a chord from a parallel key) and I almost always try to throw them into my progressions - they add something unexpected.

What’s the creative process like for you?

I always start with guitar or piano chords and the lyrical melody, along with some placeholder lyrics (like how Paul McCartney first sang ‘scrambled eggs’ before landing on ‘Yesterday’). I’ll then bash out a set of lyrics that are unquestionably average, then keep refining until I’m happy with them. My favourite part of the whole process is recording and writing extra parts for my songs. My least favourite is promoting myself! 

If you could change something about the Australian music industry, what would it be?

Some of my friends are literally my favourite musicians, and I think they make some of the best music around. It’s a real shame there isn’t more exposure for indie and underground Australian music I guess, and I don’t know many folks who are able to support themselves financially on music alone. So, if I could wave my magic wand and fix that, I would! It also upsets me when venues end up having to close and/or get turned into a gastropub, however the way the Melbourne music scene rallies around and supports when venues are in strife is really inspiring. 

What do you think life would be like for you if you didn’t have music as an outlet?

Luckily for me I love to draw, so I’d definitely be doing more of that. That’s the one ‘downside’ to having many creative outlets, they vie for attention, and one gets pushed aside while the other gets all the attention.

Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with? Why?

Let’s say if reality was suddenly suspended, I’d love to write the music and produce an album for someone huge like Taylor Swift. I really like her album Folklore she co-wrote with Aaron Dessner from the National, which ended in a suite of understated and quite beautiful songs much different to her previous pop output. It would be a total trip to co-write something like a shoegaze album with her and know millions of people will hear it!

What’s your advice to young people who want to make a career for themselves in the industry?

It’s fairly common advice, but always, always just be yourself. Musicians chasing fame and writing music that attempts to be popular or adhere to trends/algorithms will always come across as fairly soulless. If it’s in your heart to make weird music, do that. At the end of the day it’s the creativity and authenticity that draws people in.

Who’s the most interesting person you’ve worked with/met?

I’ll shout out John Lee (mixer/producer at Phaedra Studios). He mixed my new album (and previous one) as well as playing all the drum parts. Before working with John, I did my own mixing, and while I knew the basics it was amateur hour! John brought so many creative ideas for sounds, textures and mixing choices, and for the first time I felt my songs evolved and ‘popped’. Plus, we would sit around his studio talking about surfing, aliens, and nature documentaries while eating dumplings, it was a great time.

Any plans for a tour on the cards?

I’ll have a launch gig after my album comes out (on March 1st). I’ll play as much of the new album as possible and throw in a sprinkling of older songs (for my long-term fans 🙂). I get some musical mates to fill out the sound when I play – drums, bass, keys etc. I also like arvo gigs so my friends with kids can come and I can get to bed on time.