Start Listening To: Saint Clair

The London four-piece look forward and reflect back ahead of releasing their debut EP 'Something To Be Said'.

London’s independent rock scene, for all of its sign-of-the-times snarl and precise witticisms, can struggle to emotionally register at times; and when the people share their yearnings for something less hedgy and more unfeigned, we are punished with Wembley Coldplay residencies. In their breakout EP, ‘Something To Be Said,’ Saint Clair makes you remember that indie rock’s default gears are not indeed as predetermined as it may currently seem to the jaded modern ear. Lead single ‘Gretchen’ sets earnest vocals freewheeling atop a paving of deep-set drums with metallic silver basslines for rails, whilst others like ‘Too Young to Notice’ tread on a tighter loopway - either way, the tendency to commit themselves a bit more than is necessary for their genre is largely what keeps them atop the fold of the scene’s more fitted rock. Ahead of their EP release, I chatted with the band about their increasingly confident live presence, why each track showcases a different side of Saint Clair, and the creative values that keep the project coherent throughout its variety.

You are about to release your first project, ‘Something To Be Said.’ What was the most difficult part about putting this EP together, and what bits came to you most easily?

Adam (bass): I think it came together as we were developing over time last summer - we had an opportunity to spend a lot of time together and ended up playing a lot of shows alongside that. There wasn’t a massive concept to it. We moreso built it around some songs - which allowed us to add more of a concept to the EP, because it was during a very circumstantial time in my life.

On that same note, what are you most proud of for pulling off in the EP?

Toby (lead singer): I think having a song like Gretchen alongside Warm or Something to be said really shows who we are as a band and each corner of it. I think where a lot of bands might struggle - or where we might have struggled in the past - is to get an originally acoustic song like Gretchen to sound so together as both acoustic and full-band.

Beth (drummer): To add to that, I think the collection of songs is versatile but they all still sound like us. I think we’ve sort of found our sound, so going forward from the first EP and onward I feel like we’ve really settled in - we’re really excited to keep writing songs now that we already have a little groove going.

Adam: I think just having a body of work is a big step for us as a band. Finally being able to have four tracks that explore the different sounds of Saint Clair is something we’re really proud of. Obviously we’re just starting, so it’s really nice to have that.

What is the most insulting thing somebody could call your music?

Lawrence: If anyone thought that it was overly derivative, I would question it. I think Toby’s vocal is unique enough - there are bits of certain vocalists in his vocals, but I think he sounds quite different. If someone called us derivative I’d be like, ‘Let me get the synths out.’

Toby: I think the same thing. We really don’t feel like we’re chasing anybody’s tail. I think comparison is just the way humans naturally work, but I think as long as people are still enjoying what we’re making - we’re the ones who struggle and try to write the songs - I think at least appreciate that for a second.

Beth: I had someone make a bit of a jab at one of the songs, but I genuinely think when you’re confident in what you’re putting out, and you’re proud of it, nobody could say anything that would bother you.

Have you ever heard your sound be described in a way that surprised you?

Lawrence (guitar): We did this one gig at Signature Brew (I think) in London, and there was some Radio 6 guy who said we sound like Radiohead - which was definitely a massive compliment because we weren’t necessarily going for that, but we’re massive Radiohead fans. Not where we’re like ‘We’re going to write a song to do that more’, but they’re just really great to listen to.

Toby: Like Lawrence said, there are so many random little bits - like some of my mates back home were like, ‘You’re so grungy’, but I don’t see it. You can’t really perceive it when you’re inside of it.

Which creative scenes or venues in London have you found receive you best when you play live, and why might that be?

Toby: There’s so much cool shit going on right now, whereas two or three years ago I think there were only like one or two things ‘happening’. Sometimes it can be a bit cliquey, but I think we’ve tried to stay clear of that because it’s more that people put you into that clique as opposed to you doing it yourself.

We don’t necessarily think that we fit into a specific scene, but we definitely appreciate all the music that’s coming out - so if someone wants to put us into a box, we’re just happy that people enjoy the music.

Between all of you, who has the music taste that is most different from your band’s sound - and how does their influence still slip in?

Beth: Yeah, probably me. I listen to quite a lot of heavy music compared to the boys and, then also a lot of hiphop and drum-n-bass in terms of what I drum. It’s probably translated in terms of how I drum with backbeat and snare rims. It’s quite snappy and has a bit of crack to it. I think also in terms of really holding down a groove, I’m a big fan of new metal as well. I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from drummers like Abe Cunningham - he’s a Deftones drummer. In terms of technicality, I do a lot of ghost notes in my groove.

Lawrence: Particularly with hip-hop music, there are a lot of little breakbeaty flourishes and grooves that can stand alone as being a cool thing on their own, as opposed to just being there solely for the sake of there being drums.

What were some ideas that you tinkered with in this EP that you’re itching to expound upon in later projects?

Toby: I think you can really grab people’s attention through the arrangement and the vocal, and I’m really excited to develop that in songs we’ve got lined up for the future. Adding moments where we can hold people like we did in ‘Gretchen’ will be a really strong muscle for this band. I’m very excited to welcome that as well as the higher-energy stuff.

Kind of in line with that question - what are some recent improvements in skill or technicality that you are each excited about, either as an individual or a band?

Beth: I think feeling more in sync with each other, and that does come with playing together more. There’s definitely kind of an unspoken connection on stage sometimes, where we’ll maybe extend the outro of a song and Toby is doing a little hand gesture, and I’m like ‘Okay, let’s keep going’ - so I definitely think a year ago compared to now, there’s more connection and unspoken understanding.

Toby: We’re going to keep trying - at the end of the day, it’s just four people on stage and we’re all playing instruments at the same time. You’ve got to just try and figure it out. The more you do the better you get, isn’t it?