Saint Clair had just arrived in Cardiff for Swn festival from London after playing at The Social the night before. The four-piece alternative guitar band, which formed in music school in the aforementioned City, have been the ‘concept’ of a band for about four years. They’ve developed into this final ensemble just over a year ago – with lead singer Toby, Lawrence on lead guitar, Adam on bass and drummer Beth. The band have a formative year ahead of them, with the release of multiple singles and a long list of shows on the horizon, including opening for rising band ‘The Guest List’.
Immediately, they passionately spoke about their latest release ‘Gretchen’, which you can have an exclusive listen to if you sign up to their mailing list. ‘Warm’ has ‘been in the making for a long time,’ the band tell IINAG, as it seemed to ‘resurface’ a year after it was written and the band developed it from there. The tune encapsulates the triumph of motherhood, highlighting the unconditional support that comes from a matriarch, and how this can help you through any challenge in life.
Each band member gets credit for a different part of this process. Toby and Lawrence typically bring the “bones of the songs to the table, such as lyrics or a riff.” They explain, each band member develops their section, and they come back together to collate this into a song. They emphasised that “every song passes through each member’s hands at some point” before it’s brought to the stage. The band also highly regard their live performances and utilises these evolved tracks based on live reactions from the crowd.
These new tunes they’re talking about here are the future of Saint Clair, so what can we expect? The instant response was ‘a really good spread’ and a display of ‘what you’d be investing in’ by becoming a fan. The band have grown beyond “only writing heavy grunge tunes” with the new era, they share, being inspired by everything from the guitar riffs of Led Zeppelin to the jazz fusion they learnt in music school. They spoke about wanting a “diverse discography, with different flavours of piano or acoustic added depending on the track.”
As they delved deeper, the band was able to connect on a more personal level and discuss the obstacles they’ve faced, many of which are common for emerging bands. Being in their early twenties, living in London, and striving to succeed as musicians has fueled their incredible determination. Every time they step on stage, they give it their all, recalling that just a year ago, they struggled to even secure a rehearsal space.
‘Hungry’ is definitely how I’d describe the young group. Always wanting to write more and perform as many gigs as they can, they play with “complete and utter intention.” The band promises to always find a solution to any barriers they may face and wants listeners to know they haven’t written their best song yet. This, along with the intensity and prowess they bring to the stage, sets them up for a successful future of helping shape the modern indie landscape.
Committed to making a thoughtful debut rather than rushing into it, the band assures fans that they can expect new music in the new year. They emphasise, “You only get one chance to debut,” and encourage fans to attend any live performances they can in the meantime. These rising indie prospects are definitely worth watching.