Introducing Interview: Saga Back

We caught up with Sweden’s Saga Back in the wake of her debut single release ‘There You Go…Again’ to talk about her writing process, musical influences and how it all began.

Welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about how Saga Back’s music career began?
Thank you! Well, I don’t know if I would call it a “career” yet, but I think it was almost exactly two years ago that I started recording my own songs. It was for an examination project in school and although I didn’t take any music classes I somehow managed to “write, record and perform five original songs” around the topic of the project. So, that was when I started working with Mattias Nyberg (who’s produced ‘There You Go… Again’), but at the time I didn’t take it very seriously. We just recorded three or four of my songs – they were very acoustic and I didn’t even use a metronome, so the beat was completely off in some parts. And then I uploaded them onto Spotify. As for songwriting, that started a bit earlier but the songs I wrote back then luckily will be forever unheard… Except for one song that me and my best friend made when we were ten. We wrote it in Swedish, asked my mom to translate it to English, and then we sang it at our school’s talent show.

Then, few months back I decided I wanted to do something to learn more about the music industry and so I started an internship at a record label in Gothenburg called Kning Disk. I’ve learnt, and I still am learning, so much from my boss, Louise Hammar, who runs the label. That’s also where I met Markus and Jesper from Something Beautiful, the record label that I’m working with now. So, although I wouldn’t call it a career yet, only four months back I never would’ve guessed that so many people would be listening to my song!

We’re loving your latest single ‘There You Go…Again’, which we’ve played on the radio show, can you tell us a bit more about this song?
I’m so happy to hear that! It feels surreal that it’s been played on a radio show in London. Wow. I was in a pretty destructive relationship, without really realising how much it hurt me. It’s strange how you can abandon all your beliefs just to make someone else happy. That’s why I wrote the song. Actually, I started writing it as a way of putting into words what he did. That way it was harder for me to ignore my feelings and continue making excuses for letting him do those things. But now the song is more of a reminder to not let anyone make me feel less than I am. I hope that’s what people feel when they listen to it.

Can you tell us a bit about Gothenburg, and what the music scene is like there?
Actually, I live in a smaller town twenty minutes from Gothenburg, but I’d say typical “Gothenburg music” is a lot of indie – Swedish music that you either love or you hate. But we do have Way Out West festival, which is the best weekend of all summer. Does that count even though the majority of the acts aren’t Swedish? I really hope it does.

How do you go about writing your music – can you give us an insight to your process?
Lyrics and music at the same time, always. I’ve tried to write lyrics to an already finished instrumental when someone’s asked me, but so far I’ve had no luck with that. My phone is filled with random words and sentences that I’ve heard or come up with. It could be from a newspaper, a movie or a conversation. Usually, I have an idea of what I want to write about and a phrase that I really like and then it goes from there. I always write about my own experiences in one way or another. It makes it a little scary to put it out for everyone to hear, but I don’t think about that while writing. It’s only when I record the song that I start realising that other people will hear it.

Who or what would you say are your inspiration and influences?
Recently I’ve been listening to a lot with Jorja Smith, H.E.R, Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa. All women as you can tell. I listen to male artists as well of course, I just find female musicians more inspiring and relatable. And last but not least, Adele. Although I don’t listen to her music every day, that’s the type of music that I always go back to. I love the songwriting, her vocal range and the way she builds her songs. She played in Sweden a couple of years ago and I didn’t manage to get any tickets, which I’m still sad about.

As we’re a new music-focused site, are there any other new/upcoming bands or artists you’d suggest we check out?
Maple & Rye! You might have heard of them but I think they deserve a lot more attention.

Finally, what’s 2019 got in store for Saga Back?
To be honest, I don’t really know. I’ll be going to Paris for two months, which I planned way before all of this started, and my goal there is to finish writing enough songs for a first album. There’ll be some more singles, I’ll spend time in the studio recording, and then we’ll see. I don’t wanna jinx anything…

Huge thanks to Saga Back for answering our questions! 

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PLAYLIST: January 2019

We’re two weeks in to 2019 and whether you’re keeping up with ‘Dry January’, demolishing the leftover Christmas supplies, or simply carrying on like the trooper you are – we’ve put together a list of brand new music to help with all of the above. Take some time to scroll through our words and hit play on the Spotify link at the bottom of the page…

Big Joanie – ‘New Year’
Recorded at Hermitage Works with Producer Margo Broom and released via The Daydream Library Series (Thurston Moore & Eva Prinz’s label), Big Joanie’s debut album Sistahs is a stellar release from a band who have been actively working on and off-stage within London’s DIY scene for years. ‘New Year’ is the opening track on the record, and I love its focused, quiet yearning to kick-start something. (Kate Crudgington)

Lizzo – Juice 
Another utterly empowering and ferociously fun offering from GIHE favourite Lizzo, ‘Juice’ is filled with all the refreshing wit and funk-filled grooves that we’ve come to know and love from the Minneapolis artist. With Lizzo’s joyous, body-positive spirit and its immensely infectious, ’80s reminiscent hooks, ‘Juice’ is the ultimate feel-good anthem that you need to start your 2019. (Mari Lane)

The Choppy Bumpy Peaches – ‘Darjeeling’
What a musical delight from Luxembourg based The Choppy Bumpy Peaches. ‘Darjeeling”s mesmerising cacophony of instruments and sound, layering gently over each other, all drawn together with Julia Lam’s intriguing vocals. Such a heady and hypnotising sound. This track is taken from their first LP Sgt. Konfuzius & the Flowers of Venus which is out now, go check them out, The Choppy Bumpy Peaches. What a name. (Tash Walker)

Medejin – ‘Untitled 4’
There’s something about Medejin’s music which makes feel completely immersed in their sound, as if I’m in a room with no doors, covered ceiling to floor with speakers pouring out ‘Untitled 4’. A truly immersive dreamwave project from Jenn Taranto & Matthew Cooke. ‘Untitled 4’ is taken from their debut EP Eleni which is out now. I’ve got all my fingers crossed that Medejin will be bringing their Seattle sound to our shores in person soon. (TW)

Foxgluvv – ‘Crush’ (remixed by MOONOVERSUN)
Foxgluvv joined us in the studio as our first guest on the Get In Her Ears’ Radio Show this year, we talked with her about being a DIY artist, her particular slice of ‘hungover pop’ and this remix by Brighton based pop duo MOONOVERSUN. Released near the end of 2018, I cannot get enough of this remix and I urge you all to press play right now. It’s heavy on the electronics, pounding beats and warped vocals – dreamy. (TW)

Kill J – ‘Dead Weight Soldier’
Copenhagen’s Kill J has returned with a revenge fantasy in the form of new single ‘Dead Weight Soldier’. Following her fiercely political release ‘Strange Fruits of The Sea’ in 2018, this is the second track from her forthcoming album Superposition, which is set to be a poignant and unapologetic listen. (KC)

Cheerbleederz – ‘Staying Up Late’
Taken from last year’s EP Faceplant, Cheerbleederz’s latest single ‘Staying Up Late’ is filled with all the twinkling indie-pop melodies and honey-sweet vocals you could ever desire. With its jangly catchy hooks and a fuzzy whirring energy, it fills me with a comforting sense of joy on each listen. It’s also accompanied by a wonderfully animated, and super cute video, which you can watch here. (ML)

Argonaut – ‘Girl Talk’
An empowering, punk-pop anthem, with motivational lyrics such as “You rock, you can change the world, you inspire boys and girls, you can do anything!”, Argonaut’s ‘Girl Talk’ is the perfect pick-me-up to kick start the new year. Filled with shimmering hooks and a magnificent punk-rock spirit, it’ll leave you ready to face 2019 with all the immense, buoyant energy that it oozes. As well as getting hold of their brilliant latest EP The New Argonaut EP, you should also make sure you catch this band live – they completely blew us away playing at our gig at The Finsbury last week! (ML)

Panic Pocket – ‘Mr Big’
Inspired by too many formative Sex And The City marathons, Panic Pocket’s ‘Mr Big’ is an uplifting ditty about desperately wanting your close friend to stop defining herself by her relationship status and focus instead on friendship. Flowing with a twinkling charm and the London duo’s impeccable tongue-in-cheek wit, the track oozes honey-sweet harmonies alongside shimmering melodies and a gritty synth-driven energy. Strewn with memorable SATC quotes, highlighting the importance of friendship, it’s another luscious (and super relatable!) slice of indie-pop. (ML)

Micropixie – ‘New Year’s Day’
Micropixie is a British artist based in San Francisco who has recently found herself on The New York Times Top 10 Playlist for new songs which is amazing. We love this track from Micropixie which moves to its own beat whilst taking “a high-concept approach to offering commentary on a world that is torn by injustice, violence and war, and financial misdoings.” From all of us here at Get In Her Ears a huge well done to Micropixie, she’s definitely someone to watch out for in 2019. (TW)

Tallies – ‘Easy Enough’
Taken from their new self-titled debut album, Tallies’ latest single ‘Easy Enough’ oozes a captivating, dreamy haze as the raw vocals of Sarah Cogan soar alongside a whirring scuzz. With its shoegazey spiralling hooks and luscious emotion-driven energy, it’s impossible not to get sucked into its hypnotic allure and fall instantly in love with the unique, swirling  charm of this Toronto-based band. (ML)

Amaal – ‘Not What I Thought’
I’ve been enjoying this song a lot since I first heard it just over a week ago. ‘Not What I Thought’ comes from Somali-Canadian artist Amaal Nuux who has returned to music following much time spent on her activist work as the Goodwill Ambassador for Somalia Women and Children. Drawing influences from both her personal life experiences and her travels in all her work and music, this is her latest single out released on 10th January. Strong beats, warped samples and emotionally evocative vocals ‘Not What I Thought’ by Amaal earns a firm place on our January 2019 playlist. (TW)

Beckie Margaret – ‘New York’
My absolute favourite! Beckie Margaret released this heart-breaking track at the end of last year, and I’ve not been able to stop listening to it since. Beckie’s resilience in the face of heartbreak is what makes listening to her music so rewarding. Even in her seemingly weakest moments, her powerful, pure vocals provide an aching relief that can be felt all the way from the end of Southend Pier in her hometown, to the lonely shores of the city she sings about. (KC)

David Bowie – ‘Lady Grinning Soul’
It’s been two years since the death of the legendary David Bowie, and whilst it’s easy to lament the gap he’s left in the musical world, it’s much easier to put on his records and celebrate all of the wonderful art he left behind. ‘Lady Grinning Soul’ is taken from Aladdin Sane, one of my favourite Bowie albums. I’ll certainly be spinning it in tribute to the Starman over the next few weeks. (KC)

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Introducing Interview: LUNIR

Having received acclaim from the likes of BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway and Amazing Radio’s Jim Gellatly, Scottish duo LUNIR create luscious, soul-strewn creations, fusing together glitchy electronics and silky-smooth, soaring vocals.

With their new single ‘Wadidi’ released at the end of last year, we caught up with LUNIR to find out more…

Hi LUNIR, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about the band?
Thank you! So, there’s two of us: Becky and David. We make music.

Your new single ‘Wadidi’ is out now – can you tell us what it’s all about?
It’s a soulful but very playful track about independence and self-actualisation.

You’ve been compared to the likes of Solange and LION BABE, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
Yes, Solange is definitely up there, and not even just for her music but the way she approaches art and style and performance in general, so those comparisons are definitely flattering. Other artists we’re really into are Emily King, Kimbra, Glass Animals, Royal Canoe, Queen, Lianne La Havas, Hiatus Kaiyote… The list is endless and constantly grows!

How is your local music scene? Do you go to see lots of live music?
At the moment it feels like we don’t have ONE local music scene. Our current place is Cologne and we’re still exploring what’s what and who’s who, which is really fun. But there is also Edinburgh, where we’re from as a band, and which never ceases to amaze us with an abundance of cool new artists and a compact yet vibrant live music scene.

And what can fans expect from your live shows?
We approach music in a very detail-oriented, maximalist way but at the moment keep the number of people involved in the process rather minimal. David generally looks like an octopus on stage, doing a million things at once – singing whilst playing drums with one hand and synth keys and bass with the other. The fact that there’s only us, however, means that rather than worrying about communicating what’s happening with lots of other people, we can be really spontaneous and just have fun on stage.

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any new/upcoming bands or artists you’d recommend we check out?
Yes! Garth, JEFFE, St. Martiins, Scarlett Randle, VanIves.

And how do you feel the music industry is for new bands at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
It’s probably both easier and more difficult for bands now. It’s so much easier to produce music yourself, to self-publish, self-release etc. But it can also be tricky to cut through all of that and reach the people you want to reach without going bankrupt in the process.

Finally, what does 2019 have in store for LUNIR?
Plenty of new music!

Huge thanks to LUNIR for answering our questions!

‘Wadidi’ is out now.

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GUEST BLOG: The Companions

Comprised of Robin Jax and Amber Bird, The Companions are a transatlantic duo with a difference. Both are on the Autism spectrum, and both are “lovers of music and fighters of demons”. The pair find meaning in science fiction and the “warped edges of a reality” which gives their sound a “hint of the cosmic” and a tint of the extraterrestrial.

The Companions released their debut single ‘New Earth’ via UK-based label Tiergarten Records (a home for neurodiverse musicians) in 2018. Today, we’re premiering the video for their latest single ‘(parentheses)’ alongside a guest blog from one half of the duo: Seattle-based musician and author Amber Bird. Read her thoughts on being part of a transatlantic duo, the influence distance and autism has on her work, and her thoughts on the band’s new video below…

I have had a preoccupation with distance for as long as I can remember. With the flavours it comes in (physical, emotional, mental, chronological, etc). With why it’s good and why it’s bad. With how to bridge the distances I hate and maintain the ones I love. And it’s a relevant preoccupation being part of The Companions, a transatlantic Autistic musical duo.

Being on the other side of the world means we’re too physically far apart to spend time together in a practice space, building songs and enjoying our friendship. It means sometimes we don’t seem like a real band. But also sometimes it gives us the flexibility to fit our work into busy lives. It means few of our decisions are made in the emotion of a moment; all our songs, ideas, and designs have at least a few hours to simmer as we wait for the other person to wake up and check them out.

As much as I’m human like you, being Autistic means my brain works in a way different to yours. I have spent great swathes of time feeling the distance between my experiences and others’ experiences. Feeling the mental and emotional distance that that can create, especially when people can’t easily see my differences and just know I am not aligning with their expectations. Feeling more like an anthropologist from outside the non-Autistic world, watching how neurotypical people think and feel and interact, aware of how often I’m faking or guessing in order to try to bridge the distance sufficiently.

The video we’re premiering today exclusively with Get in Her Ears is for ‘(parentheses)‘, the b-side to our ‘New Earth’ single. I did the lyrics, vocals, and video; Robin did the instruments, backing vocals, and some production. Whilst it’s the only entirely non-cynical song I’ve written about love, it’s still got things to say about distance. About how it feels when you close the distance that seems to hang around you until you’ve found the right person or people. (That gap can certainly be closed by friends; I don’t think romantic love is always or only the answer.) When I wrote this, I was grappling with the distance between what I wanted in a particular relationship and what I actually had. In a way, this is a love song to what I know can be.

When Robin sent me the music, it added another dimension of distance. An aural display of how cosmically huge the distance we sometimes have to cross to find what we want and deserve. We may feel like lone satellites pressing through the vastness of space, pinging the darkness. Hoping to find another signal, another earth. Much of what’s out there and of the tools we use to see and be off Earth are round things, curves promisingly like parentheses that might hold us. So put on your golden record, my fellow voyager. Sing to the black and stars. And listen for an answer worth the journey.

Follow The Companions:
Website
Bandcamp
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