Introducing #152 - Saint Clair
Let us introduce you to Saint Clair, who is due to release her visual EP ‘In The Violet Hour’ this November. Having provided us with the first chapter ‘goddess’ earlier this month, Saint Clair has also joined Bombay Bicycle Club as their new singer. She took a moment to talk to us about her music.
So, where does the name Saint Clair come from?
Saint Clair was inspired by both my Mum’s Scottish ancestry in Sinclair Bay and my French upbringing (‘clair’ means light in French). Saint Clair felt like a nice fusion of the two.
You recently joined Bombay Bicycle Club as their new singer while also being the bassist for CHILDCARE. Where do you find time to release your own music?
Good question! I’m always trying to strike a balance between having too many things on the go and way too much time on my hands. I find juggling lots of different projects challenging and inspiring and seem to work better when I’m strapped for time. It’s just about finding the gaps.
Your musical journey started as a jazz singer, what are your earliest musical memories?
I was in a dreadful all-female production of ‘Lord of the Flies’ when I was about 13. The music was bonkers and we were all in ripped, muddied school uniforms which, upon reflection, was completely inappropriate.
The single ‘goddess’ that you have just released is part of a collection of tracks exploring stages of grief, can you tell us a bit more about this? What made you want to break it up into four parts?
goddess is the first chapter in a 4-part visual EP called in the violet hour, directed by my sister and shot entirely in our family home. The chapters journey through different stages of grief following the loss of our dad and although we will be releasing them as individuals videos, they also flow together like a short film which will be screened in November alongside an immersive live show.
It sees you pairing up with Tamsin Topolski, who is your sister, how did you find it working on a deep subject with someone closely connected to you?
Working together really was one of the most exhilarating and profound experiences, one I will never forget. I am so grateful to her for bringing her boundless creativity, ideas and time to this deeply personal project and, given the subject matter, couldn’t have made it with anyone else. As a first-time director, I was floored by her instincts and taste, her sense of ease behind the camera and steadfast conviction. And emotionally-speaking, we delved into some very raw and oftentimes painful memories and laid them all bare in the videos, something I don’t think we would have been brave enough to explore without the other’s support.
When can we get to hear the next stage?
Chapter 02, violet hour, will be with you on August 13th.