In Conversation With #166 - Sister Lucy
Hailing from Devon and now residing in South East London, Sister Lucy has just released her debut EP ‘Big Girl Pants’ - which is a collection of four country-grunge songs your can scream-sing along to. Filled with raw guitars, unique vocals and heart-hitting lyrics. She took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Abi, how are you? So your debut EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
Helloo!! it's a very good day and feeling mighty pumped to have the EP out!
It is titled ‘Big Girl Pants’ - does that have a certain meaning behind it
The 'Big Girl Pants' title came from the opening line of track 'Big Kid' ... "Big Girl Pants drying in the breeze"... 'Big Kid' is a love letter to youth, it's layered with nostalgia and bittersweet longing for something better. This theme runs through the EP in different forms, whether it's my own personal growth or singing about the fear women have of growing old and becoming invisible. 'Big Girl Pants' I felt encapsulated all the themes of growth, anger, escapism and Womanhood that echo throughout the EP.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
The EP was written and recorded at peak sweaty 2020 lockdown in a flat in Elephant and Castle. I got unbelievably lucky with being stuck with music producer Harri Chambers and session drummer James Luxton, and together we made the EP. We scrambled together a makeshift studio out of what we could grab from Harri's studio, taking only a few microphones, not enough mic stands and forgetting the guitar amps. The process meant it became all about the songs, and ultimately the limitations helped define my Sister Lucy sound.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
I grew up in Plymouth where there is a huge rock scene, and as a teenanger I was a little blonde emo kid who played in an all girl rock band called The Orkid. Rock and indie music is my first love, I stepped away from the genre when I formed my last band Bat and Ball. This EP brought it back and was really influenced by my Plymouth Rock days, I wanted to make music again that felt natural and that I loved.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
My favourite lyric from the EP is the first verse of Dream:
"You're only around when you want me, when I'm sweet enough. You only stuck around this far because I made you believe that I'm better than that TV stuff, your dirty dream."
It's always a challenge to write the first line of a song. I feel like you want to grab people's attention and set the mood. With 'Dream' I wanted to paint a clear and direct picture of the insecurity and anger women feel when trying to navigate respect and assertion in the world. It always feels great to sing this first verse at gigs.
Now the EP is out there - what next for you?
I am in the studio this December busy recording some tasty new music coming next year - and then in January, I am super excited to be supporting Coach Party on some of their UK tour dates!
