Drawing you into a world of dreamy shoegaze and pulsating charm, the new single The Black Bull out now from Melbourne-based artist Sainthill is a lush and evocative journey taken from the talented artist’s impending new album Dream Animal, out now. A track many years in the making, The Black Bull also arrives accompanied by an aptly whimsical music video.
Equally melancholic and intimate yet up-tempo and immersive, The Black Bull’s origin story stems back to 2018, with Sainthill, aka Tom Larkey, first tracking drums for the track pre-pandemic. With sonic inspiration from artists like Slowdive and Interpol helping to conjure the captivating single, the journey to creating The Black Bull can also be traced back to Sainthill’s extensive collection of dream journals. Tom Larkey tells Hi Fi Way more.
First up, can you please give us a quick intro to Sainthill?|
I’m Sainthill (aka Tom Larkey) a Melbourne-based, Hobart-born musician raised on a steady diet of Bruce Springsteen courtesy of my mum. I make a kind of dreampop/ indie rock/folk hybrid with a sprinkling of shoegaze. I’ve been described by music critic Marty Jones as making ‘intelligent, beautiful music’ which is quite nice of him to say.
How has the build-up been leading up to the release of The Black Bull?
Let’s just say it’s been a long time since I started recording it… The drums were tracked back in 2018, then there were delays on a large scale (that global event we all know too well) but also on a self-procrastination scale. So it feels good to finally let some other people hear it. Releasing music is exciting and anxiety-inducing in equal measure – but always worth it.
Was the process of making your album as challenging as you thought?
|Apart from how long it took (as above) the main challenge was being a predominantly home-recorder and having to manage noisy birds and noisy neighbours. As a result I would do vocals late at night when it was quiet! I’m always writing music, so there’s also the challenge of keeping the focus right, adding songs if they fit the album, or leaving others to the ‘b-sides’.
Who did you work with on the release?|
A bunch of great people. John Lee (Phaedra Studios) mixed the album as well as playing all the drum parts. John brought so many creative ideas for sounds, textures and mixing choices, and really helped the songs evolve and ‘pop’. My long time collaborators Dave O’Brien (piano) and Tamara Lunn (backing vocals) also helped out a bunch.
Sonically, how would you describe your music?|
For this new album, I’ll go with ‘dreamy, melancholic, shoegazey rock, with a sprinkling of folk’.
Who would you consider to be the biggest influence on your music and why?
So many, it’s hard to pick one! Bruce Springsteen for his narrative-based lyrics, The Cure for their lush textures and bittersweet atmosphere, Blonde Redhead for their blissful melodies, and folkies like Elliott Smith and Adrianne Lenker for their sublime solo works.
Best piece of advice you have been given?
It’s advice by way of inspiration from fellow musicians I look up to – I learnt to always be yourself with music-making. Musicians chasing fame and writing music that attempts to be popular or adhere to trends/algorithms will always come across as fairly soulless. If it’s in your heart to make weird music, do that. At the end of the day it’s the creativity and authenticity that draws people in.
What is the “Sainthill” life story?
I took the name from my first cousin twice removed (Australian stage and costume designer Loudon Sainthill) but it’s also my mum’s maiden name (though spelled a little differently). I kicked off in 2009 with an EP of sparse electric-folk, I Am a Monster. Since then I’ve put out three albums (Dear Victoria, Man Alive, Folk Romantic) and my sound has steadily gathered layers of drums, guitar, and synth, landing more in the arena of ‘dreampop’.
Are you looking to tour more broadly?
I’m maybe more of a writer and recording artist than a touring muso! Having said that, I’ll be launching the album on April 14th at the Gaso Upstairs in Melbourne/Naarm. But beyond that folks will need to jump on the streams or Bandcamp to have a listen.
What’s next for you?
I’m already writing my next album and doing demos haha. It’ll be a stripped back acoustic thing with heaps of strings and synths (kind of thinking ‘Dead Can Dance’ vibes). I’d love to write a suite of songs and have someone with an ethereal voice do all the vocals.
Who’s your favourite Adelaide artist/group at the moment?
I’ve been listening to Bad//Dreems a bit lately – they’re not my usual cup of tea, but I love the rawness and the Australian-ness of their music.
Interview By Rob Lyon
New single The Black Bull from forthcoming Dream Animal out now. Available HERE…
Album launch at The Gaso Upstairs on Sunday April 14