SAINT LANE ANSWERS OUR Q&A
Rising star, rapper and comedian who produces music described as “alternative RnB mixed with other elements and genres” talks about the music world and his personal journey. Story by student reporter Sophia Sweeny
HE has played at the biggest music festival in Asia, Ultra Korea, supported Baker Boy across his Brisbane shows, played at Sydney’s Vivid Inner Westival, played on Triple J and MTV and is working with Kanye West’s production team.
Q Where did your career start off?
A: I’m 24, born in Auckland, New Zealand. l moved to Gold Coast when I was 14. I was probably 16 when I started a band in high school, that was the first time I really got involved with music. Been eight years since then.
Q How did you get your music out there?
A: I have a distributor who puts my music on Spotify. To get people to see it I try to make it as attention-grabbing as possible. Radio stations like my music so they’ll play it as well. I made some underground noise with the last group I was in. (I) made a lot of industry contacts that I was able to transfer and grab the attention of with this new project. And I was lucky to work with Kanye West’s production team through a mutual friend, my producer, Danny Duke.
Q Do you write your own music?
A: Me and three other guys, we all write and produce it together. (We) make it up on the spot and see where it goes. It’s fun and exciting how a song can start with one idea but by the time it’s finished it sounds nothing like how it started.
Q Where do you get your inspiration from?
A: I really like Kanye and after him it’d be Tame Implala. Though my music is all just stories about when I was a young man and how I felt at the time. It’s very reflective.
Q What’s a normal day as an artist?
A: Wake up, throw a ball with my dog for a bit, go outside, and respond to emails. What people don’t really know (is) being an artist, most of the day, is responding to emails, a lot of admin work, but it’s better than working at a bank or whatever. Between shows and performing I’m always emailing people.
Q What do you love most about your job?
A: I get to travel and get paid to travel. This year I got to go to South Korea, America twice and Fiji. If I was doing a normal thing I’d probably have to work at IGA or whatever and save up money and then eventually travel. (With my job) these places would just fly you out and pay for you to be there.
Q Do you have any other passions? A: I really like stand-up comedy and I secretly do stand-up comedy on the side under fake names. I played at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival this year under the name Rocky Middleton.
Q Do you have any upcoming music? A: There’s a song coming up in four weeks. I just played Ultra Korea which is the biggest festival in Asia. (I’m) going to take some time off but will announce some shows for the end of the year.
Q How do you believe music impacts you and how does your music impact society?
A: I think people use music more therapeutically than they realise. Dance is therapy, crying is therapy, laughing is therapy. I don’t consider myself as a therapist at all but if my music can give people some form of therapy then that’s my therapy.
Q What advice would you give to people wanting to follow your path?
A: I guess have other people look over your stuff because a lot of people put out music that sounds really bad because they’re the only ones who’ve heard it. Get second opinions on some things but also trust yourself.
Check out Saint Lane’s latest songs, Sugary Sweet and Compliment My Shirt, on Spotify along with his other music on Sound Cloud and YouTube. And look out for Rocky Middleton at your local comedy festival.