Song Machine
Musician Sidd Coutto on his ambitious plan to release 12 EPs in 2021
Sidd Coutto is making up for lost time. Whether solo or as part of alternative rock band Zero or as the frontman of pop-rock groups Helga’s Fun Castle and Tough On Tobacco or as one half of recently formed electro-rock duo Laptop, the versatile singer-songwriter, multiinstrumentalist and producer has been making music consistently for over two decades. However, his last official release, the album Sunny Side Up, came out in 2011. This year, Coutto plans to deliver 12 EPs, each of which will showcase his wideranging repertoire. The pop set ‘Glow’ was unveiled earlier this month. To follow are those dedicated to duets, the genres of rock, reggae, “electronic disco” and comedy, and a tribute to late keyboardist Karan Joseph.
Coutto’s decision to finally complete many years’ worth of unfinished material was influenced by the pivot he was compelled to make after the pandemic put a pause on the live music industry. He went from being primarily a performing musician to a producer for hire. Says Coutto, “I was producing stuff for other people and was like, ‘Man, this sounds great’. [But] I have a million songs sitting on my computer that I have not been putting out. If I’m making great stuff for work, then why the hell am I not doing it for myself?”
Another factor was signing with artist management company Misfits Inc., who assured him they would take care of the marketing and promotion, aspects of his career for which he has little patience. “The best part about making music is making the music,” says Coutto. “I don’t like the other stuff that comes after that.” Realising the importance of releasing his music is one of several ways Coutto’s thinking changed over the past 10 months. The biggest lesson he has learned during this time is something his dad tried to teach him when he was a teenager. “He wrote this on a piece of paper and laminated it: ‘The only thing constant in life is change’,” says Coutto. “If anything, that should be the biggest message of this past year.” ■