Interview: Saint Sister At SXSW 2016

Ahead of their sold-out show at the Unitarian Church on Dublin's Stephen Green, Hot Press revisits our very entertaining interview with Saint Sister after their fourth and final concert at the biggest music showcase in the world, South By SouthWest.

At the start of the set you were having some issues with the harp, What was going wrong, it wouldn't pick up any sound?

Before we started, there was nothing coming out of it [harp] for some reason, that's the nature of the 'no' sound-check. Our sets are so quiet, it's difficult to navigate that when there's a bar full of people. The first song was a bit rocky, but it evened out after that. If you're a rock band, i am so jealous, because they can just get over it. We rely a lot on the harp in terms of pitching and getting loops back, but it's also a really difficult instrument in terms of feedback, so there's a fine line between more harp and myself. All throughout the gig i was pointing up and pointing down. The sound man was like 'what do you want?' It was a fun gig.

I did find it difficult for you guys when there's a table right next to you and people are talking all through your set?

Well, that's what happens when people are there to watch sports. That's just what happens when you are playing SXSW. It's not a proper gig venue, not everyone is there to see the music.

So, this is just one of the learning curves of the festival? What was the main reason for coming out here to SXSW, what did you hope to experience, what did you hope to get out of it?

We were a bit surprised to be asked to be honest, we just weren't expecting it. It's really early days, and it's probably a bit crazy coming over here at this point - lots of people reminded us of that point - but at the end of the day we didn't have crazy high expectations. We wanted to come over here and give it our best, and see what's here, i feel like that's the only way to really learn. People tell you so much about it [SXSW], but you just have to experience it for yourself. It's been a great week, and a real eye opener. It's so diverse, i am really glad we came and hopefully we get to come back again.

Did anyone tell you any horror stories about SXSW before you arrived?

So many horror stories. Everyone had them. 'Oh, it's so hard to get around?' Or people were saying 'You're going to bring your harp?' 'How are you going to bring that thing around?' But it was fine. I think it was good because as Gemma said, we had very little expectations. We were prepared to have the hardest week of our lives. It's been tough in the fact that there's a lot to do, and you're not being able go out at the end of the night, but people freaked out out so much that before we came, we practiced what we'd play if everything broke (laughs). And we did have our own nightmare story to tell. When we flew, it was a connecting flight between Dublin to London onwards. When we arrived in Austin and went to pick up the harp from the oversized baggage area, they said to us 'oh, it just didn't make it. It's still in London'. And we were like 'you can't just say that'. We were lucky, it made it on the next flight.

Did you miss shows because of that?

No. It was very close, but we got the harp from the airport and drove straight to the show.

I can't imagine what it is like waiting on a 10 to 12 hour flight from London, and you're worrying about the harp, because it's such a precious instrument.

We are so weird about it. It's like my precious (laughs), she obsessed with it. It's like her baby. When we got it back she was so emotional, she sat in the back of the car just hugging the harp (laughs). That's not true, there was nowhere else for it to go. She's so sensitive, the heat and everything just changes it.

How have guys found the 30 degree days in Texas, compared to the freezing temperatures of Dublin?

It was freezing before we came out. We are really enjoying the heat. I've been trying to get a tan, but just haven't really been able to. It's so hot performing. You are just up there on stage sweating. It's been cool though, you can't really ask for better. Sun, music, beer, it's been class.

How many shows have you guys played so far?

We've played four. The one just there at BD Riley's Irish showcase was the last one.

Are you tempted to start any impromptu gigs on a 6th street corner?

Hmmmm. You've put the idea in our heads now (laughs).

That's what people do. I've seen so many acts playing on random street corners. People just set up and go for it.

We'll see tomorrow. Instead of wondering 'will this show work, or will this work?' Maybe we can just set up and play, with a few more drinks who knows (laughs).

What have you guys got set up for the rest of the year?

We are heading into the studio after we return back to Ireland. We are really looking forward to it, we've got some new stuff that we're gonna lay down and hope to release soon enough. Then we have a headline show in the Unitarian Church in May. We'll be doing a little UK tour in May and lots of Irish festivals during the summer as well.

The church gig is a brilliant gig, it'll be really atmospheric.

Yeah we are really looking forward to it. We can't wait to play that kind of a venue. The one thing this week has taught us is that there are venues you should play and there are venues you shouldn't. For us, because the music is so quiet, we need that type of venue i think.