Irish duo Saint Sister have today (27 June) released the video for their hauntingly stunning single ‘Is It Too Early? (Kilmainham)’. A darkly humorous commentary on social anxiety, the wistful video follows a seemingly invisible man, played by actor and comedian Manus Halligan, throughout an assortment of social situations in which he’s completely ignored by those around him. The invisible man, rigid and uncomfortable in a stark suit stood amongst party-goers, lovers and football players, is a personification of the solitary feelings of misplacement that accompany social anxiety.
Inspired by the formative experience of Saint Sister’s first global tour, ‘Is It Too Early? (Kilmainham)’ is a continuance of the band’s delicate themes of anxiety, loneliness and the pursuit of friendship and love- the “things that don’t seem to go away”. With a sonic foundation of R’n’B beats interwoven with Irish folk melodies and the duo’s signature harmonies, the track possesses an exquisitely dreamy tenderness.
Below, Saint Sister tell us more of what inspires their music, from embracing their Celtic heritage to incorporating imagery rooted in the beautiful isolated hills of Kerry.
Gigwise: How does it feel to release your first album and to be touring on such a large-scale world tour?
Gemma Doherty: It's great to finally have the album out there, and to be able to bring it to life on the tour has been a real joy. We'd been sitting on those songs for such a long time. As soon as it was released, I felt a real sense of relief and excitement for the next chapter and a new batch of songs.
GW: You mention how Shape of Silence is a culmination of the past four years of making music together and navigating your 20s in Dublin – What kind of experiences are you alluding to in this period of your lives?
Morgan MacIntyre: Most of the songs were borne out of conversations with friends, whether that be snippets overheard at parties, long and sustained discussions late at night or barely there, throw away lines over morning tea. A lot of the experiences were very much lived and still feel fresh when we sing about them now. Mostly the songs are about anxiety, loneliness and the pursuit of friendship and love, those things that don’t seem to go away.
GW: Have there been any particular events which stood out when making this record and affected the writing process?
GD: The record isn't necessarily based on one particular event or period in time. It was written over a period of three years or so, mostly in Dublin, at a time when we were all trying to navigate life after college and figure out where we wanted to be. In contrast to being in the city, the whole album was recorded in chunks in the beautiful isolated hills of Kerry, which was a very calming environment for us to experiment and explore. There's a lot of imagery associated with that part of the world that will be forever attached to those songs.
GW: You say that the album was inspired by connections between people, and the conversations borne from figuring yourself out in relation to another person – What kind of relationships and connections were you exploring in your writing?
MM: A lot of the songs address one other person. We were exploring the very close and complicated dynamic that can occur between two people, whether that be your band mate, best friend, sister or lover. I’m a very codependent person so I’m really interested in unpacking what that means for me as a person. Whether my dependence on another inhibits my own sense of self. 'Twin Peaks' is about burying your head in the sand with a friend, 'The Mater' is about the narcissism of small differences that can occur between you and a loved one, the falling out of sync that often happens, when suddenly you don’t laugh with the same ferocity or breath.
GW: What influenced you musically whilst you were making this record? What have you been listening to a lot over the process?
GD: The making of it spanned over such a long time, and we were just getting to know one another. At the very beginning, we bonded on a long car journey over Joni Mitchell, James Vincent McMorrow and James Blake. Lisa Hannigan really stands out as having been a huge source of inspiration to us, musically and through her incredible support.
GW: What inspired the decision to embrace your Celtic roots and what elements of Celtic folk really attract you?
MM: We were keen to retain melodic elements of folk at the heart of every song. We hoped that each song, despite all the layers and atmosphere that we were adding, would hold its own if it was stripped back to the bare bones of the arrangement. I love old folk melodies and tried to bring a little of that timeless essence to the album.
GW: How would you describe the sound and the mood of the record?
GD: Someone recently described it as a "mysterious ghost ship navigating dark, dreamy waters". That was nice to read! I suppose it's centred around two voices in harmony with one another, blended with subtle elements of electronica with a heart of folk.
GW: How was it working with Alex Ryan and now touring with Hozier, opening for them across Europe?
MM: We developed a really nice dynamic in the studio with Alex. It was a very safe space in which everyone had the freedom to push ideas and experiment and we all learnt a lot from that process. We’re big fans of Hozier and his band so supporting them was a real pleasure. We were lucky enough to open for them in some gorgeous venues in front of lovely warm crowds.
GW: What are you plans for the future? Where do you see Saint Sister going and what do you want to achieve through your music?
MM: At the moment we’re working away on material for the second album. We just want to write as much as possible and gig wherever and whenever we can. If we can manage that, to sing songs we’re proud of across the world, we’ll be very happy.
