Words: Darci Jackson
Photos: Izzi Glover
This feature is no ordinary feature, but we guess our band in question are no ordinary band either. Introducing London based four-piece Saint Clair, storming onto the scene with their powerful energy and infectious live presence.
Saint Clair are Toby Bardsley (guitar, vocals), Lawrence Bordean (lead guitar), Adam Anderson (bass) and Luke Rafferty (drums).
“We all met at uni, I knew Lawrence since first year, met Toby and then Luke just appeared. It wasn’t anything cool or anything.”
Seeing as the world is currently gripped by Oasis fever, it seemed only right we asked the age-old question. Team Oasis or Team Blur.
“Team Oasis” exclaimed Adam with a disgusted look and a shake of his head like that’s not even a question we should be asking. “If you say Blur you’re weird.” Bit harsh but okay.
Lawrence managed to swerve the question entirely with “‘I’d like to state that Damon Albarn has my heart. Actually, Villanelle.”
Legend has it, Toby is still on the fence to this day. “Err, Oasis. Actually, fuck it, they’re both good. Damon Albarn’s a sexy man.”
Saint Clair are already making the rounds on the live circuit, playing shows from London to Newcastle, and a few places in between including Stoke-on-Trent. Their latest slot saw them take to the stage at The Underground supporting local band Rocky Ostrich, and they had nothing but praise.
“[It was] a really sick bill with a bunch of other really sick bands. Stoke’s got a really good music scene so if we can join you guys that would be pretty good.”
Saint Clair, we welcome you with open arms.
Speaking of Stoke, we wanted to know what their favourite thing was about Dizzy Mag’s hometown.
“I’m gonna say the people, that’s the PR answer.” Adam then thinks for a moment before replying with “’Mill roof.”
“I’m a big fan of the sexy promoter from The Sugarmill,” Lawrence adds, looking at Adam.
Toby’s answer was a surprise but a very respectable answer. “Big Tesco. Full English in the morning at the cafeteria, spot on.” Who doesn’t love a big Tesco?
The quartet already have two singles to their name, huge choruses with moody and dark undertones, and it doesn’t appear to be long before we can expect more of the same.
“It’s the next kind of progression for the band in terms of solidifying sound, so yeah we’re just excited for people to hear it. It’s more what we’ve always wanted to kind of create. It’s moody but it’s real, it’s guitar music, there’s nothing else. It’s just guitars, bass, drums and vocals.”
The new music on everyone’s lips at the moment has to be Fontaines D.C.’s fourth offering Romance, and Saint Clair are as passionate about it as we are.
“It’s cool to see that they’ve pulled it off well this time, the productions really cool on it, it’s guitar music mixed with really well produced stuff."
“I think it’s a really really good album in terms of progression for them.”
Much like Fontaines have assumed new characters for their new era, we wondered who would play Saint Clair when they become characters in their own film biopic.
“I’d play myself, I'm not famous enough,” remarked Adam, before agreeing on Gene Gallagher.
For Toby, it was a mix between (young) Leonardo DiCaprio, Taylor Swift and Leo Woodall with Lawrence simply stating Timothée Chalamet.
Now, time for the question that we’ve all been dying to know the answer to. Saint Clair’s hair routines.
“Pure unadulterated charisma and sea salt spray,” states Lawrence. “Adam’s got the best hair in the band by far. As soon as the hair goes, that’s it, we’re packing it in.”
You can catch Saint Clair at their next show on 2nd September at The Lower Third, London supporting Sovereigns.