On day three of the Music Interview Marathon, we speak to singer-songwriter Sano Hill who has been creating music all their life and has a passion to connect with people.
Artist’s Name: Sano Hill
Genre: Folk-rock, indie
Originated From: Cavan, Ireland
Discography: The Climb (Single), Starting Over (Single), Circlewalk (Single), Sing Out Loud (Single), Feel Love (Single), Dancer (Single) & If Not Now, When? (Album)
How would you describe your music?
Melodic folk-rock – music hopefully most people can connect with – it’s often acoustic guitar led but my sound is a full band, with a wide range of instrumentation (I love brass and strings) and some experimental sounds mixed in (Sing Out Loud has a plane taking off at one point!).
What is your musical creative process like?
My songs begin as melodies that I usually come up with on guitar – though I’ve begun to write recently on piano also. I could carry those melodies with me for days, weeks, or sometimes months before words eventually emerge to complement the melody – sometimes this can happen quite quickly; other times, it can take longer.
I usually play through the melody repeatedly, and usually, words eventually take shape. I sometimes draw on poetry or literature for inspiration, as in my first single The Climb, which was influenced by the poetry of William Blake and includes some lines from a later unfinished work, The Everlasting Gospel.
Other times I find inspiration from events in my life or in the lives of people close to me, or from world events – in reality, inspiration can come from anywhere and sometimes the strangest places – I have one (older) song that came from sitting up through the night one time watching the shopping channel – there is more than enough material around us to draw on for inspiration for songs.
How did you come up with your stage name?
Sano Hill is a hill behind the house I grew up in Cavan – a rural county in south Ulster – it’s a scenic location of special significance to me and my extended family and somewhere I go back to quite a lot.
Who influenced you within the music industry?
I’ve been influenced by a wide range of musicians and musical styles – Van Morrison (particularly his earlier material, Astral Weeks, Moondance etc.) was a huge influence on me at one point, particularly the personal and folk/blues nature of his lyrics and expression.
Other influences have included U2, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, David Bowie, Nick Cave and Radiohead. But I like all kinds of music, from traditional to classical, folk, jazz, blues, and rock. I guess all these influences have informed what I do, how I sing and the music I make.
Have you performed live much and what was your favourite gig to play at?
I loved playing the Róisín Dubh in Galway in the past – it’s a fantastic venue and you can really build a great rapport with the audience there.
What is the best thing about being a musician?
Being able to express yourself – for me, it’s a form of therapy and writing and playing music helps me to interpret and deal with whatever is going on in my life.
What’s the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far as a musician?
Making a living! It’s really hard to make ends meet as an emerging indie artist, especially with the way music is distributed now and the pathetic returns from streaming.
What is your ultimate dream as a musician?
To connect with enough people generous enough to allow me to continue to make and release music.
You can find out more about Sano Hill by visiting their Linktree page.
If you’re in a band or a musician and would like to appear on this blog, please contact me and I’ll forward you an interview template.
Also, check out my other Music Interview roundups from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022.
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