Feature: Saint Nick the Lesser Decodes “Anne-Marie”
What was the creative process like for this particular song?
This might sound a bit strange, but at the time it was penned, I had a goal to write a narrative-driven song about a complete stranger. It was a sunny spring day in SoCal, and there was a coffee shop I used to frequent where I’d read, study, and just hang out in general; really cool place-lots of greenery and fountains. I figured it might be a good place to go for some inspiration as well as a decent cup of coffee, so I grabbed my notebook and pen and walked down there. I was sitting at a local coffee shop relaxing when I noticed a crowd of 4-5 elderly people who were chatting, laughing, and generally having a good time. I noticed an older woman who had this cool energy about her; really gave off aging hippie vibes. More importantly, I got this deep sense of history from her-she had a bunch of colorful attire and seemed as though she’d lived a compelling and vivid life.
That’s when it hit me. I started wondering about her life and questions started popping into my head: "Where was she from?" "Was she married?". The answers to those questions eventually started to build a backstory for this person and led to the creation of "Anne-Marie". Once those questions started coming up, the story, and subsequently the song itself unfolded; it never really felt like something I wrote, but more something that came to me. I have no idea who that woman was, or what her story is, but in that moment, she had a profound effect on me by virtue of her having survived (and presumably thrived) all those years.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for "Anne-Marie" to life?
My team was great! I had already written the song, and most of the accompaniment, but their suggestions on textures really helped make that song what it became. I think the most notable part of it (for me at least) was the creation of the rain sound effects. We looked into using in-the-box effects, but my teammate Rob suggested we try something strange: he hooked an old amplifier connected to an older organ and an oscilloscope to produce the rain and thunder effect. We found a frequency we liked, and whenever we wanted thunder, he'd make contact with the 1/4" cable. It was one of the coolest things we did in the studio.
What impact do you hope "Anne-Marie" will have on your audience?
More than anything, I hope this song (and indeed, others I’ve written) inspires. It’d be great if it were a catalyst for change (whether in terms of relationships, or something else), but honestly, I’d be happy knowing it moved someone in general. I think overall, my hope for this song is that it helps people connect with themselves.
Can you tell us more about you as an artist?
Despite how a lot of my music sounds, I grew up playing in punk, ska, and anti-folk bands and take a lot of influence from artists like Laura Jane Grace, Chuck Regan, Tim Barry, and most notably Frank Turner. There's always been something so inspiring to me about the raw authenticity and gritty determination which characterizes songwriters like these. The way they transmute the more niche (and oftentimes difficult) aspects of the human experience has always captivated me, as it gave me language to describe my own experience. I’ve tried my best to emulate them in my own unique way; mostly in how I perceive their ability to connect with people at their lowest (as that’s the impact they’ve had on me), really in an effort to connect with people.
Fundamentally, my only real goal as an artist is to help other people. I think there's so much beauty in the universality of the human experience, and even more so in the ability of music, art, etc. to give people a way to connect to it, and by extension themselves and each other. Like all, I've experienced a lot of challenges in my life, and wish to help, empower, and/or inspire as many people as I can as a result.
Are there any upcoming projects or releases that you're particularly excited about?
Yes! “Anne-Marie” is the 3rd release off my upcoming album “Growing up, growing out”. I’m planning on releasing two more tracks from it before dropping the rest of the album, the next one being “God Bless” which drops May 9th. “God Bless” is a bit of a tone shift from “Anne-Marie”, in that it has less to do with moving on from an abusive husband, and more to do with moving on from an abusive US government agency.
