Somewhere between mainstream dance hits and indie-rooted storytelling. That’s where Chris de Sarandy has positioned himself, comfortably, and with full confidence of his songwriting capabilities.
Spotify alone shows a whooping total count of more than 250 million streams, including Chris’ collaborations with the acts such as twocolors, Safri Duo and Glockenbach. Impressive, to say the least. And, at the same time, a perfect way to gain exposure, much needed for presenting his other musical facet. More intimate, more introspective, more driven by the singer-songwriter vibe which you may have read about on this website, back in January.
This approach is never easy and it is definitely time-consuming, requiring a lot of effort and, most importantly, patience. Having started with open mic performances, Chris de Sarandy has gone a long way which led him from the UK to Berlin, where he resides now.
The result? A new solo EP, called “Trading Stories”. Full of emotional moods, from gratefulness, to vulnerability, to sorrow, with a true singer-songwriter spirit deep at heart.
I have recently had an opportunity to ask Chris a few questions about his beginnings, and where he finds himself now. Still impressively in-between, making space for his own voice and his unique place on the music scene. Curious? Read on!
Bartek: On Spotify, you describe yourself with one sentence. “Small town boy with a big man’s voice”. If you were to add one more sentence, just one, to add a bit more detail from the perspective of the passing time, what would you say?
Chris de Sarandy: Thank you so much for having me! It would be: “Writing songs for the heart from the heart”. Perhaps a little cheesy but very honest.
You have collaborated with some big acts from the dance music scene, namely twocolors with Safri Duo, and Glockenbach. How would you say those collabs influenced your own solo work?
Firstly, I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such talents who became good friends! But I’d say both collabs helped my confidence in terms of writing. But also in terms of performing. I had the pleasure of supporting twocolors on stage to some amazing crowds, highlight being at Wülheide in Berlin to a sold out 9000 crowd which was incredible. It would be a dream to perform there again!
What was your motivation behind relocating from the UK to Berlin? How do you think this decision changed your life?
I did an internship / praktikum at a boutique design agency in Berlin as part of my degree in 2017 and I absolutely fell in love with the city. The creative buzz and the insanely wide musical influence that exists which I found really inspiring! I just knew I had to come back… It changed my life in so many ways. Firstly, it felt like I had found my creative home but it also allowed me to connect and meet so many amazing people in the pop / dance music scene. I found a label, publisher and so many collaborators that ultimately allowed me to grow musically.
If you were to look back at your open mic performances back in the UK, what do you think would be the most important advice you could give to other singers who begin their artistic journey this way?
They were so fun! I’d say use open mics to test new music, improve your live performance and meet people! That’s the beauty of these nights – you never know who might be in the crowd or who you’re playing alongside.
You have just released a 5-track EP called “Trading Stories”. What does story-telling mean to you as a singer-songwriter, and which of these five stories impacted your own story the most?
Yes!!! I’m over the moon this body of work is out in full now. Story-telling to me is the absolute core of songwriting. The ability to express yourself, share life experiences but also the chance to support, heal and build connection through words and music. I’d say, “Hurts Like This” – a letter to my best mate who tragically left us in 2018 which acted as a follow up from the interlude ‘Worth’ in my first EP. I think it really highlighted the power of how music can be used to process such tragic life events. It was beyond cathartic writing this song and, in turn, I hope it helped find comfort for anyone listening who has experienced loss and grief.
“Hurts Like This”, the closing track on the EP, had been written as a reaction to the suicide of your best friend. It is a heart-breaking experience to listen to you sing about it, knowing it was so personal. How did you deal with your emotions while recording your vocals in the studio?
It certainly wasn’t easy! I think through channeling the pain and hurt of what happened and the trust of those who I wrote the song with. I’m forever grateful to them for their patience during the process.
In contrast, the opening track from the EP, “Need Somebody”, tells a heart-warming story of friendship, yet its video ends in an enigmatic way, as if the two main characters where in fact strangers. How would you like your audience to interpret this ending, and is there a message hidden behind it?
I love how you picked up on that! I wanted my audience to interpret the ending in their own way but I wanted to emphasise how people can be strangers as much as they can be friends, family or lovers and that doesn’t change how we can treat or care for those around us.
Your debut album from 2023, “Know Your Worth”, has been received very positively by your listeners. When I listened to it, I picked my own favourite, which is “Tears That I Don’t Cry”. Interestingly enough, this is the song with the lowest number of listens on Spotify. I do not want to ask you about the numbers of listens, as we all know stats are for scientists. However, I am curious to know if you check them. And how do you feel about this particular song being less noticed by your listeners? I think it’s a very very cool song, by the way!
Thank you so much! Naturally, I do here and there as I’m sure everyone tends to. But I never let it influence the creative process. I think there’s always the possibility of people finding music at different stages of an artist’s career and when the time’s right, I’m sure more people will find this song in particular.
Going back to the new EP, and it being musically quite different from your debut album. What sort of change or progress does it signify to you?
I think it shows the development in my song-writing and the stories I want to share. The first project lent into the theme of love a lot, whereas the new EP is predominantly focused on topics surrounding mental health.
What’s next after “Trading Stories”? Is it a new beginning, a preview of your next album, an invitation to your next tour?
I’m currently writing a lot for the album and without getting too ahead of myself as of course ‘Trading Stories’ just came out, but I’m asking a slightly fresh approach in terms of sound. I’m also planning a small tour for next year – more details to come very very soon!
Finally, how do you remember your first ever experience with hearing music? Do you remember it at all? And if yes, do you believe that it has shaped your future in any way?
Love this question! To be honest with you, I couldn’t tell you the very first song I heard but I did grow up listening to a lot of soul and funk music that my mum loved like Jamiroquai and Soul II Soul. I’ve definitely taken influence from these in the new songs I’m writing. But also, for me, I think it’s definitely helped shape the soulfulness in my voice.
Photo: Press release
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