Following on from the release of his music-loved collection 'The Sky Is Long' in 2021, emerging artist SirSchub returns once again to offer up his latest EP 'Someone Else's Stories'.
Bringing back more of that sweet and tender folk-pop aesthetic he is known for, this new five-track collection makes for a riveting listen throughout. Filled with warm and enticing textures, a sweeping atmosphere, and his own compelling voice at the helm, 'Someone Else's Stories' cements him as one of the more enchanting names on the rise right now.
So with the new EP available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most in recent years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Piano! My dad was a pianist and I grew up listening to him play songs he enjoyed and improvise over blues progressions. He was particularly proud of his ability to learn chords to songs he wanted to play by ear. Unfortunately I’m not much of a pianist myself despite the lessons I took in college, but the piano is still my go-to instrument for locking down chords and it’s one of my favorites to play around with.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
As a kid, I mostly listened to whatever music my parents listened to or played. They were big fans of artists like Billy Joel, the Eagles, and the Beatles. I particularly enjoyed listening to/singing along with female musicians, though, maybe because they fit my vocal range! I took a specific liking to Sheryl Crow and had a few songs of hers in constant rotation - specifically “Soak Up the Sun,” “The Difficult Kind,” “If It Makes You Happy,” and “Everyday Is a Winding Road.” Her melodies felt so good in my voice. “The Difficult Kind” is the first song I performed live, too - my dad accompanied me on piano and we performed together at a local coffee shop when I was around 12 or 13.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first time I can remember getting one was for a birthday in middle school, and it was the deluxe edition of Now That’s What I Call Love Songs. I guess I was really into love songs when I was younger, which is ironic because I have so much trouble writing them! Fictional ones seem to be an exception, though! Despite there being 40 songs on that album (which I did have to look up), the only ones I remember listening to are “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis and “The Reason” by Hoobastank. I have vague memories of listening to the latter on repeat with my CD player… I think I was inspired by the idea of someone deciding to become a better person for someone else!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
“Follow Through” by The Altogether. It sounds like something I could have written in terms of style, and as someone who is very proud of his melodic writing, I wish more than anything that I had written the chorus’s beautiful melody. Singing along with it is a joy!
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
It depends on how the songwriting session starts! In general, I usually write in sections and try to get at least the chords and melody for each section down before stopping. I prefer to write a whole first draft in one sitting if I can; sometimes inspiration strikes and it’s impossible not to complete it in one go. Several songs on my new EP were written like that! When that doesn’t happen, though, I typically take a moment (or several throughout the process) to stop and think about the mood I’m writing in and what story I want to tell. I’m also very particular about always writing down my lyrics physically in a notebook when I’m finished with them. I love having that physical record and will often take notes on that page when I’m arranging or recording - it turns into a mess, but I adore it.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Phoenix was one of my favorite bands for a long time and I only recently discovered the album they released in 2022! I’ve been loving “After Midnight,” “Tonight,” and “The Only One.” It’s fun to see how their style has developed, especially since my favorite album of theirs is Alphabetical which was released in 2004! I’ve also been listening to Moontower, specifically their album Season 1: The Ballad of William Hollywood. One song on that album, “Long Hair,” was suggested to me on Spotify last year and now it’s one of my favorite songs. And, of course, MUNA has been one of my go-tos for over a year now. There’s nothing like queer pop to get me in a good mood.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Dodie! She’s always the artist I point to when people ask “What kind of music do you make?” so I think we would have complimentary sets. I also just think that performing for and being a part of that audience would be delightful!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Audience participation - whether that’s at a live performance or while listening to a recorded track - is easily the most rewarding thing. Someone hearing a song I’ve written and feeling inspired to join in really makes me feel like I’m doing something right. One time in college, I was performing at a DIY show in a barbershop and I was closing with my most “well known” song at the time, “Say So.” One of my friends in the audience started singing one of the harmony lines during the chorus, and by the end of the song, most of the room had joined in in some way. Some people were singing the melody or following my hand movements, while some were ad-libbing harmonies and rhythms with their hands. It was really special.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I would say that it’s the same problem that artists of all mediums have - it can be difficult to separate the “art-making” part from the “creating something to be sold” part. I don’t have this problem with songwriting as much anymore, but sometimes when I’m singing along to the car radio or while I’m washing dishes, I find myself trying to “perform” or sing “perfectly.” And while there’s nothing wrong with that innately, it’s important to me to still find joy in making music as its own thing regardless of quality. I have this problem with other kinds of art, too, since creating is something I do for money - I’ll be drawing or writing poetry and I’ll get frustrated because it isn’t “good.” But art and the act of making it as a form of self-care and expression has nothing to do with the art’s quality!
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
“Be your own biggest advocate/number one fan.” I think multiple people have given me this advice. What it really boils down to for me is remembering that I should always love what I’m making. It’s easy as an artist, especially as a perfectionist like me, to focus on the flaws in your art. But while it’s certainly important to be able to recognize your flaws to encourage growth, you shouldn’t let that overshadow the things that make your art meaningful. I think expressing excitement about your art is better for your fanbase as well - when an artist is clearly excited about something they’ve made, it makes me all the more eager as a fan to check it out for myself!
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SirSchub's new EP 'Someone Else's Stories' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.