Sano Hill is a singer-songwriter based in Galway (Ireland) currently finalising his debut album for release in Spring 2023. His songs are inspired by life, love and loss and he has played to audiences in the US and Ireland with his work released already to critical acclaim on compilation albums, including 'Origin: See the Light', 'New Horizons', and 'Inundations' (which also featured music from leading international acts, including Josh Ritter, Ron Sexsmith, Lloyd Cole, Damien Rice, Mundy and The Frames). ‘Dancer’ deals with the challenge of artistic creation, set against the background of a memory of a dance, and the first fires of romantic encounter. It is part love song, part artistic reflection.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Sano Hill. What made you want to become a musician?
I come from an Irish musical family originally from Cavan (a small rural county in South Ulster) – my mother leads a traditional music group still there – so I was always surrounded by music growing up and have been writing my own songs as long as I can remember. I moved to Galway to go to University and have been here ever since and Galway has such a rich music and broader cultural scene – my music has grown out of that background. Though I wasn’t recording or performing for some time and when the pandemic arrived I went back into the studio and have put together my tracks for the forthcoming album. The light bulb moment as such was when I contributed to an indie album collection of local Galway artists – Origin: see the Light – and feedback from that was hugely encouraging, including some great write-ups in national music press.
Who helped you most in your musical journey?
My mother initially I suppose in growing up in that context. Latterly a DJ with Galway BayFM Jon Richards was very helpful and supportive to me and I'm hugely grateful to Jon for that. More recently I've been collaborating with a fantastic and hugely talented Irish producer Larry Hogan who has brought my songs in really unexpected but glorious directions.
Your latest release is 'Dancer'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
Dancer is a song that I've been working with for some time. In fact I've recorded several versions of it but the current release is the most developed and the one I'm happiest with. The song grew out of the frustrations of trying to write a song and that's partly what's described in the opening but that moves into a reflection on a romantic encounter which provides the inspiration for the song that eventually emerges. So it's part love song, part artistic reflection.
What social issues are you most passionate about?
The environment – if we get that wrong, we’re all fucked.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest musical trends?
Reading online music publications mostly - and music shows on the radio.
Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
I'm not sure really - I suppose all of my songs regardless what the topic may be or the obvious narrative content are about overcoming on some level - and there is always that hope that no matter how difficult things may be, we can overcome.
What’s an average day like for you?
Well mostly the day job - I work in film education and I love what I do there also but as much as I can I also give time each day, usually in the evening to music, writing, trying out new ideas, sharing news regarding my releases - this is more and more an important part now of being an indie musician - getting the news out there and connecting with an audience.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans.
Initially a lot of that is via my social media channels and fans responding or commenting on my music or my music videos and then ideally connecting with fans at gigs. I'm hugely grateful to anyone that my music connects with and is willing to contribute and support me continuing to make music.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
I'm not sure I'm qualified yet as a very new and emerging artist to advise anyone else what they should or shouldn't do in terms of music. I suppose the piece of advice I have received and that perhaps works across most areas of creativity and particularly music is to write from what you know, that is, in approaching songwriting, draw on where possible experiences and/or emotions that are real and authentic. It will be evident in the songs themselves, and audiences are more likely to connect with a song, particularly performances (whether live or recorded) that have this integrity. That's what I try to do in my songwriting and performances.
What are your plans for the future?
Right now finalising the production on my debut album - 'If Not Now, When?' - which is well underway. As well as the extraordinary Larry Hogan, I'm also fortunate to have input from a fantastic engineer and mixer Braddon Williams who has previously worked with some of the top artists in the world (including Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Mark Ronson, Il Divo, Wyclef Jean, Billy Joel, Kelly Clarkson, P Diddy and The Script) and is bringing all that experience into the final mastering process.