"Saint Etienne reflects on endurance, studio technology, and recording their last album, International, stating they never grew so popular that they developed animosity or drifted apart"
In the world of electronic and indie music, the announcement of Saint Etienne's final album has sent waves of excitement and nostalgia. Titled "International," this thirteenth album from the iconic band is set to release on the 5th of September.
The band's creative process for "International" has evolved over the years, involving sharing ideas, discussing them, and passing the creative baton between its members. This approach has resulted in a unique album that, while made at the same time as their previous album "The Night," has a distinctly different sonic flavor.
Pete Wiggs, a key member of Saint Etienne, uses a variety of tools to bring his ideas to life. He employs text-to-voice apps, as well as plugins such as Spectrasonics Omnisphere, CableGuys Shaperbox, and dearVR PRO 2 from Dear Reality.
The album features collaborations with several notable artists and producers. Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers co-wrote and produced the track "Glad," featuring Jez Williams from Doves. Tim Powell of Xenomania co-wrote and produced "Dancing Heart" and "He’s Gone." Nick Heyward, who duets with Sarah Cracknell on the track "The Go Betweens," is another collaborator. Erol Alkan, co-wrote and produced "Sweet Melodies," while Paul Hartnoll of Orbital co-wrote and produced "Take Me To The Pilot." Vince Clarke co-wrote "Two Lovers," and Janet Planet of Confidence Man duets on "Brand New Me."
The album was recorded between Gus Bousfield's studio in Bradford, Tim Powell's studio in Hove, and Pete's home studio. The recording of their debut album, "Foxbase Alpha," was done using a Korg M1, an EMU Emax HD with 512kb of RAM, an Emax Grand Piano with built-in chorus, an Akai S1000, Sequential Circuits Pro One, and Yamaha Rev-7 reverb, among other items owned by their in-house engineer.
The closing track on "International," titled "Last Time," is a tear-jerker that reflects on the band's three-and-a-half-decade journey. It was the final song recorded for the album and was written using Loopcloud samples.
Despite this being their final album together, the band's music always ends up sounding like Saint Etienne through their shared aesthetic and Sarah Cracknell's distinctive voice. The band's advice for other bands and creators is to set themselves a brief and find inventive ways to make things happen, like creating a sonic equivalent of "we're going to an Italian restaurant and it's pizza and pasta, and that's it."
After the release of "International" and live gigs, the band plans to focus on their friendship, a key factor in their longevity. They've managed to stay together for so long due to the variety of projects they've worked on and their close bond.
Saint Etienne started in 1990 with Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs, and Sarah Cracknell. Sarah joined the band for their third single "Nothing Can Stop Us" and the 1991 album "Foxbase Alpha," which propelled the band into the limelight.
As we eagerly await the release of "International," it's clear that Saint Etienne's final album is a testament to their enduring influence and creativity in the world of music.
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coordinating their creative efforts, Saint Etienne's final album, "International", is not only a nostalgic trip for fans of electronic and indie music but also a showcase of their ability to maintain a unique sound while collaborating with various artists, such as Tom Rowlands, Nick Heyward, Erol Alkan, and Janet Planet.
In the future, with the release of "International" and live performances behind them, the band looks forward to nurturing their relationships and focusing on their friendship, a crucial aspect of their longevity in the world of entertainment and music.
