With his atmospheric new EP, “Saloon”, showcasing a chiselled and compelling approach, Mitch Sanders talks love, family, and honesty.
There’s a natural comparison to the likes of new Mercury Prize victor Sam Fender – with the anthemic, gut-busting alt rock emotionality – but Mitch Sanders is an artist shaped from his own vision. He’s from West England cultural hotspot Bristol, first picking up attention as a musician while moonlighting as a bricklayer. Now, he’s hotly-tipped, with a voice that melts within his meditative sonic backdrops – and certainly no stranger to a catching chorus.
New EP “Saloon” is Sanders at his best. It’s vulnerable, vivacious, deeply impactful throughout. There’s two key standouts: previous single “Heaven Is Ours”, a slow-burning, achingly potent mid track-list moment, and the closer, “Mum”. The latter is an especially significant release for Sanders, featuring fellow Bristolian and trip hop royalty Tricky. It’s “an emotional one for Tricky and I,” the artist says, “having come from the same area in Bristol this has made it even more real and close to our hearts, the man’s a genius!”
Wonderland speak with Sanders about the hardest thing about showing how you feel, the craziest thing he’s done for love, and what this new EP means to him.
Listen to “Saloon”…
Read the interview…
Where did you find your passion for music?
I was always singing around the house as a kid. I got addicted to a David Bowie tune when I was about 5. It was “The Man Who Sold The World”… not the Bowie version, sadly, but soon after, I was given a record of his from my grandad. I couldn’t stop playing it. Music quickly overtook everything else in my life after that – I wasn’t as interested in football, WWE or trying to be Bruce Lee any more.
Define the essence of your artistry as a time of year, an emotion, and a dish?
The time of year – Autumn
Emotion – Hope
Dish – Shepherd’s Pie
What’s the best moment of your career so far?
Getting my grandad to do Tai Chi in one of my videos has to be up there. It sounds a bit obvious but simply walking away from the studio feeling proud of what I’ve just made is always a feeling I strive for. You can’t really top that. Being asked to support Kings Of Leon was a personal highlight as that band meant so much to me as a kid.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for love?
Took two buses to the other side of town when I was about 14 to give a girl I liked a Christmas present and massively got given the elbow. Challenging two buses back that was!
What’s the hardest thing about vulnerability?
Noticing that it’s in you.. it’s in everyone. But personally, where I grew up, there was no time to address it.. but I am now. That’s the hardest thing.
Why is your new EP called “Saloon”?
It’s a nostalgic tip of the hat to my grandad. He got me into western movies when I was young, and we’d always pretend we were in a “Saloon” in his kitchen. He would always pour me a shot of apple juice and we’d pretend it was whisky and imagine we were in a John Wayne film. It’s just paying homage to that memory.
What themes does the EP explore?
Love, togetherness, hope & escapism.
What influenced the work sonically?
More bands for this EP. My mate got me into a band called Low, I was listening to them a lot during the making of this EP. Also, a lot of Car Seat Headrest, Fleetwood Mac and Arcade Fire.
What does the EP mean to you?
It means being brave & honest. Moving on from past mistakes and learning to be better.
What else is to come, this year and beyond?
Going into the new year with a lot of touring under my belt and putting out more music, keep getting better live & in the studio. The goal is to keep pushing forward and meeting some amazing people along the way.
