Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and activist, Chris St. Hilaire, will independently release his debut EP titled Knowledge of Self on August 30, 2019. Knowledge of Self is St. Hilaire’s first release as a soloist, and it is an evolution from his work as a drummer and singer of the internationally acclaimed rock duo The London Souls. “The skills that I developed in The London Souls, and in many other musical projects, gave me the ability to support the song in whatever capacity was needed,” says St. Hilaire. “So, when I turned those support skills onto my own music, it opened up a whole new world of what was possible.”
“Up All Night,” the lead single from Knowledge of Self, was recorded at Easy Eye Sound studios in Nashville, Tennessee and produced by Dan Auerbach. “It was super fun to work with Dan [Auerbach] on ‘Up All Night,’” says St. Hilaire. “I had brought the song to him, and he didn’t really have any changes. The elements that he did add, though, on the production side, were really valuable, and brought the song to life in a way that I couldn’t have thought of. Working at Easy Eye Sound [studios] was such a huge privilege. Everything there sounds instantly good, and Dan’s great to work with.”
Chris St. Hilaire wrote and recorded Knowledge of Self in its entirety over a period of five years, playing all of the instruments on the release, further solidifying his artistry as a well-accomplished multi-instrumentalist. “On Knowledge of Self, the songs came out of a variety of experiences that affected me,” says St. Hilaire. “A few of the songs are dealing with some very heavy topics, and some of them are just love songs. I wanted it to be an accurate representation of some of the experiences that I went through. The story that I wanted to tell was my own self examination through experiences, whether it was through relationships, romantic or otherwise, and reflections on what I see in the world.”
Glide is thrilled to debut the Auerbach produced lead single”Up All Night” a throwback rocker that brandishes St. Hilaire’s incisive songwriter that effortlessly winks at Motown, classic rock and gospel. St. Hilaire shows a natural mastery of songwriting and pop formulas that remind ears of Beck and Leon Bridges.
“I was listening to a lot of George Harrison and old Gospel music, like The Hightower Brothers. Also, The Traveling Wilburys,” describes St. Hillaire. “The chord changes and the call and response melody really came out of that, while the production was very much a result of working at Dan’s [Auerbach] studio, Easy Eye Sound.”
Glide had the chance to talk recently with St. Hilaire about “Up All Night” and his journey to Knowledge of Self…
How did you end up hooking up with Dan Auerbach and what were you able to learn from his ear and work ethic?
It’s a long story but the music industry is a small world. I ended up tracking drums on his record Waiting on a Song and have since done many sessions with him at Easy Eye Sound. Probably the biggest thing I’ve learned working with him is how important it is to work quickly to capture the freshness of the moment. The best takes are always the first two or three. I learned to be ready to record at all times. Sometimes the “rehearsal” ends up being the take! Dan also has a great ear for overdubs and hooks and that’s inspiring to be around.
How much has your ear from your love of various music from past periods played in the part of your EP? “Aurelie” sounds very Motown while “I Got Love” sounds very early Slowhand-era Clapton.
I don’t think there is such a thing as being too derivative. The music that inspired this EP is all vastly different – from Hound Dog Taylor to Michael Jackson to T-Rex, but most people just lump it all together as “vintage” or “old school.” I just tried to make good music with a consistent, identifiable sound that sounds like things I like to listen to while also being me.
You mentioned that the skills you developed in The London Souls and in other musical projects gave you the ability to support songs in whatever capacity was needed. What do you feel your strongest musical skills are?
I feel my strongest musical skills in the studio are song arrangement, harmony writing, and overdubbing. I love using background vocals to tell a story or provide support and harmonic tension.
Knowledge of Self is described as an exploration and an expression of that. These songs are a part of five years of work as well. Did it take a while for you to achieve the full realization of yourself as an artist and songwriter? Also, do you have more songs for a full length in the near future?
As an artist and a songwriter, I am continuing to learn and develop. I don’t know if I will ever feel “fully realized” so much as a work in progress like the rest of humanity. Although it took a long time to get the confidence to make a statement like this EP, the music actually came quickly. I’ve always been a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I have several more albums of material, and I plan to keep releasing music. In fact, starting January 2020, I will be releasing one song per month.
Most people know you as the drummer for The London Souls, but they’ll be shocked to hear how strong you are as a lead vocalist and bandleader. Can you give an example of anyone that has stepped away from the kit to front their own project that gave you the ammunition to pull this off?
My favorite singing and band leading drummers were Buddy Miles and Levon Helm. Buddy sang and played guitar on all of his records. Stevie Wonder recorded a lot of his most famous vocal performances while playing drums. Karen Carpenter is a great example of someone who started on drums and then stepped out front. A modern example is Anthony Cole. He is one of the baddest musicians alive.
What is the future of The London Souls right now and can we expect anything new on that front?
Nothing new on The London Souls’ front. There are a lot of recordings that I’d love to see get released, but it’s not up to me. Tash [Neal] and I will always have a deep musical connection, so I am certain we’ll make music again.
Photos by Ethan Covey
