Project Description

Q & A

with

SAN SCOUT 

San Scout

Electronic pop duo SAN SCOUT are blessing our ears with their eery, minimalistic synth filled tracks. They have recently released the video for their latest single ‘Familiar’ which is linked below. Jonny and Freddy took some time out of their busy London lifestyle to answer a few questions.

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You guys met through a mutual friend and first collaborated to make “Bitter Blue”. Was San Scout all systems go from this point on?

F – Kind of, I actually left Jon to go to Australia with my friend right after we finished a Bitter Blue. Jon put it out while I was away. It was doing alright by the time I was back and I pretty much had no choice but to continue, now I’m stuck with him.

J – Thanking Motez for the link-up. I remember seeing Fred making a hack of the loop pedal at an open mic night and thought the vocal was so good – it wasn’t until a couple of years after that, that we accidentally started San Scout.

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How did you come up with the name San Scout?

F – Here we go…

J – We put the first songs out under ‘Boy Scout’ – pretty soon, we were told by the scouting association that the name was a no-go. We then thought to try and evolve it whilst keeping it 3 letters & thought San felt good. We now spend most of our time being misheard as Sand Scout.

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Who has been your biggest musical influences? I get major ‘The Japanese House’ vibes from you guys!

F – Ohh that’s nice! She writes amazing songs, Jon sent me “Still” while I was away and I remember being blown away by it, production and all. Love Matt Corby, Bon Iver, and many sonic influences like James Blake, Ben Khan, Aquilo.

J – Jai Paul and the Dixie Chicks.

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Do you think your influences are reflective in your music?

F – Been listening to lots of Phoebe Bridgers at the moment in the hope that it will rub off on me and I could write some lyrics that make sense. She has a beautiful, effortless way with words.

J – I hope so. I feel like influences come through and you achieve a unique sound by unsuccessfully trying to create something similar.

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You recently released an unofficial remix of Dua Lipa’s IDGAF – which I love by the way. Are remixes something you enjoy doing and will continue to do?

F – Thanks! Yeah we’ve been remixing our own singles mainly (Off-Cuts) cause it’s a chance to have a bit of fun without the pressure of releasing a ‘single’. We normally destroy my vocal, which is very therapeutic for me.

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You just released your video for Familiar. How did the idea for this come about?

F – It was done by a guy in Poland called Lukasz Pytlik that we met through the Internet, we thought his reel had a cool aesthetic. He made kind of a lyric video vs dreamy warping video which hopefully sucks you into a different world or something.

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San Scout.

What does your songwriting process look like, seeing as there are two of you?

J – It started off sending files back and forth on email. I’d make a beat, Fred would send it back some harmony and melodies and we’d get in together to finish it. Sometimes it still happens like that but now we’re in a ‘studio’ a lot more so we often start and end stuff together now.

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What’s your favourite lyric that you’ve ever written?

F – I think I’m honestly equally sick of most of them but maybe “If you need me I’ll be quietly losing my shit”, just because I know everyone has those moments. Lyrics are definitely one to work on though.

J – I think Fred nailed ‘Stationary’ – its hard to write an honest piece without it sounding lame & I think he got it right on that one.

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What’s your favourite lyric someone else has ever written?

J – The whole of Runaway by Matt Corby. Especially the bit at the end where he’s like ‘she don’t give a shit about you’. The words aren’t new but the delivery is so intense.

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Do you have any plans for touring? Specifically Australia? (I know it’s a long shot).

J – Definitely starting to think about that now. Planning to do a few shows in the east coast of the US in May. If you’ll have us we’d love to play in Australia.  

F – Would love to, make some noise for us! If we did I imagine it would be next year.

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What song would you recommend for someone listening to San Scout for the first time ever (I’m torn between In/Balance and Familiar)?

J – Maybe the latest stuff like Familiar as its closer to what we’re up to now. Maybe the next one?!

F – Any but Render..

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San Scout

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There’s not a lot of information about you guys online. What’s something that you think your fans should know about you?

F – We’ve lost the plot and might be starting a heavy rock band soon, so watch out for that.  

J – Fred is an incredible chef & is definitely in the wrong line of work. Although it does take him 4hrs to make breakfast. He is also one of the best Jazz guitarists I’ve ever heard.

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Tell me a bit about Mary from WhatsApp?

J – This killed me. Fred has her on WhatsApp and sends all of our demo links to her so that he can easily open them and listen with headphones. She’s been reading the messages and we hope she’s digging the demos. Feedback would be nice.

F – I would love to but she’s never replied… we think she might play bass.

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You both recently saw Bon Iver in concert – which song did you cry to the most?

F – “Woods” was one of the best things I’ve ever seen/heard.

J – Yeh Woods as an opener was so intense.

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Lastly, just for fun – what was your first or most embarrassing email?

J – Not too sure. But I’m pretty sure if we both had linkedin pages, they’d be pretty embarrassing. We send some pretty odd emails on the regular.

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Follow SAN SCOUT

Website          Facebook          Soundcloud          Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – JB