Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with Aisling from Bristol band Sans Froid to find out more…
Who is in the band, how did you meet, where are you from and how did you come up with the name?
Aisling Rhiannon – Vox / Keys / Songwriting
Toby Green – Vox / Drums / Songwriting
Charlie Barnes – Guitar / Songwriting
Ben Harris – Bass / Songwriting
We’ve have been good pals for around a decade now. It all started back in 2018 when Toby and I began jamming together after relocating to Leeds, joined shortly after by Charlie. Those were great times when we lucked out with a basement music space in our house, where we cooked up our early two-piece tracks.
We dipped our toes into the live scene with a few gigs and soon felt the itch to beef up our sound with some low-end vibes. That’s when our dear pal Freddie Ricketts jumped in, and we morphed into a trio. As a trio, we played some awesome shows, including a memorable set at ArcTanGent festival in 2019. Just as we were getting into the groove of recording our first singles with Charlie on guitar, the pandemic hit.
Despite the chaos, we bunkered down and got creative. Living together helped—we managed to whip up music videos for our singles “”Roadworks”” and “”Lachrymose”” during those uncertain times. It was also when we decided to shake things up a bit and rebrand to reflect our evolving sound and lineup.
Fast forward to 2021, we were slowly emerging from the pandemic haze, bursting with new song ideas. Charlie and I made the call to head back to Bristol to be closer to family, and Toby soon followed suit. By early 2022, Freddie decided to pursue other projects. Later that year we welcomed our good friend Ben Harris from Ogives Big Band / Anta as our new bassist.
With Ben on board, we dove headfirst into writing and producing our debut album. And now, here we are as Sans Froid, as of February 2024. The most recent switch was prompted by the constant mix-ups with a metal band in France sharing our old name. It was getting tiresome clarifying that we’re not the metal guys, so Sans Froid it is, and we’re pretty chuffed with it.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Our musical tastes are quite eclectic, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of artists such as Bjork, Radiohead, and The Mars Volta.
However, if we had to pinpoint one collective influence that has had a significant impact on our sound, it would undoubtedly be Deerhoof.
How would you describe your sound?
Kate Bush / Bjork / The Mars Volta / Deerhoof – Hybrid.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
Our latest release is ‘The Still’.
‘The Still’ mirrors the narrative of our debut album Hello, Boil Brain, delving into the profound anxiety stemming from emerging out of a world-altering pandemic and the daunting prospect of reintegrating into a frenetic ‘normal’ society. It reflects the realisation that social interaction, once second nature to many, now feels overwhelming, and the rapid pace of life no longer aligns comfortably. The yearning to linger in a state of slow existence amidst the chaos.
What’s your local music scene like?
We’re incredibly fortunate here in Bristol to be surrounded by a vibrant community of talented musicians, promoters, venues, and dedicated gig attendees. The city is currently buzzing with an exciting wave of innovative artists producing some of the most captivating sounds imaginable. It’s truly exhilarating to be part of this scene alongside incredible acts like PEACH, Sugar Horse, No Violet, Lawi Anywar, Masca, HAAL, Muncle, TSPSI, Skin Failure, and Benzo Queen, just to name a few among the many.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
We’ve been non-stop, organizing three tours across the UK and Europe, lining up two new singles, getting ready for ArcTanGent festival, and gearing up for the release of our album. On top of all that, we’re already deep into the creative process for our next record.
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
This may come as a surprise, but Deerhoof would be an outrageous dream collab for us!
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
None as of yet, but we have three tours lined up this year so WATCH THIS SPACE!
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
That we exist 🙂
You can find out more about Sans Froid via Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify or YouTube.
HOME 