The C2C Sit Down with Liam St. John
Last summer, Liam St. John blew us away with his set at The Long Road that we immediately headed to Camden just days later to see his headline date too. Just over 6 months later we are ready for Liam’s return, as this time he head to Europe for the C2C Festival with dates in Rotterdam, Berlin and London. It may have only been six months since he was here, however for Liam it certainly has been a very busy six months and we caught up with him to find out more as he prepares to bring The Man of the North campaign to a close in the coming weeks
How are you?
I'm great, how are you doing?
Yeah, thanks for taking the time today.
Of course. Thanks for having me.
We are literally just a couple of days from you heading back this way now, which is quite cool.
Yeah, man, we can't wait. We love it so much out in the UK. Honestly, one of my favourite shows ever was in Camden, so I'm excited to be back. It was amazing.
You're back for the C2C Festival round this time with Berlin, Rotterdam and London this time round.
Yeah, excited, to head back to Germany. We did Cologne, Germany last year and then we're doing Rotterdam as well in the Netherlands. Excited to be back.
We’ll be heading over to Berlin for that weekend as well, so we get a double dose! You've got 5 sets in Berlin across those two days. Is that quite nice to get to kind of play so much in the same spot?
Yeah, we're excited. I'm bringing, a trio, my bass player and my aux player, and we've been rehearsing putting different versions of the songs together and it's gonna be fun. There's some that are just solo writing rounds, which will be fun to play new songs that I haven't played yet too.
Are you looking forward to that mix of a couple of the festival stages? You've got the stages in the arena in Berlin as well, and then you get the Bluebird Cafe set, so you're really getting the full experience.
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I love all the settings. The intimate cafe setting is always really special, but nothing's better than ripping it on the stage with your boys.
As you return to Europe again, are you trying to make it almost a second base for yourself?
I love London so much. We're trying to come back in June for some more dates out there. It literally is one of those cities that I feel like I could live in, so I'm just happy to be back. Like I said, my favourite show ever was Camden Town and I'm sure there'll be better shows in my career, but that'll always be an amazing memory. I will say Aberdeenshire in northern Scotland was probably the most beautiful landscape I've ever seen!
I have to ask about filming at Findlater Castle, because when you release that video, so many people were almost giving you a bit of grief thinking it was faking and you didn't really do it. Just look on Google Maps as to how remote this place is! How cool was it to firstly, lug all your stuff up there, and then actually do those shots?
Yeah, we were there for 11 hours and really earned every shot that we got. We had to, like you said, it was probably a quarter of a mile, you know, down the ravine and up the cliff, just carrying bass drums, and amps, and everything, and just the whole operation. Every time we shoot something like this, we just feel so fortunate and lucky. We got a sunny day on the coast of Scotland somehow and everything worked. We powered it by a generator and it was just super magical and probably one of the coolest things I've ever done, honestly. I'm just so happy with how it turned out, especially the Man of the North. Everybody had to work in unison to make that thing come to life and we had a lot of people helping from Scotland, like the drone operator was a local guy, and he did an amazing job fighting with the wind! There was a lot of things that could have gone wrong, but everybody worked together to make it super special.
How are the nerves when you're filming this and going for that kind of one-take effect?
Well, that's kind of my MO, what I've always hung my hat on is just being raw and authentic - even in the studio, I'll try go record live and in one take. When you're in Mother Nature, there's so many things that can go wrong while you're recording and so that's the most nerve-wracking thing! The wind or the cameraman not getting the shot, or something like that, and the band gets a good take, but they don't get it on the camera. Those things are nerve-wracking, but when you're out there, you're just
performing to no one, but just looking at the most beautiful landscape you've ever seen, so it's just a magical experience.
Are you starting to get nervous that you might not be able to top the location with the next one, or have you got a good location scouting team going?
Yeah, we actually just filmed one in, Alaska. There were helicopters involved and a massive mountainous glacier, so I think that you'll be impressed with this one as well. It was stunning, and very cold.
What have you started!
Yeah, exactly.
How are you?
I'm great, how are you doing?
Yeah, thanks for taking the time today.
Of course. Thanks for having me.
We are literally just a couple of days from you heading back this way now, which is quite cool.
Yeah, man, we can't wait. We love it so much out in the UK. Honestly, one of my favourite shows ever was in Camden, so I'm excited to be back. It was amazing.
You're back for the C2C Festival round this time with Berlin, Rotterdam and London this time round.
Yeah, excited, to head back to Germany. We did Cologne, Germany last year and then we're doing Rotterdam as well in the Netherlands. Excited to be back.
We’ll be heading over to Berlin for that weekend as well, so we get a double dose! You've got 5 sets in Berlin across those two days. Is that quite nice to get to kind of play so much in the same spot?
Yeah, we're excited. I'm bringing, a trio, my bass player and my aux player, and we've been rehearsing putting different versions of the songs together and it's gonna be fun. There's some that are just solo writing rounds, which will be fun to play new songs that I haven't played yet too.
Are you looking forward to that mix of a couple of the festival stages? You've got the stages in the arena in Berlin as well, and then you get the Bluebird Cafe set, so you're really getting the full experience.
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I love all the settings. The intimate cafe setting is always really special, but nothing's better than ripping it on the stage with your boys.
As you return to Europe again, are you trying to make it almost a second base for yourself?
I love London so much. We're trying to come back in June for some more dates out there. It literally is one of those cities that I feel like I could live in, so I'm just happy to be back. Like I said, my favourite show ever was Camden Town and I'm sure there'll be better shows in my career, but that'll always be an amazing memory. I will say Aberdeenshire in northern Scotland was probably the most beautiful landscape I've ever seen!
I have to ask about filming at Findlater Castle, because when you release that video, so many people were almost giving you a bit of grief thinking it was faking and you didn't really do it. Just look on Google Maps as to how remote this place is! How cool was it to firstly, lug all your stuff up there, and then actually do those shots?
Yeah, we were there for 11 hours and really earned every shot that we got. We had to, like you said, it was probably a quarter of a mile, you know, down the ravine and up the cliff, just carrying bass drums, and amps, and everything, and just the whole operation. Every time we shoot something like this, we just feel so fortunate and lucky. We got a sunny day on the coast of Scotland somehow and everything worked. We powered it by a generator and it was just super magical and probably one of the coolest things I've ever done, honestly. I'm just so happy with how it turned out, especially the Man of the North. Everybody had to work in unison to make that thing come to life and we had a lot of people helping from Scotland, like the drone operator was a local guy, and he did an amazing job fighting with the wind! There was a lot of things that could have gone wrong, but everybody worked together to make it super special.
How are the nerves when you're filming this and going for that kind of one-take effect?
Well, that's kind of my MO, what I've always hung my hat on is just being raw and authentic - even in the studio, I'll try go record live and in one take. When you're in Mother Nature, there's so many things that can go wrong while you're recording and so that's the most nerve-wracking thing! The wind or the cameraman not getting the shot, or something like that, and the band gets a good take, but they don't get it on the camera. Those things are nerve-wracking, but when you're out there, you're just
performing to no one, but just looking at the most beautiful landscape you've ever seen, so it's just a magical experience.
Are you starting to get nervous that you might not be able to top the location with the next one, or have you got a good location scouting team going?
Yeah, we actually just filmed one in, Alaska. There were helicopters involved and a massive mountainous glacier, so I think that you'll be impressed with this one as well. It was stunning, and very cold.
What have you started!
Yeah, exactly.
Since you were last here, so much has gone on, even though it's only been since August. You've done your Opry debut, had the Man of the North tour and released the album. It must feel like it's been years since you've been here, but it's only 7, 8 months.
I know! That kind of kicked it all off, the Man of the North campaign we started in Dublin and then made our way down to England. Those were some of the funnest memories we had on tour, and it was just the perfect way to kick it off. It does feel like ages ago, and I'm just bitten at the chomp to get back.
Does it feel a bit full circle, starting here and effectively bookending it here as well?
Yeah, absolutely. I feel like we'll keep coming back as long and as often as we can.
It was November you did the Opry, that's obviously a bucket list for every artist. How did it feel getting to stand on that stage for the first time and make your debut; and walk through the artist entrance, knowing you're the artist?
Yeah, you know, I've got to watch some of my best friends make their debut. Watch them stand in that circle, and it's always been really special. To see them do that, yeah, it was one of the coolest and best days of my life, and as an artist, you spend most of your career just with your head down, and nose to the grindstone, just working as hard as you possibly can, but every once in a while, there's a moment where you get to look up and see the fruit of all your hard work. That's one of those moments that you literally just look up into that amphitheatre of people, and realise where you're standing, and everybody I loved was there to support me, and so it was just one of those undeniable moments where you've put the work in and made the right steps.
Releasing Man of the North, I love the fact you go all out with the albums, because it's 16 tracks on it. Is it important to take your time on these projects and have that 2 years between the releases.
Yeah, I mean, I do love writing songs, I'm literally always writing and I have a backlog of hundreds of songs that I want to see the light of day sometime, but they all have to make sense in a story. The Man to the North album was curated to tell a specific story. Dipped in Bleach, was 2021, so it really took 4 years of mining for the songs that made sense, and once I wrote Man of the North in 2023, that's when I basically finished the album. Then, it was about getting to work on the pre-production and production side of things which took a couple years.
Is it almost a bit of a relief when it finally comes out, as you say, if you're thinking, actually, it's a four-year project, whereas for most people, they see it as a year, 18 months’ worth of releases.
Yeah, absolutely. When you spend so much time on something, and are meticulous with every piece of the project, it's a huge relief, and you
just exhale to get it out, and I think it clears up space to continue writing and creating more songs and stuff.
I know! That kind of kicked it all off, the Man of the North campaign we started in Dublin and then made our way down to England. Those were some of the funnest memories we had on tour, and it was just the perfect way to kick it off. It does feel like ages ago, and I'm just bitten at the chomp to get back.
Does it feel a bit full circle, starting here and effectively bookending it here as well?
Yeah, absolutely. I feel like we'll keep coming back as long and as often as we can.
It was November you did the Opry, that's obviously a bucket list for every artist. How did it feel getting to stand on that stage for the first time and make your debut; and walk through the artist entrance, knowing you're the artist?
Yeah, you know, I've got to watch some of my best friends make their debut. Watch them stand in that circle, and it's always been really special. To see them do that, yeah, it was one of the coolest and best days of my life, and as an artist, you spend most of your career just with your head down, and nose to the grindstone, just working as hard as you possibly can, but every once in a while, there's a moment where you get to look up and see the fruit of all your hard work. That's one of those moments that you literally just look up into that amphitheatre of people, and realise where you're standing, and everybody I loved was there to support me, and so it was just one of those undeniable moments where you've put the work in and made the right steps.
Releasing Man of the North, I love the fact you go all out with the albums, because it's 16 tracks on it. Is it important to take your time on these projects and have that 2 years between the releases.
Yeah, I mean, I do love writing songs, I'm literally always writing and I have a backlog of hundreds of songs that I want to see the light of day sometime, but they all have to make sense in a story. The Man to the North album was curated to tell a specific story. Dipped in Bleach, was 2021, so it really took 4 years of mining for the songs that made sense, and once I wrote Man of the North in 2023, that's when I basically finished the album. Then, it was about getting to work on the pre-production and production side of things which took a couple years.
Is it almost a bit of a relief when it finally comes out, as you say, if you're thinking, actually, it's a four-year project, whereas for most people, they see it as a year, 18 months’ worth of releases.
Yeah, absolutely. When you spend so much time on something, and are meticulous with every piece of the project, it's a huge relief, and you
just exhale to get it out, and I think it clears up space to continue writing and creating more songs and stuff.
From your last two albums alone, there's been 33 tracks on them! Does it get harder and harder to pick a set list and just pick out those songs that you're wanting to play live, and knowing want fans to hear?
It honestly is difficult. The boys and I have fun every night and we'll change the set list a little. We have the songs that we know people would love to hear, but sometimes we'll take requests, and play it on the spot, and sometimes we'll just throw in an old banger in there that we haven't played in a while, just to keep it fresh for us, and to keep the setlist fresh for everybody else. There has though been some songs requested that I don't even remember how to play them! I just have to be honest on stage, and I'm like, wow, sorry. I can't even remember the lyrics! For the most part, we spent a lot of time rehearsing just in case somebody throws a throwback in there. Sometimes during my set, I'll play acoustic, give the guys a rest, and that's where I'll bring some old songs back in too.
With the songwriter rounds this time, that must give you a bit of a chance for those old songs and new songs as well.
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I've been writing a ton during the Man of the North campaign and since then, so I'm excited to share some new ones, but it's been so long with Stripped Back and All The Bad Things albums, that's some of those songs feel brand new to me, so I might have to pull them out.
I think you're going to love the songwriter rounds at both Berlin and London and we can’t wait to see you there.
We had such a good time last time and we're super grateful to be, invited out, and we’re gonna have a lot of fun.
C2C: Country to Country will take place in Berlin and Rotterdam over the weekend of on Friday 6th to Sunday 8th March where you can full more details about the German event on their WEBSITE or on INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK.
The event then heads to the UK for the following weekend where London, Belfast and Glasgow will host the showpiece of the country music calendar which you can more details and ticket information on their WEBSITE and socials (FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM & TIKTOK)
It honestly is difficult. The boys and I have fun every night and we'll change the set list a little. We have the songs that we know people would love to hear, but sometimes we'll take requests, and play it on the spot, and sometimes we'll just throw in an old banger in there that we haven't played in a while, just to keep it fresh for us, and to keep the setlist fresh for everybody else. There has though been some songs requested that I don't even remember how to play them! I just have to be honest on stage, and I'm like, wow, sorry. I can't even remember the lyrics! For the most part, we spent a lot of time rehearsing just in case somebody throws a throwback in there. Sometimes during my set, I'll play acoustic, give the guys a rest, and that's where I'll bring some old songs back in too.
With the songwriter rounds this time, that must give you a bit of a chance for those old songs and new songs as well.
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I've been writing a ton during the Man of the North campaign and since then, so I'm excited to share some new ones, but it's been so long with Stripped Back and All The Bad Things albums, that's some of those songs feel brand new to me, so I might have to pull them out.
I think you're going to love the songwriter rounds at both Berlin and London and we can’t wait to see you there.
We had such a good time last time and we're super grateful to be, invited out, and we’re gonna have a lot of fun.
C2C: Country to Country will take place in Berlin and Rotterdam over the weekend of on Friday 6th to Sunday 8th March where you can full more details about the German event on their WEBSITE or on INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK.
The event then heads to the UK for the following weekend where London, Belfast and Glasgow will host the showpiece of the country music calendar which you can more details and ticket information on their WEBSITE and socials (FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM & TIKTOK)
