Q&A: Saint Sappho
Saint Sappho—Glasgow duo Zoe and Tammy—pull back the curtain on the vibe and vision behind their dreamy new single Floating which releases 11th April. In this Q&A, they dive into the spark that lit the song, how their bond fuels the writing, and what it's like creating from the comfort (and chaos) of their home studio. From trippy visuals to bold production moves, their sound is as hands-on as it gets. With an album dropping later this year and festival dates lined up, Saint Sappho are just getting started.
Check out our Q&A below:
1. Your new single Floating feels both intimate and expansive, capturing a deep sense of longing and nostalgia. What was the spark behind this song—was there a particular moment, memory, or feeling that set it in motion?
Zoe: I was listening through old demos and there was a melody Tammy had been singing along with the piano, she heard me playing it out loud and said "Wait. There's something in that" at first I didn't agree but she was persistent. That melody eventually became the verse of Floating. The moment we began writing the verse was what set the whole song in motion, and everything afterwards naturally progressed into a full song.
2. You record, mix, and produce all your music in your home studio. How does working in such a personal space impact the creative process? Do you ever find the freedom overwhelming, or does it push you to take more risks sonically?
Zoe: It's my preference to write and record in this way because I'm able to access my emotions easily when I'm in my personal space.
Tammy: We experiment a lot in the production but sometimes we add far too much and have to go back to the original. It's easy to get carried away adding lots of layers, so any sonic risks are trial and error - sometimes they stay, sometimes they don't.
3. As both a couple and a creative duo how does your relationship influence the way you write and shape songs?
Tammy: We have a very strong connection, which also spans to a sonic wavelength. It helps that we have the same taste in music, which is quite niche.
Zoe: I think it helps that we have more than just a musical connection because we have an almost intuitive understanding of what each other is trying to say, which really helps when you can't put it into words.
4. Glasgow has such a rich musical history, are there any local bands or artists you particularly admire, or who inspire you to keep pushing your own sound forward?
Both: We're really big fans of Texas, who are from Glasgow - Sharleen Spiteri is very inspirational.
5. You’ve previously shot your own music videos, giving you full creative control over your visual storytelling. How does that process feed back into your music?
Tammy: I start by listening to the song and usually after I've heard it, I will get ideas for the video that relate to the song. Sometimes, they can be abstract but use symbolism. The visuals correlate to our overall image.
6. Your sound draws heavily from 90s Britpop and Trip-hop, but with a modern, deeply personal edge. If you could sit down with one artist from that era to talk about music and songwriting, who would it be and why?
Zoe: I'm a big fan of Jonny Greenwood's (Radiohead) experimental guitar playing and sounds, so would love to learn about that.
Tammy: Unkle. I love the drum sounds.
7. With Floating out in the world, what’s next for Saint Sappho in 2025? Can fans expect more releases, live shows, or any surprises along the way?
Both: We have an album in the works, which will be out late this year. We're playing at Stag and Dagger festival on 3rd May this year, venue TBC but if you follow our instagram we post all updates on there.