Embarking on a musical journey often demands unwavering determination, courage, and an unshakable belief in oneself. Such is the story of St. Lundi, a rising star in the music industry whose trajectory from the serene shores of Hayling Island to the bustling streets of London and beyond is nothing short of inspiring.
Born out of a fervent desire to pursue his passion for music, St. Lundi’s odyssey began with a pivotal decision—to leave behind the familiarity of his hometown and venture into the unknown territory of London. It was a leap of faith fueled by a deep-seated conviction that his dreams were waiting for him beyond the horizon.
In this exclusive interview, St. Lundi graciously takes us on a retrospective journey, unraveling the defining moments that have shaped his remarkable career. From the exhilarating rush of excitement on the eve of his departure to the challenges and triumphs that punctuated his path, each anecdote offers a glimpse into the soul of an artist driven by unwavering resolve and boundless creativity.
Through his introspective lyrics and soul-stirring melodies, St. Lundi invites listeners to join him on a voyage of self-discovery and resilience. With his upcoming debut album, “The Island,” serving as a poignant tribute to his roots and aspirations, St. Lundi stands poised to leave an indelible mark on the music landscape.
Join us as we delve into the heart of St. Lundi’s musical odyssey—a journey marked by courage, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to following one’s heart.
St. Lundi, your journey from leaving your hometown of Hayling Island to pursuing your dreams in London is truly inspiring. Can you take us back to that moment when you decided to make the move? What was going through your mind at the time?
Yeah! Well, it was a pretty crazy time for me and something I look back on like, “Wow… I actually did that.” I remember just getting this feeling shoot through me telling me I needed to go to London and to do it straight away. I think I knew deep down if I hesitated it might never happen, and people may try to talk me out of it. Once I’d made the choice and started heading towards the train station it was about 9 pm, so quite a daunting time to head to such a huge city! But I just remember feeling so excited about what the next couple of weeks would bring!
Can you share more about the emotions you experienced on the day you left home to pursue your dream? What were some of the challenges you faced during that time, and how did you overcome them?
I was in a pretty low point in my life when I made the choice. I was in what felt like a dead-end job, all I wanted to do was make music, and I just felt that there was more for me in this world than being in my hometown. From everything I’d experienced growing up, there was definitely some healing that I needed to do and although this was actually really done until 2023, I was finally free by being in London! I didn’t have to walk the same streets, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I could do anything.
“Following My Heart” encapsulates the optimism and courage of starting anew. Could you share with us the inspiration behind this song and what it means to you personally?
‘Following My Heart’ was written about everything we’ve just spoken about! It’s about feeling like there’s more for me to give and for the world to give back! I wrote it about the moment I jumped on the train and the pure excitement that was running through me. It was like this feeling of ‘you’re meant to be right here, right now doing this’ and that gives so much comfort and confidence.
Your advice to “never forget your dreams” is incredibly powerful. Have there been moments in your journey where you felt discouraged or doubted yourself? How did you stay committed to your vision during those times?
Yes, 100%. These days never really go away as there are always new challenges to face. One moment that stands out is about 3 months before I signed my first record deal! I had debt stacking up from not earning enough to live in London and pursue a music career; some people from home were saying I needed to return home and get “a real job,” and it was all really getting to me. In one last effort to stay, I sold my favourite and most precious guitar that my dad bought me for Christmas about 10 years earlier. It gave me another few months to try and make it all work and then by a miracle, Propeller Recordings got in touch! It felt like the stars were aligning.
Collaborating with Brad Mair and Matt James on “Following My Heart” must have been an enriching experience. Can you tell us about the creative process behind the song and how it evolved from concept to completion?
Well, I wrote the song with Brad back in 2021. He has the most incredible home/studio/creative space out in the mountains above Barcelona. We were driving back from the supermarket, and the sun was shining. I’d not really written too many positive songs before then but we decided we should try! The idea came to write it about the moment I left home and just like that lyrics came flying out and we caught them in the room. I was sat at the piano and Brad on the guitar with a singular microphone between us, we hit record and the main body of the song that you hear today was born! Working with Matt James on the album was such a fun experience. He done such a great job of seeing my vision and working to make it a reality with me.
Your upcoming debut album, “The Island,” is said to be autobiographical, with each song reflecting pivotal moments in your life. How does “Following My Heart” fit into the narrative of your album, and what can listeners expect from the rest of the tracks?
Yeah, that’s very much true! It ended up being fully autobiographical and all about my life, with my actually returning home with the album! ‘The Island’ is the title of the album and refers to my hometown, Hayling Island. ‘Following My Heart’ is almost the start to the story which is followed by songs that speak about falling in love for the first time, my relationship with my parents, my siblings, and my own personal journey.
Your recent trip to New York seems like a significant milestone in your career. How did that experience influence your music and creative vision?
It was amazing and a lifelong dream! Ever since I was young, I’ve dreamt of running away to New York and playing music, using specifically a Gibson SJ-200 acoustic, after seeing it in a movie when I was a child. I’d never been to the States, and it was definitely my number 1 destination to visit. As I was getting ready to go, my management over there said, “Let’s hire a guitar for you to play here! Is there any specific model you’d like?” A Gibson SJ200! It was incredibly inspiring, and I can’t wait to go back.
The video for “Following My Heart” captures many highlights from your journey, including playing headline shows and jamming with a violinist in Paris. What was your favorite moment while filming the video, and how do you hope it will inspire viewers?
Ahh, that’s a difficult question! It’s hard to pinpoint a singular moment in time but I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced every single moment you see! The violinist in Paris is an incredibly talented artist called Lucie Paradis! We had never met before but just 30 minutes after meeting she managed to get me to do something I’d never done before and was always so scared to do, just walk in front of a large group of people out in public and start playing! Busking essentially. I felt so nervous to do it but since it’s become something I do a lot! That is a moment I will never forget! We played to hundreds of people at the top of Sacre Coeur with the sun setting over Paris behind us! Tom Knibbs who filmed the video is also someone I feel so lucky to be working with! He’s managed to capture these moments of happiness and pursuit of a dream and tell a story with them visually. I’ve been telling the story to various people for years about what it is I do and dream to do! I feel like this video does exactly that in 4 minutes!
With over 120 million streams and collaborations with artists like Kygo and Seeb, you’ve achieved remarkable success in your career. What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting out on their own journeys?
My biggest advice is always to go out and learn everything you can, but always use that knowledge to be the best version of yourself! It’s so easy to follow trends and to get lost in what is already successful and follow that. Everyone is different and different is amazing! You might have something to hear that we’ve never heard before so keep true to yourself and never stop pursuing the dream.
Reflecting on your journey so far, what have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced, and how have they shaped you as an artist?
I think one of my biggest challenges to date is something I still am being challenged by day on day. Social Media. It’s something that has now got a huge impact on the music industry and something I never planned to be really good at as my focus was writing and performing songs! It took a while to get to the mindset I have now towards it, but I’m not going to stop until I find my pocket of the world on there!
Looking back on your journey, is there anything you would have done differently? What lessons have you learned along the way that you would like to share with others?
I would have started working on my social media years earlier! As boring as it may sound. In the year of my debut album, it’s my biggest worry and the thing I’m working the hardest on right now! But I also feel as though the songs I wrote that have led me to this debut album may not have been written if I did focus on social media that early. I’m a true believer of ‘everything happens exactly as it’s meant to’.
“Following My Heart” carries a message of never giving up on your dreams. Can you share a moment in your career when you faced doubt or adversity, and how did you overcome it?
Coming out of lockdown I started to experience anxiety pretty heavily. It lasted for a couple of years before I learned how to manage it. In one of those years, I played 80 shows all across Europe to crowds of up to 6,000 people. At the very same time, I couldn’t even go to meet a close friend at the pub due to my anxiety really affecting me. I really had to throw myself on stage each night and live through my worst nightmares to see them for what they really were and take away their power! I started therapy in January 2023 and coming out of that, I started to complete the album!
Looking ahead, what are your hopes and aspirations for the future, both personally and professionally?
I dream of travelling the world playing this album! Hearing songs on the radio and hearing stories from people that they have connected with. It was a lifelong dream to finish this album and the fact it healed me in so many ways felt so full circle. I hope it can help some others out there! I’m already writing album 2 so I am excited to see where that takes me creatively!
