It’s True What They Say is the debut EP from Edinburgh-based, husband-and-wife duo Sarah/Shaun, aka Sarah and Shaun McLachlan, which is set for release via Edinburgh label Hobbes Music on Friday 12th April.
“Sarah and I both have a love for nostalgia,” explains Shaun. “We watched that amazing old 80’s Sci-Fi, (John) Carpenter movie, Starman, a few months back. Myself and my brother David used to watch it all the time. We must have been, roughly, 5-7 at the time. I remember loving the movie but the end, you know, with the beautiful, atmospheric, synth ending, I love that particular moment the most - best part of the movie, you know, when he goes home… It’s heartbreaking but stunning, all the same. It’s the music that moves you most… It did when I was 5 and it still does to this day. It must have had some form of a (much deeper) impact on me.”
The duo narrates stories across themes of love, hope, family, friends, dreams and sadness - the good that comes with the bad in everyday life, not just on a personal scale but within a community as well.
“Starbed is the first song I have ever written and just came out of the blue really, with Shaun playing a melody and me singing along,” says Sarah. “It’s simple and just about two people in love. Love songs are always the best songs, after all… Music has been a big part of my life from a young age. I was unwillingly dragged to piano and violin lessons, which I’m thankful for now! I’d say the first band I really became obsessed with growing up were the Beatles, and on the back of that a lot of 60s music and fashion. From then on, I had a love for music.”
“Shaun definitely opened my ears to a lot of sounds and got me thinking about soundtracks and all the noises that can be made,” she goes on. “We love just spending time experimenting in the house with instruments, pedals etc and Ali is a real magician to work with, too…”
The recordings took place over the summers of 2022 and 2023, with fellow Delta Mainline member Ali Chisholm (aka Jaguar Eyes) plus long-term friend and collaborator Gavin King. Further collaboration then came via the ‘net from the (international) likes of Chris Dixie Darley (Father John Misty), Darren Coghill (Neon Waltz) and Daniel Land (The Modern Painters), among others (see a full list of credits below).
Both Sarah and Shaun have a love for uber-soundtrack producers such as Hanz Zimmer, Max Richter, Cliff Martinez plus live acts such as Beach House, Spiritualized, M83, Suicide, Moby and OMD (to name a few). Shaun also credits the work of Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein (from Survive) on the Stranger Things score… “Even a moment in a movie, whether it be just 30 seconds during a particular scene, it grips you,” he says. But there’s something much deeper at play as well. “Music is a healer,” he goes on, “and I write from my own perspective but more so for others. Once I've done my bit, it doesn't belong to me any longer. It belongs to whoever wants it or needs it.”
The result is a cinematic, synth-wavey, dream poppy and downright beguilingly beautiful body of work. And they’re just getting started…
RADIO:
"Woozy pop" NEMONE (playing Dust Tears on BBC 6Music, Mary Anne Hobbs Show)
"I like that and the whole EP is really good. I could hear that (Dust Tears) in a TV show or film soundtrack" VIC GALLOWAY (BBC Radio Scotland)
”Dealing in nostalgia, no bad thing at all, great to play that (Dust Tears) for you” RODDY HART (BBC Radio Scotland)
“Rather good!” IAIN ANDERSON (BBC Radio Scotland)
"Loving this, cool vibes to bring us into the warmer months. Will be playing tracks on the show in the coming weeks" PAT BENSBERG (Phonic FM, Exeter)
"Included on current Postcards From The Underground playlist" (Cumbernauld FM, UK; Indie X FM, USA)
REVIEWS/FEATURES etc:
"An accomplished and dreamy debut" THE SKINNY
www.theskinny.co.uk/music/new-music/scottish-new-music-round-up-april-2024
“Starbed is folky, flavoured by pedal steel, cello, and brass. Dust Tears, in stark contrast, is a mini synth-pop rave epic. Part Bicep. Part Human League. Keep Your Eyes Closed summons a mood that’s romantic, but also dark and potentially doomed – like David Lynch’s Twin Peaks meets Cliff Martinez’s Drive score. My pick though is It’s True What They Say, whose interwoven jangle and picking recalls New Order’s more introspective moments (Love Vigilantes, Love Less… ). Drums crashing, cathartic. Guitar raising dramatic arcs. Its chorus a rush, like a reprise of Pains Of Being Pure Of Heart’s ‘Higher Than The Stars’.” BAN BAN TON TON
banbantonton.com/2024/03/28/chocolate-milk-and-brandy-march-2024/
"Dust Tears sees them sharing vocal duties over a synth foundation reminiscent of Moby’s Go" Artist Of The Week THE SCOTSMAN 24.3.24
www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/under-the-radar-sarahshaun-4564809
"Musically, sonically, the duo and their contributing partners touch upon Beach House, Ladytron, The Sundays, The Mining Co., The Field Mice, Sparklehorse, Duke Spirit and Cocteau Twins. From moseying across the open plains to following vapour trials; from electronica to starry strings arranged dreamy indie; and from the filmic to the personal; the scale is epic and feels nostalgic. I’m looking forward to more from this duo over the coming year: if only to see how expansive and enveloped in twinkled space dust it can get." MONOLITH COCKTAIL
read full review:
monolithcocktail.com/2024/04/17/the-digest-for-april-2024-new-music-in-brief-the-social-playlist-archives/
"Beautifully formed dream-pop here from this husband-and-wife duo. There's an astral projection at play which, combined with the detailed instrumentation and skilled song writing; makes for a highly evocative listen which has already got plenty of tastemakers, DJs and producers clawing after copies. Don't sleep!" PICCADILLY RECORDS, Manchester
OTHER FEEDBACK:
“Music sounds killer! Real emotion” DAVID HOLMES
"Nice one, very David Lynch meets Euro dream pop" YOUTH
“Oh, this is lovely!” SEAN JOHNSTON (A Love From Outer Space)
"It’s totally my cup of tea with milk and biscuit" BRENT RADEMAKER (Beachwood Sparks/GospelBeach)
"Beautiful, ecstatic electronica! Short and to the point" KEVIN BALES (Spiritualized, Julian Cope, Soulsavers, BE)
"Makes me wanna sit in the sun and sip an Arnold Palmer" CHRIS DIXIE DARLEY (Father John Misty)
“Really beautiful - Cocteau Twins / Spiritualized vibes but has its own thing going on, too - worth checking out!”
JULIAN CORRIE (Franz Ferdinand, Miaoux Miaoux)
“I’m enjoying it” TIM BRINKHURST AKA LONDON (IKLAN, Young Fathers)
‘Sounded nice on a sunny day, makes me think of Twin Peaks, nice moods’ HAMILTON (Sea Power)
