New Zealand-born, Gold Coast-based rapper Saint Lane shines brightly on his debut EP, If I Leave You In the Fire. This is an explosive debut, a collection of songs that proudly push genre boundaries and leave a strong impression on the listener.
If I Leave You In the Fire was written in the aftermath of the unexpected death of Saint Lane’s father. He describes this collection of songs as “a story of loss, grief and moving forward.”
“In 2019, my father died completely unexpectedly from acute pancreatitis with no previous health issues. I had less than an hour to make a decision for my dad to have a surgery to save his life, however he died during the surgery and I immediately felt a feeling beyond guilt,” he explained. “I felt solely responsible for the death of my dad and watching my family mourn. I believed I was to blame for our loss. The EP covers the stories and emotions of the most difficult time of my life.”
Grief is a personal and often private experience, but Saint Lane invites listeners in, encouraging them to process their own setbacks and pain along with him. The EP opener “The Fire” is a solid introduction, but the music hit the next level for me once the gospel choir kicked in, introducing the companion piece, “The Water.” This track is the EP standout for me, an uplifting work that explores the idea of rising up and moving forward with optimism.
I’ve raved about Queensland singer-songwriter Robbie Miller before, so I was thrilled to hear him collaborating on “When Did We Grow Up?” It’s got such a cool summery feel, which gives way to something darker as the tune fades out. The tonal shift seems a little jarring, but it reminds us that grief comes unexpectedly in waves. It also helps us easily move into the poignantly haunting fourth track, “The Family.” “Altar of the Heartless” is another sombre number, touching on addiction and depression. The weight is lifted with “Hickeys,” the optimistic closer which suggests better days ahead.
I love the way Saint Lane combines his rap with other influences. Adding the gospel choir, jazzy piano licks and horns, the breezy, folky strum of an acoustic guitar brings a new flavour to his sound. They make his rhymes so approachable from the first listen. I also appreciate his willingness to take risks. If I Leave You In the Fire is a ballsy debut, but that’s exactly what makes it so good.
Saint Lane is about to tour the country with Bootleg Rascal. Check him out at the following shows:
16 January 2021 – Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane
27 January 2021 – La La La’s, Wollongong
28 January 2021 – Kambri @ ANU, Canberra
29 January 2021 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
30 January 2021 – Rhythm Hut, Gosford
4 February 2021 – Pelly Bar, Frankston
5 February 2021 – Howler, Melbourne
6 February 2021 – Barwon Club, Geelong
7 February 2021 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave
13 February 2021 – The Northern, Byron Bay
5 March 2021 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
Image used with permission from TMRW Music Group