Saintseneca is an American folk rock band from Columbus, Ohio,[1] that was formed in 2007 by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Zac Little.[2] The current band is made of Zac Little, Caeleigh Featherstone, Jessi Bream, and Andy Cook.[3] They are known for their diverse range of instrumentation in both their recordings, as well as in their live performances. The band have released three EPs and four albums Last (2011), Dark Arc (2014), Such Things (2015), and Pillar of Na (2018).[3][4] The band utilizes a wide range of acoustic instrumentation (balalaika, mandolin, dulcimer, bağlama, floor percussion) with more contemporary elements such as synthesizers and electric guitars.[5]
Saintseneca | |
|---|---|
 Zac from Saintseneca | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| Genres | Folk rock, alternative rock, indie rock, indie folk |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | ANTI-, Mama Bird Recording Co. |
| Members | Zac Little Caeleigh Featherstone Andy Cooke Jessi Bream |
| Past members | Steva Jacobs Richard Wehrenberg Jr Grace Chang Luke Smith Jon Washington Maryn Jones Mathew O’Conke |
| Website | saintseneca |
Biography
editThe band originated during Zac Little’s teenage years in a small Appalachian town in Noble County, Ohio. Little relocated to the city of Columbus, Ohio with original members Steva Jacobs and Luke Smith to attend Ohio State University.[3] Throughout his college years in Columbus, Little accumulated and learned a number of instruments: banjo, mandolin, dulcimer and more, and upon meeting violinist Grace Chang, Saintseneca’s initial live line-up coalesced in the fall of 2008.[6] This line-up toured regionally around the East Coast and released the four-track Saintseneca EP on September 1, 2009.[7] This was followed with the release of the five track Grey Flag EP on March 30, 2010.[8]
This line-up continued to tour the Midwest and East Coast throughout 2010 and early 2011 while work began on their first full-length album, Last which was released by Mama Bird Recording Co. on August 16, 2011. The initial line-up amicably dissolved on August 31, 2011 after the album release show for Last in Columbus.[3]
Since releasing their debut album, the band has brought Steve Ciolek (The Sidekicks), Maryn Jones (All Dogs), Jon Meador, and Matt O’Conke (also of Tin Armor) into the fold.[3] The band signed to ANTI- records in the spring of 2013. After 10 months of home recording with Glenn Davis (of Way Yes) the band entered ARC Studios in Omaha, Nebraska to begin work with producer Mike Mogis on their second full-length album Dark Arc.[5] The first single from that album, “Uppercutter”, was released on October 15, 2013.[9] On April 1, 2014 Saintseneca released their second full-length album, Dark Arc.[9]
On October 9, 2015 the band released their third album, Such Things.[4] On December 9, 2016, the band released The Mallwalker EP. In 2017, the band released three digital singles, "Book Of The Dead On Sale",[10] "Moon Barks At The Dog",[11] and "Wandering Star".[12] In anticipation of the August 31, 2018 album Pillar of Na,[13] the song "Frostbiter" was released on June 19, 2018 and "Ladder to the Sun" was released on July 16 of the same year. Both were accompanied by music videos.[14][15] NPR described Saintseneca as unexpected and innovative in a review following these releases.[16]
Saintseneca released a new single "All You've Got Is Everyone" on February 3, 2021, through Anti Records. Zac Little described the song as: "I wanted to write a Christmas song, but it didn't feel right this time. So I thought about old new years and made a Valentine. I miss everyone, and I figure a song is kind of like a little tent. A place in space and time - you can pack it up and take it with you, get it out when you need it, and I like to imagine being together inside."[17][18] In 2023 the band resume touring while continuing to work on new material together with Mike Mogis.[19]
Discography
edit| Year | Title | Release | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Saintseneca | EP | Paper Brigade |
| 2010 | Grey Flag | EP | Paper Brigade |
| 2011 | Last | LP | Mama Bird Recording Co. |
| 2014 | Dark Arc | LP | ANTI- |
| 2015 | Such Things | LP | ANTI- |
| 2016 | The Mallwalker | EP | ANTI- |
| 2018 | Pillar of Na | LP | ANTI- |
References
edit- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Saintseneca Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ "Interviews: Zac Little (Saintseneca)". Punk News. 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ^ a b c d e Mateer, Chris (2012-03-14). "Interview: The Story of Saintseneca, Told By Bandmember Zac Little". No Depression. Archived from the original on 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
- ^ a b DeVille, Chris (September 8, 2015). "Q&A: Saintseneca On Quantum Physics, Pop Structures, & Their Great New LP Such Things". stereogum.com. SpinMedia. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
- ^ a b "Out Of The Holler: Saintseneca's Driving Punk-Folk". NPR. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
- ^ Boilen, Bob (23 March 2014). "First Listen: Saintseneca, 'Dark Arc'". NPR. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
- ^ "Saintseneca - Saintseneca". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
- ^ "Saintseneca - Grey Flag". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
- ^ a b Oliphant, Joel (2013-10-08). "Saintseneca, "Uppercutter"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
- ^ ANTI-. "Saintseneca Unveil New Track "Book Of The Dead On Sale" | News | Anti Records". Anti Records. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ ANTI-. "Saintseneca Release New Song "Moon Barks At The Dog" | News | Anti Records". Anti Records. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ "The Wandering Star, by Saintseneca". Saintseneca. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
- ^ ANTI-. "Saintseneca Announce New Album 'Pillar Of Na' | News | Anti Records". Anti Records. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
- ^ ANTI- Records (2018-07-11), Saintseneca - "Frostbiter", retrieved 2018-07-20
- ^ ANTI-. "Saintseneca Share "Ladder to the Sun" Video | Press | Anti Records". Anti Records. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
- ^ "First Listen: Saintseneca, 'Pillar Of Na' | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News". WNYC. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- ^ "Saintseneca releases Reflective single, 'All You've Got Is Everyone'". Puddlegum. 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
- ^ Downing, Andy. "Daily Distraction: Listen to the new song from Saintseneca". Columbus Alive. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
- ^ Downing, Andy (2023-03-08). "A 'more grounded' Zac Little returns with new Saintseneca songs". Matter News. Retrieved 2024-08-12.