We recently connected with Saint of Pine Hills and have shared our conversation below.

Saint of, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

I started this solo project unexpectedly in 2019. My previous band was doing well but after rotating members multiple times, some of the them were moving away and it seemed like the band was coming to an end. I had already written more songs for the band so I didn’t want them to go to waste. After some pep talks from other musician friends, I decided to start my first solo music project after 10+ years of playing in bands.

My future was bright. Since I already had multiple contacts around the states, my first year of being a solo artist was going to be great. I played my first show and embarked on my first tour then the unexpected happened. March of 2020. My entire year of tours, festivals, and traveling was cancelled within a month.

I was devastated. In addition to world being on fire, my personal life was experiencing chaos. Needless to say, my first year as a solo artist did not go according to plan.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a singer/songwriter that has been playing music for over 15 years. I have been writing my own original music throughout that time and released several albums with different bands.

What sets me apart from other singer/songwriters is my passion for different styles of music. I have dedicated this music project to experimenting with genres of music that I am least familiar. Not only is it challenging, but it keeps my interest peaked when working on my music.

I just released my first EP, Saint of Pine Hills (self-titled) back in August 2022. It was a lot of work especially since it was my first time writing, recording, and producing as a solo artist. Without my friend Alejandro Cruz (Cabin 13) this EP would not have been complete.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is a huge asset to musicians but is definitely a chore to keep up to date. Videos, pictures, and graphics must be utilized in order to engage your audience and help expand it. Allowing space for interaction is also important as an artist because it allows the follower to connect to the art being presented. Advertising your social media accounts is another essential aspect of growing your fan base.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In our present day American consumer society, most people view art as a free commodity while spending all of their money on manufactured and mass produced goods. Without art our lives would be bleak and uninspiring. Great art is created every day but usually takes years and decades to be noticed and appreciated. For instance, painters like Van Gogh were not recognized as a genius artists until long after their deaths. Art must be appreciated when it is created. Art also must be taught at a young age. When art is valued then it will spur a thriving creative ecosystem.

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/saintofpinehills
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintofpinehills/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintofpinehills
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQe_QqZdjtUg6mxbQyQVpQg
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5SFhSsrPvOcq9YAM4JJu2P?si=ymXAOLJUSHmzJzqA_N_Ttw&nd=1 Bandcamp: https://saintofpinehills.bandcamp.com/ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/saintofpinehills TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@saintofpinehills

Image Credits
Thomas Pinyati, Katlin O’Carroll, Kyle Kleemichen, Edmund Hanson