Sydney’s Sinclaire release their dreamy new single ‘I Needed You’ today, and we thought it was time you got to know the anti-pop quartet.
Only a couple years into making music together under the name Sinclaire, this indie collective are making massive waves in the music world, and have released their latest track ‘I Needed You’ today, and it emits pure emotion on top of dreamy instrumentation.
“On first listen, ‘I Needed You’ feels like a song written about a toxic, dysfunctional relationship between two people,” frontman Michael Cross explains.
“Reciting abusive encounters and unstable dependency on one another, it’s a detailed depiction of everything that would be unhealthy in a relationship. However, it’s actually a story about one person’s addiction to alcohol.
“For example, the lyric “the last time I held you I forgot every word that I said”, is really referring to the memory loss brought on by excessive drinking.”
Produced by Nat Sherwood at Sydney’s Love Hz Studios alongside mixing and mastering put on by Peter Holz, Michael Cross explains that the track was made amongst friends, causing the song to really come “full circle” as it was produced.
“Nat is also one of my oldest friends since high school, and used to help me produce all of my old metal/punk bands. So, to finally come full circle after learning about music on both sides – he’s now a pop/hip-hop producer – it’s been really satisfying to write the track we always had brewing in us.”
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With this brilliant new track, we chatted with frontman Michael Cross to find out everything you need to know about Sinclaire.
Check out ‘I Needed You’ by Sinclaire:
How did your artist name come about?
Ah. This is a good one. I was actually designing our old logo and looking through font names when I stumbled across a font called “Sinclaire”. I just really liked the word and I put it forward in our band “what’s our new name” poll… Somehow all of us agreed on the one option (extremely rare) and we rolled with it!
How would you describe your music to your grandma?
“Nan, it’s like Frank Sinatra but with an entirely different vocal style, these new age pianos that make beep-boop noises called ‘synthesisers’ and some lyrics that might make you severely concerned about me.”
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?
Let’s start with the new one… ‘I Needed You’ – s song which is disguised as a song about a toxic, dysfunctional relationship between two people but is actually referring to an unhealthy addiction to alcohol. I like to develop characters and scenarios in my lyric writing that reflect some aspects of my life but are blown out of proportion. I wouldn’t say I was ever at a point of alcoholism but I definitely was drinking more than I would like to admit.
And ‘Headspace’, my favourite song off our last EP Is a reflection on the impact that excessive self-critique can have on your personality, creativity and mental health – it gave me the opportunity to vocalise the consequences this cycle can create in an effort to realise that you need to appreciate the things you do and maintain a balance between the two perspectives. Meaning, I am my own harshest critic…
Check out ‘Headspace’ by Sinclaire:
What do you love about your hometown?
I’m from Coffs Harbour which is a surfy coastal town six-hours north of Sydney. It’s got some of the best beaches in Australia which was honestly something I never gave a shit about when I was younger, being a pale little emo boy… But when I go back to see my parents I really do appreciate how good they are. Also T H E B I G B A N A N A – jokes, it’s overrated.
Career highlight so far?
It’s very fresh, but for me it’s the new single. Writing is why i’m in a band and I feel like (aside from unreleased material) it’s the piece of work I am most proud of. It really lands the transition point between our EP and what’s to come I think.
Fave non-music hobby?
Gaming for sure! I am a massive Super Smash Bros. fan (1v1 me) and recently I have been back on the WoW classic bandwagon too. Trying to pretend I’m 14 again playing hours a day… If you want to add me I’m Alliance on Yojamba and my char is babygirlx. Simps allowed obvs, I’m looking for an online sugar daddy, lol.
What’s on your dream rider?
Whiskey. Beer. The saganaki from The Apollo in Sydney (go try it – it’s hella good). Mary’s burgs? Hmm. Literally any good food or just unlimited Uber Eats spend I guess? Ohhh, and definitely my own space to warm up in because I hate doing it in front of everyone.
Check out ‘Torn In Two’ by Sinclaire:
Dream music collaboration?
At the moment, writing a song with Joji probably. Maybe a track with Ruel or The Weeknd too.. All huge inspo for me.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Hopefully doing music as a real career, whether it’s producing or being an artist. That motivation to be relevant in the music world really is the one thing that’s stayed consistent throughout my years as an adult. Although don’t get me wrong, my day job as a content creator/social media manager at Gelato Messina (follow us, I’m very funny) is hella fun and if I had to choose something other than music it would be a creative roll like that.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Ironically I do not like karaoke. I feel like being a singer makes everyone expect you to nail every song and It makes me have so much anxiety about singing in front of my friends. Put me on the stage in front of 100,000 people and I’d honestly be less nervous.
If I had to choose a track though probably ‘Shooting Stars’ by the Bag Raiders – we used to cover it and it was always so fun.
Check out Sinclaire:
