Growing up in a small, tight-knit community on the English Channel outpost of Hayling Island can have its limits when pursuing music.
Singer-songwriter St. Lundi was no exception to this and was eager to experience the fast-paced London environment. Hayling Island described in his single ‘Following My Heart’ as “a town where everybody’s growing old”. This track encapsulates the pivotal moment St. Lundi took the plunge to move to London with little to nothing, but a huge dream of becoming a successful musician at 21 years old. The captivating musical elements in this track include the use of guitar, piano and a light percussion which complements his acoustic and uplifting style. This risk allowed St. Lundi to fulfil his dream of a career in London, surpass 120 million streams and collaborate with notable artists, such as Kygo and Seeb.
Now having dropped his new album ‘The Island’ we dig in the his musical journey so far, his collaborations with Kygo and Seeb and his back up career of working in a Special Education schools.
Your new song, “Following My Heart,” beautifully encapsulates the excitement and sense of adventure that comes with taking risks. In what ways do you think this song contrasts with or complements other tracks in your discography, particularly with your latest album The Island?
It follows the first track on the album, which is called “The Island (Intro).” That track is much slower and darker-sounding, but it’s in the same key. So when the first track finishes, this one seamlessly follows, creating a euphoric moment of transition into a very upbeat song. I love the contrast this brings and how it helps open up the album, as well as all of my live sets. The excitement is something I really wanted to capture within the song.
Is there a particular lyric or musical element that stands out to you? If so, what makes that part significant to you?
One of my favorite lines from “Follow My Heart” is: “I’m sitting on a train with nothing but a bag of clothes, and I know I should be scared, but I feel electrical.” This really sums up how I felt at that exact moment when I was sitting on the train to London, and none of my friends or family knew I was going. I was aware it was a pretty crazy thing to do at the time, but I felt so excited about the journey I was about to embark on.
Your music journey has been incredibly inspiring, with impressive collaborations with artists such as Kygo and Seeb, and touring with Take That. Were there any pivotal moments where following your heart or taking risks led to unexpected successes or personal achievements?
Yes, 100%. I’m such a big believer in taking that leap and taking risks to find something special on the other side. The way I got invited to play some shows with Take That was by messaging each member of the band on Instagram. I knew there was every chance they would never even see the messages, but Howard saw it, followed me back, and months later gave me the opportunity. There wasn’t much risk involved other than the possibility that the band might see the message and not care, but it was such an amazing feeling to get a response from Howard and see how kind he was in supporting me the way he did. It was, and always will be, one of the biggest moments of my career.
You’ve had the rewarding experience of working with children with learning difficulties. Has this experience influenced or inspired your personal growth or music? And did you ever share your music with the children, and if so, what were their reactions?
Yes, working in SEN schools really opened my eyes to a new understanding of communication. I try my best to make my songs accessible to everyone and easily understood. It also taught me to communicate with my body as well as my words, which I think helps me interact and engage with crowds. I never shared my music with the children, but some of them found it online, and I never heard the end of it, haha.
You recently embarked on a trip to the United States. What originally sparked your desire to visit New York? Was there a film, song, or moment that inspired it? And once you finally achieved this dream, did the city live up to your expectations?
I’ve always had the dream of going to America, and for me, it felt like a magnet pulling me toward it. I watched a movie when I was younger where someone was busking in New York, playing a Gibson J200. When I heard I was heading to New York and my manager out there asked me which guitar we’d like to hire, there was no question—it had to be the J200. I was living my dream.
Having moved away from Hayling Island, how has your relationship with the place shifted over time? Has the distance changed your perspective in any way?
In the past couple of years, my relationship with Hayling Island has only grown stronger, and I love to spend as much time there as possible. I know one day I will move back home, but I have more work to do until that day comes. Sometimes you need to step back from something to realize how amazing it is.
Since your big move to London, how did you combat loneliness in the early stages of moving away from home? And what advice do you have for others wanting to do the same?
When I first moved to London, I had nowhere to live and would feel quite lonely during the days, but I played gigs at night. About a week into my journey, a group of Australians took me in, and I ended up living with them for two years in this big shared house in Shepherd’s Bush. There were 20 of us living there, so it was pretty impossible to feel lonely.
You described your new album, The Island, as deeply autobiographical, with each song representing a significant chapter in your life. Were there any experiences that were particularly challenging to translate into music?
The song “Different Houses” took me two years to finish writing. It’s about the day my parents told us they were separating, and I had to go into therapy to finish it the right way. I found that every time I was writing it, my parents ended up sounding like villains, which is not what I wanted. I’m so happy with how the song ended up.
Can you walk us through the writing process for your album The Island? Did you follow a specific creative method or routine?
I didn’t realize I was writing an album all about my life until near the very end. I knew I wanted the songs to come from an honest place after writing my song “Nights Like This” and seeing how it connected with people. I wanted this album to feel tied together, with a strong concept and storyline, so I worked hard to figure out what that was. Then, I had a lightbulb moment when I realized it was all about my life. From that moment, I could shape it into what it is today.
It’s clear that music has always played a massive part in your life. If you hadn’t pursued music as a career, what other path might you have taken?
That’s a difficult one for me. I struggle to see a life without music, but after working in SEN schools, I believe that if I wasn’t able to have a career in music, I would go back to that. I really enjoyed every day and the people I spent my time with.
You’ve experienced some truly unforgettable moments during your live shows, such as a marriage proposal. Do these moments influence the way you approach creating music to connect with your audience?
Yes, definitely. After having people propose at shows and hearing that my songs are being used for first dances, it has really helped me understand the kind of music that connects with people. That doesn’t mean I’ll only make that kind of music, but it allows me to reflect on why certain songs resonate and to try to create more for people to share such precious memories to.
What do you hope your listeners will feel or take away from your music, especially with your latest album? Is there a particular emotion you want to evoke through these tracks?
My biggest dream for this album is that people can listen to it, hear my story, and potentially find their own within it—whether they heal from broken relationships, celebrate the people they love, or tell the people they love that they love them. I learned a lot about myself through writing these songs, and I really hope I can share that experience with others.
St. Lundi’s debut album The Island is out now.
Interview Issy Dimauro
Photography Jack Alexander
