SARAH METH: “I AM ALWAYS MOST INSPIRED BY MY RELATIONSHIPS WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE”

Off the back of her recently released EP — Steps — VOCAL GIRLS chat to Sarah Meth about lyricism, touring with the inimitable King Krule, and writing music on the toilet!

Trigger warning: this article contains reference to sexual assault

Last month, London-based songwriter, producer, and vocalist Sarah Meth released her latest EP, Steps - a collection of six tracks that revisit her personal experiences with sexual trauma. Having supported King Krule on his recent tour, this new chapter for Sarah Meth sees her walking into the world in utter honesty, introducing herself to a whole new audience, and finding catharsis in creativity.

Photo Credit: Issy Ayla

What is your earliest memory of making music?

On the toilet!

When and how did Steps first come into fruition?

I made the bones of the EP and the shorter songs over the last two years as a not-quite-finished-project. Then this year was spent in Louis [O’Bryen]’s studio finishing the remaining songs off with him until they felt in a good place.

Which song was the first track you decided to include on the EP, and why did it feel right to do so?

I think when I wrote the song ‘Steps’, I had an ‘a-ha’ moment of thinking: “This represents what I’m doing and what I want to be doing more of… so maybe I should just go for it.”

Is there a particular song of yours that you’d want people to listen to first? If so, why?

Maybe the EP’s intro, so they think I’m some crazy garage beat artist!

Who would you consider your main influences at the moment and how do they feed into your music?

The people in my life; I am always most inspired by my relationships with different people and the dynamics around me. Also in a musical sense, my Spotify Wrapped was a fair amount of my mates, because I love what a lot of them do or we’re into similar stuff. 

I’ve been listening to some of the songs on Arto Lindsey’s album Encyclopaedia of Arto lately. I really like how there’s a merge of different genres and styles on it, but it keeps a consistent sound that is distinctly him. It’s probably a lot to do with how many different people and bands he’s played with and been a part of over the years… [He’s] able to really perfect a multifaceted sound on an album. I want to find my own way of doing that for when the time comes to make my album.

Lyrically, Steps is particularly vulnerable and delves into some of your personal experiences and trauma. Was writing the EP a source of catharsis for you – a coping mechanism of sorts?

It’s always been my way of coping with and managing things. I wasn’t able to admit or talk about some of the things that happened to me for a long time. Then once I could accept it, in some ways it almost became the opposite, where it dictated so many corners of my life. It was like I constantly had these goggles on where I would see most things through the eyes of those assaults. I remember tearing up because some guy's leg was touching mine on the train once. It’s mad how such tiny things reflect our state of mind. 

I think sometimes having some separation and detachment from the headspace you were in when you made a certain project can help you look at things less internally when preparing to share it with the world… It felt like a good release of that stuff, but equally a reminder that I am in a different phase of life now. Some of that stuff still crops up sneakily sometimes in ways I wouldn’t expect, but that’s okay, and on the whole I feel I have grown into a person that can enjoy and feel safe in my body and self again. I don’t think I would be ready for this project to come out if I didn’t.

Photo Credit: Milly Cope

You’ve said before that your recording and producing process has typically been independent and that this project was originally going to be the same - why did you choose to bring Louis O’Bryen on board with production, and what did having a collaborator add to this project for you?

Our friend Marco (who’s also in Sorry and runs the label Slowdance) suggested Louis as someone to do the finishing bits with and put us in touch. I’d met Louis before at a show of mine where we said we’d get in the studio sometime. I think I actually drunkenly cussed him out that night but luckily he found it funny. Then a few months later, I sent him the EP half done and we hit it off pretty instantly in the studio. I have loved his music since I was a teenager so I felt really lucky to have him on board and become such a lovely friend. 

How do you go about translating the intimacy of your EP to performing in front of an audience, especially one that may not be familiar with you or your work?

I think doing our recent tour with King Krule really pushed that out of me. It was my first tour ever, so quite a jump from the crowds I’m used to performing in front of – but it soon became second nature. The crowds were super lovely and receptive. I think I became a lot more confident performing more versatile stuff outside [the realm of] ‘sad guitar girl’ ... I can whip my hair now!

Out of all the things you have planned for the rest of 2023, what are you most looking forward to?

Seeing my family for my birthday and Christmas. My dad and step mum live outside the UK now, so I’ve learnt to really appreciate the time that we’re all together, with my brother too. I’m gonna hang out with my mum on my birthday then go bowling with some friends. Then next year I’m excited to be releasing more music and videos. 

Steps is out now via Slow Dance Recordings.