Robert George Saull's musical career began at the tender age of six,
dreaming of being a Britpop icon and composing the pop masterpiece
'Cliff Edge' with his brother. The song never really took off, but it
did sow a seed of creativity and pop iconography that continues to this day.
Raised in the less than idyllic Shropshire countryside, bombarded by
bouncing tunes (from genres like “Rockâ€, “Pop†and “Folkâ€), RGS honed
his craft with a battered old electric guitar and an out of tune piano.
He grew as a writer by discovering the great poetic lyricists Morrissey,
Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. So far, so MOR. Things changed when he
moved to Sheffield and formed a “mates' band†with some “matesâ€. The
band was called Patricians, and their idiosyncratic indie-pop gave rise
to some fiery live shows, drenched in wit, passion and energy. After two
years of local acclaim, RGS felt it was time to spread his wings.
However, as was becoming typical of his search for deeper understanding,
instead of taking this success to the next level, he decided to
withdraw, and took a job in the remote French countryside town of
Munster, near the German border. His tastes grew ever more eclectic,
drawing in avant-garde folk, modern classical and ambient electronica,
as well as discovering the remarkable works of Scott Walker, Jacques
Brel, and Georges Brassens. His time in France was not just a musical
awakening for RGS, it was also the setting for his literary
enlightenment, discovering the classics of modernist literature. These
new influences lead to a prolific songwriting period.
The songs written in France are an odd mixture. They are pastoral yet
sparse, literate yet homely, sensitive and sardonic, echoing folk styles
of old, throwing them through a distorted megaphone and draping them
over the edges of pop culture. During the Christmas of 2007, he wrote
and recorded a Christmas EP titled 'Rhubarb Grumble', or, 'We Were All
There When the First Snowflake Fell'. It was given out as a gift to
friends, and featured tracks like 'Romantic Comedy', 'La Valse D’Alex
Turner' and fan favourite 'Joanna'.
Upon returning to Sheffield, RGS recruited a backing band (The Purgatory
Players) to give his songs the added weight they have always been crying
out for. He can currently be seen performing regular solo gigs in
Sheffield and Leeds, as well as his native Shropshire, as well as
occasional full band live shows. His shows are categorised with
off-kilter vocal delivery, sparse and dirty guitar parts, and engaging
discussions with audience members, drawing heavily on religious motifs
and folk tales.
A songwriter who is relentlessly detached from the norm but driven in
his artistic vision, RGS seeks a special niche in an increasingly
saturated musical world.
For bookings contact: bookings [at] interestingrecords.co.uk
