SXSW Interviews 2025: Saint Blonde

One week away people. Just one more short week away from the chaos and joy that comes with the annual SXSW festival in Austin, TX. Though one can never be truly prepared for everything, we hope you fans have at least had some time to peruse the band list to find something that sparks your interest. Hopefully another interview set, this time from Texas natives Saint Blonde, will further spark some musical interest in your ear holes. Check out the band’s responses along with tunes and show times after the jump. This one had some really great and thoughtful responses.

ATH: What’s the name of the band/group? Where are you from?

Saint Blonde – Denton, TX.

ATH: Give us a short pitch for your band, describing sound, ambiance or whatever you feel like.

I think our new stuff SOUNDS how the 1991 surf bank robbery film Point Break FEELS. Or more eloquently put by our lovely team:
Saint Blonde pairs anthemic and hard-hitting alternative rock with infectious, ear worm melodies and quick witted hooks to create a sound that beams with personality and youthful energy.

ATH: What was your most recent release? Any planned releases for 2025?

Our most recent release was our single “Prowl” at the tail end of last year. We are currently working on a record, and have a ton of tracks we will be slowly releasing from said record this year!

ATH: SXSW is often called a sort of initiation which can lead to increased exposure. As a band, why did you choose to play the festival? What’s your aim for the week?

As a Texas band it’s always been a hope to take the trip down the road (a few hours) and play the festival. We’ve seen a lot of our favorite acts play showcases and get a jump start from SXSW and we’re stoked to get a turn to be in the soup of it. Our goal would probably just be to meet all kinds of folks and see a lot of really great other bands play while we have access. AND hopefully catch that new Tim Robinson movie.

ATH: What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus?

We’ve all been jamming that record by Mannequin Pussy because it absolutely fuckin rips. But I’ll include everyone’s individual answers because we all differ a little bit on this;

 

Hunter: Mannequin Pussy, Amyl & The Sniffers, The Kinks, Heavy Heavy Low Low
Kyle: Wine Lips, The Marias, Mannequin Pussy
Tre: Medium Build, Lola Young, Willow Smith
Tyler: Yeah yeah yeahs, JPEGMAFIA, blondshell
Lox: Glasjaw, doechii, Coheed and Cambria, peeling flesh, SAINt JHN

ATH: If you’ve had a chance to check out any of the artists coming into town for the festival – Anyone you are excited about trying to see during the week?

There’s so many rippers. Dope lemon is rad. Black Polish. All the sick bands we’re playing with on the BMG showcase. Flor, Luvis, Cardinals, Gloin to name some of the rad bands we’ve checked out. We’re gonna be in Austin the entire week and hope to catch as many as we can when we aren’t playing.

ATH: Disregarding the constructs of space, time, and availability – If you could construct a power group of artists to make the supreme, all powerful super group of a band, who would be in it? Pick as many members as you like. Who is on vocals, drums, guitar, etc.? All submissions will be judged with a winner awarded during the festival.

John, Paul, Ringo, George. Already been done.

But for real probably something like this:
Vocals: Freddie Mercury
Bass: Este Haim (Best living bass face in all of time and space) (Doesn’t play with a pick like a poser like our bass player Kyle)
Guitar 1: Prince
Guitar 2: PRINCE
Guitar 3: A THIRD clone of PRINCE
Drums: Karen Carpenter (ABSOLUTE RIIIIPPPERR)
Keys and Harmonies: Michael Motherfuckin’ Mcdonald
Percussion AND ALSO VOCALS: Phil Collins
If we can have Iggy pop just kinda run around stage as a member that’s sick too.

This band dunks on every band in history, probably.

ATH: Any road survival or SXSW survival tips for newbie bands? What are some must haves to survive the road?

I think getting along with each other overrides any practical advice here. We’ve been playing music for so long together and still manage to not really bicker or fight, which can be a surprising feat. That and to delegate roles. Bigger bands have crews, merch folks, etc. but when you’re still growing you don’t really get any of those luxuries, and all those things that need to be done outside of just playing live can get grating and overwhelming if you don’t tackle them well together. ALSO HAVING SOME GOOD SHOWER SHOES TO KEEP THEM DAWGS CLEAN IN STRANGE PLACES.

ATH: What concerns do you have as a band or a human or both? In regards to music, the world, really…where does your mind tend to wander these days? How do you refocus?

Talk about a loaded question for the current times. The earth is being actively killed by misinformation and the wealthy – while the rest of us are fighting each other. That can feel pretty bleak. Music for us is just an escape and release from the resulting static that seems to hang in the air. We hope to be privileged enough to do it for a living one day, but people being able to escape in that same way with our music as we do is more important to us. I don’t know if refocus would be what I’d call it. You just kinda get up, control what you can, keep it moving, and love the people around you.

Thanks again lads for making the time for this! Here are some show dates for Saint Blonde:

3/9 – 4pm – Gorton’s Shrimp & Cocktail Event at SXSW – The Parlor Room
3/14 – 12am – BMG’s Frontline Label Showcase – Parish (showcase begins 3/13)
3/15 – 11pm – SXSW Official Showcase – The Velveeta Room