Sebastian Schub: “I want to offer a place to people, to be and feel themselves.”

Even before your first EP, you received strong support from the media. How do you feel about it?

I'm really grateful. I think any support you receive for the music you make as an artist is amazing. You know, I came from a place of having no one to look ahead. I'm just really happy that people listen to it!  It's super exciting. I make music to share my passion. I don't make and I don't want to make music for myself. It's for everyone else, so when people like it, then that's the dream.

How do you imagine a son before creating it?

What a big question! [Laughs] I just have an idea or a feeling, and then, it comes out with a melody. I just have to commit to the emotion of it, you know? You have to kind of throw yourself into it, full, 100%, and then: lets create. I just need while looking back at my songs, to think: "Oh, this is how I felt at the time.”

What do you want to achieve with the audience?

I just need people to move, feel moved, be moved. I want to offer a place to people, to be and feel themselves. Feeling free for a second to just kind of connect with however they feel inside them, connect with emotions. That's really important to be able to let go for a second. That's why we go to shows, don't we? When we go, listen to an artist and we really love him, it's because the show creates an intense experience and we look around and everyone's having the same experience. Music is about community and togetherness.

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“It doesn't matter what context or how successful you are, as long as you enjoy your art.”

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When you create a song, you're already thinking about the show?

Absolutely. We're putting out a song next week called "kiss of life", and it's literally written for shows, for the sweat because the show has to go crazy! That's always on my mind when I write. It's always about the shows, for sure.

Being managed by, uh, Ed Sheeran's team can create a lot of expectations. How to keep a level head?

The only expectations are making music, being able to wake up in the morning, make music, pay the bills. Then I go to sleep and as long as I get to do that, I'm happy, to be honest. And if you get to do that on a big stage, you know, like “Ed” does, or you get to do that on a smaller stage, it's great. I don't care as long as I can keep making music, I'm grateful.

So, there is no pressure?

There's pressure. There's lots of pressure. But It’s mainly self-imposed. Now, I record with my friends so that is an amazing job! All I want to do is wake up in the morning, go into the studio with all my friends, make something that I love, have dinner, and go for a swim you know? [laughs] That's the perfect day. It doesn't matter what context or how successful you are, as long as you enjoy your art. That's the goal for me. Don't compare yourself, especially with someone like Ed Sheeran! He's done amazing stuff but I'll do my own thing.

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“My music is free and fragile!”

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How to describe your music in two words?

I'd say free and fragile!

Is your new project what you want or is there still room for improvement?

[Laughs] Definitely room for improvement! But the music we have coming out, you know, "kiss of Life", is kind of magical and this new single is the best I've ever made. I'm so proud of it and happy. Literally. I listen to it and I'm like "I can't believe it's mine." Because it's... I love it so much. And you can always find that maybe we should fix the strings, maybe we could do this… But I'm super excited about the stuff that's coming out now. Really, really, really happy for me. What's really nice is that I made it with all my friends, with the people I love at home. So that, when I listen to this record now and focus on the chorus, I remember all my best friends coming to the studio and singing all on it. I'm like "Oh, that was one of the best days of my life doing that." I've got a friend who plays drums on it and I know every hand that has clapped in this EP. That means a lot to me. It's just a moment in time.

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“Less is more so I think that all songs should mean everything to you. It should be life or death.”

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What's next for your future?

We're putting out a new song, "kiss of life", and so we're gonna finish this album and then I'm gonna put it out and play loads of shows. And then we'll do another album, and another, and another album. Forever! ‘Till death! That's the plan. I can't wait.

What do you tend to avoid about music?

Less is more so I think that all songs should mean everything to you. It should be life or death. I avoid songs that make no sense, that create no emotions. The stakes should be high on a song. And if it doesn't mean the world, just don't do it. It needs to mean something to you. Not like, "Oh, I'm going to write something that's fun," I mean… Why? There's so much of that. So much music in the world, so much stuff being made every day. And I want it to mean everything.