Sumaroo on New EP 'Piggyback' and Small Room Storytelling
Courtesy of the artist
Singer-songwriter Sumaroo unveiled his latest EP Piggyback this March 24, after years spent searching for a self-identifying sound. This journey has helped hatch a cozy, indie-folk/pop bundle of songs that are set to gently ease us into springtime. The Mauritian-Canadian artist’s songs exude serenity and comfort starting with the title track “Piggyback” which foregrounds the beauty of promises in a romantic relationship and finishing with “Your Nose Is Fine”, an appreciation of one’s inner beauty.
The project is also adorned by two consoling tracks: “No One Likes the Kid”, which empathizes with the feeling we’ve all had with feeling out of place, and “Happiness”, an encouraging message about persevering in life, even when it throws rocks at us. The latter is accompanied by a music video starring Dani Bigu, a wheelchair basketball athlete whose life story is a perfect encapsulation of the song. Piggyback’s warm and acoustic sound creates a meditative atmosphere that encourages listeners to acknowledge life's hardships without giving in to them. I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Sumaroo to gain insight into the making of Piggyback and discuss his musical style, inspirations, and future plans.
Irène Schrader: How have these last few days been for you, since the release of Piggyback?
Sumaroo: It’s been really great having strangers messaging me to tell me how much they love my sound. It’s encouraging!
How would you describe the journey you went on to finally find a sound you felt best represented you? When did you feel this “aha!” moment?
I experimented a lot. I still think I am not there yet in terms of finding the right sound. Maybe it’s not even possible, given that we change as people and our taste changes. What I try to do though, is to be honest with my songwriting and see what sound works best with that honesty.
How would you describe your music style now, in your own words?
I would describe it as “small room storytelling”.
What were some of the main inspirations for the EP Piggyback? Were there specific stories you wanted to tell?
What I wanted to do for Piggyback is to start telling stories which are relevant to me, to accurately represent what’s actually happening in my life, focusing on my relationship with my partner and my relationship with myself.
Out of curiosity: Who is the girl whose gentle voice we hear in some of the songs from the project?
Her name is Ruby going by the artist's name Flower Face. You can find her on Spotify. She’s great!
Your writing feels deeply personal yet also leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Would you say that this is done on purpose?
I think it’s organic. I went through different styles of songwriting in the past, where I wrote deeply personal tunes and then wanted to write songs which appeal to the masses. The latter did not feel right to me, so I write only personal songs now. However, it’s possible subconsciously, there’s a part of me which still writes in a way to leave room for interpretation.
Who are some musicians you look up to?
I listen to a lot of genres! I have moments when I am only listening to Jazz and I gravitate towards more relaxed jazz like Bill Evans. I have had periods of listening to classical, Eric Satie, and the likes. For contemporary artists, I listen to Bon Iver, The Nationals, Radiohead but I also push myself to listen to new and upcoming musicians. And nothing wrong with pop as long as the songwriting is solid!
Is there anything you would like your listeners to look out for in the coming months?
Yes! I am working on a new album touching on loss, fatherhood, and failure. It sounds a bit like a downer album but there’s optimism in there! It’s going to be an album with 10 songs.
You can listen to Piggyback on Spotify, Youtube, or Apple Music and keep up with Sumaroo via Instagram and Facebook! ♦