INTERVIEW: Abby Sage
Photograph by Tessa Bannister
NOVEMBER 14TH, 2022 | BY TESSA BANNISTER
Abby Sage, a young, blossoming indie alt-pop musician, debuted her charming new EP "The Florist," which is both beautiful and difficult to overlook. We take a deep dive into Abby Sage, a Toronto native, with her unique indie inspired vocals and discuss her new EP “The Florist”.
Your EP came out recently, how are we feeling?
We put a lot of work into it and I feel very excited. The visuals and everything, it was a lot of fun to do, and I am excited to start all over again!
What is your favorite song to perform?
The florist because we made a different rendition of it, and a little bit more “tangy”. We might record and release that at some point.
What's your before show routine?
I haven't found a routine yet, but I feel I need one. All of the shows have felt rushed and anxious, but once on stage, I feel fine. So, I haven’t had the time to develop a nice, calm routine/rehearsal to get ready.
So, no partying or anything before your set?
I am definitely relaxed, I mean I love a glass of wine. I’ve always been that person, so I always like to have a casual drink before, but I am a very chill person, so I don’t like to party before, I like to relax.
Have you done a music festival yet?
No, not yet. It honestly feels like we just started. I have never been to Bottlerock, but I always go to Outside Lands. Outside lands are a bit nuts, but it's fun. San Francisco is fun, sometimes.
What is your skin routine?
I have a skin routine I do every night, but I feel it's not that unusual from a show night. Cause I don’t put on a lot of makeup, cause I am just not very good at it, so it just feels very similar to what I normally do.
I saw your dad is a musician, does he come visit your shows and sing with you?
Yeah I mean he sadly couldn’t make this show, but growing up we used to sing together. He had a little dad band that I would also play in sometimes.
Have you and your dad ever performed on stage together?
One of my dreams is to bring my dad on tour with me, cause I feel like he would love that. Even just a one off show where we do any acoustic or something, just to have my dad play me. It definitely is a bucket list item.
So you grew up in Pleasanton, did you move around a lot growing up?
I was born in Toronto and lived there till I was about 7. Then I moved to Pleasanton, but I kinda went back and forth between Toronto and Pleasanton. Not in a moving way, we would just spend a few months there. My mom's family is from London, so I would go there a lot too. London is my favorite place, I want to live there eventually.
So, where did you record the whole project?
I spent a month in London recording the whole project. It felt like the right place to record. I don’t really do sessions here in LA that often, it's funny moving to a music hub and not utilizing it. But I like to go elsewhere because it removes you from your daily life. I feel like I am very distracted in LA and if I go somewhere, I am not.
Where do you gain inspiration, if any, for your visuals?
It came very naturally to me. I love to be very hands on with everything, so I was creative directing it. I wear a lot of neutral tones so I wanted a lot of things to match that kind of vibe. I wanted to be a theater kid, but I never got to, so now I am living out my visual side, thinking of concepts and ideas. I make my own merch, and it has the same feel.
