Singer/songwriter and Atwood artist-to-watch Sebastian Schub tells us what it actually means to “Sing Like Madonna” in a candid, in-depth dialog about pursuing one’s desires, writing songs from the guts, and his main label large break!
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Stream: “Sing Like Madonna” – Sebastian Schub
I at all times discover songwriting to be just a little bit like strolling right into a room with the lights switched off. Arms stretched out, making an attempt to determine the place I’m.
It’s not usually an artist’s first tune expresses the whole lot they may wish to say proper off the bat.
Sebastian Schub is, in that respect, one of many fortunate ones: The German-born, London-based singer/songwriter’s main label debut single is a defining, seminal mission assertion – an emphatic, emotionally charged declaration of intent full of fireplace and fury, unfiltered ardour and uncooked, visceral feeling. An uncompromising, unapologetic eruption of need and unflinching dedication, “Sing Like Madonna” is a sonically and emotionally charged anthem – a weak unveiling of the one’s hopes and desires, and the right introduction to Sebastian Schub.
I wanna sing like Madonna
I wanna dance like a queen
Don’t wish to take a look at the celebs
I need them taking a look at me
I wanna transfer like Freddie and kiss the solar
Scream “Hallelujah,” bang Springsteen’s drums
I wanna be louder than everybody
I wanna reside in a home by the water
I wanna have one son and 16 daughters
I wanna sing like Madonna
I wanna sing like Madonna
I wanna sing like Madonna
Launched October 11, 2024 through Island EMI Label Group/Capitol Information, “Sing Like Madonna” is a breathtakingly daring people rock fever dream – and a real-life “breakout” story within the making. Following years of busking and gig work as a perform and session musician, Sebastian Schub was reaching his breaking level. He wasn’t glad with the place he was in his profession, however the dream of “making it” in music was beginning to really feel all of the extra elusive and dreamlike.
So like all nice songwriter, he poured his angst and anxiousness, and all that interior turmoil and stress, right into a tune. The ensuing tune ached from the within out, capturing each the ache Schub was feeling on the time, in addition to his unwavering ardour for his chosen craft. It was catchy and cathartic suddenly – and when Schub posted a snippet of the tune to social media, individuals shortly caught on.
“I wrote ‘Sing Like Madonna’ final summer time over three months in my basement,” Schub tells Atwood Journal. “On the time I used to be busy gigging just a few occasions every week. And I used to be rising more and more despondent and disillusioned within the pursuit of the dream. The tune was born from a need to imply one thing, to have the ability to depart a mark.”
Hey, little boy, the place have you ever been?
Have you ever grown up or can you continue to dream?
With day by day I really feel much less like me
Properly, it’s the lifе that was meant for me
Properly, it’s the lifе that was meant for me
I wanna sing like Madonna
I wanna dance like a queen
Don’t wish to take a look at the celebs
I need them taking a look at me
I wanna transfer like Freddie and kiss the solar, scream “Hallelujah,” bang Springsteen’s drums. I wanna be louder than everybody…
Occasions might have been robust and the load was hanging heavy on his shoulders, however Schub’s drive by no means faltered – and it’s that interior mild, burning and raging inside him, that makes “Sing Like Madonna” so irresistible and simple.
Co-produced alongside Steve Fitzmaurice (Sam Smith) at RAK Studios in London, “Sing Like Madonna” will not be the “starting” of Schub’s music profession – removed from it, in actual fact – nevertheless it is the beginning of a daring new chapter in his story, that he will likely be sharing not simply with passersby on London’s busy streets, however with the entire world – anybody who cares to tune in, from far and huge.
I wanna reside in a home by the water
I wanna have one son and 16 daughters
I wanna sing like Madonna
I wanna sing like Madonna (oh, you silly boy)
I wanna sing like Madonna (oh, you silly boy)
Atwood Journal just lately caught up with Sebastian Schub for a candid, in-depth dialog in regards to the lengthy and winding highway to his main label debut and what it actually means to “sing like Madonna” (trace: it’s actually, actually loud). Dive into our interview under because the singer/songwriter introduces himself and provides a particular glimpse into his private songwriting course of, and keep tuned for way more to come back from Schub within the months forward.
“Songwriting is kind of an summary factor,” Schub says. “Glen Hansard as soon as described it as making an attempt to lure a chicken by means of a window right into a cage – which is kind of correct, I feel. One not often finally ends up the place one supposed to go, and most songs find yourself being a compromise. ‘Sing Like Madonna’ for me is without doubt one of the uncommon ones that actually expresses precisely what I wished it to.”
Learn on under as we get to know this indeniable artist to observe.
One factor we all know for positive: Sebastian Schub is taking pictures for the moon, and he’s positive to land amongst the celebs.
Oh, by God, let me be fairly, let me be good
Oh, by God, let me be fairly, let me be good
Oh, by God, let me be fairly, let me be good
Oh, by God, let me be fairly, let me be good
I wanna reside in a home by the water
I wanna have one son and 16 daughters
I wanna sing like Madonna
Wanna sing like Madonna
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:: stream/buy Sing Like Madonna right here ::
:: join with Sebastian Schub right here ::
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Stream: “Sing Like Madonna” – Sebastian Schub
A CONVERSATION WITH SEBASTIAN SCHUB
Atwood Journal: Nice to fulfill you, Sebastian! For these simply attending to know you immediately, who’s Sebastian Schub, and the way would you describe your music?
Sebastian Schub: I suppose you would say it’s just a little bit like if Hozier and Jeff Buckley had just a little, adopted, German son.
When did you begin songwriting? How did you get into that as a method of expression?
Sebastian Schub: I began after I was 18. There was a cool little music bar in London name Religious Bar I wished to play at, however they solely allowed authentic music. I didn’t have any, so I went away and wrote a bunch of fairly horrible songs. Fortunately the proprietor of the bar let me preserve taking part in anyway.
Who’re a few of your favorite songwriters, and what do you discover you gravitate towards most in a tune?
Sebastian Schub: The primary author I actually gravitated in direction of was Glen Hansard. There’s something so dedicated and intensely emotive about his writing and efficiency. He leaves nothing on the plate. The stakes are at all times excessive. I really like that.
Do you keep in mind the primary tune you had been actually happy with? What was it and what about it made you proud?
Sebastian Schub: I wrote a tune known as “Paradise” just a few years in the past. Again then I used to busk so much and although I used to be primarily taking part in covers I’d now and again check out my very own songs simply to see how individuals would react. “Paradise” was the primary authentic tune that truly made individuals come as much as me and ask what the tune was.
The highway to a significant label signing is lengthy and arduous for many artists – even when it appears “simple” on the skin; what has your journey been prefer to get right here?
Sebastian Schub: It was actually a strife. However I’ve been fairly fortunate in that I’ve at all times been in a position to work as a musician. Be it as a busker or a perform or session musician. Since I used to be 17, I’ve at all times been in a position to be a working musician and apply my craft. My greatest pal is an actor and it’s a lot more durable to do this on a day-to-day foundation. There’s something extremely reaffirming about having the ability to go into my room, decide up a guitar, and write a tune – understanding that is what I do. I’m actually grateful for that.
What is the story behind “Sing Like Madonna,” and why did you select to launch this as your “debut” single?
Sebastian Schub: I wrote the tune in my basement final summer time. It took me about 3 months to complete it, which is kind of typical for me. I have a tendency to spend so much of time on rewriting and distilling a tune again and again. I’d have most likely kicked issues off with this tune no matter it having a second on-line, however that was undoubtedly a giant issue within the choice to guide with it.
You’ve talked about feeling “more and more despondent and disillusioned within the pursuit of the dream” if you first wrote this tune, and now it’s your official first launch on a significant label! Firstly, how is the disillusionment going nowadays? How are you feeling in regards to the dream?
Sebastian Schub: I feel it’s simply great to have the ability to do the work. That’s what anybody on this trade desires of. To be put to work. For somebody to go, “Listed below are all of the sources you would possibly want, now go forth and make one thing. Give me your greatest shot.”
Secondly, there’s a twisted irony in this, of all songs, being your main label debut. Has it helped you in any respect with that need to imply one thing and depart a mark?
Sebastian Schub: Yeah it’s sort of humorous, that this of all songs is the one to catch. I’ve obtained lots of great messages from mates and strangers about what the tune means to them, and I’m actually glad that this tune has uncovered widespread floor between us all.
I’ve obtained lots of great messages from mates and strangers about what the tune means to them, and I’m actually glad that this tune has uncovered widespread floor between us all.
“Sing Like Madonna” is such an brisk and spirited tune – sonically, what had been you going for with this tune? What was your imaginative and prescient for it, if any?
Sebastian Schub: Particularly as a result of the tune is so energetic and impressive, it was actually necessary to me for the report to remain grounded. I feel there’s a rawness and vulnerability that got here from recording the preliminary demo by myself, in my basement that was extremely necessary to maintain a maintain off. So so much the unique demo recordings such because the piano and the backing vocals ended up within the last report.
Nevertheless, having the ability to end the tune in a correct studio quite than in my basement was great. Each for the standard of sound and much more so for having the ability to have my mates play on the report. For among the folks that have performed such an necessary half in my musical journey for thus lengthy to be on this tune is kind of particular I feel. I do know each hand that has clapped on this report, and I really like that.
What does it imply, for you, to “sing like Madonna”?
Sebastian Schub: Oh. Simply actually, actually loud.
I really like your whole tune’s references – from Madonna and ABBA to Freddie Mercury and Bruce Springsteen, you discovered a intelligent strategy to inform a private story. What was your expertise like writing it, and was that a part of the idea, or did it develop over time?
Sebastian Schub: I had simply seen Springsteen carry out at Hyde Park after I was writing the tune and he was simply so otherworldly. He performed for 3 hours straight, what a beast. I feel artists and bands like these have managed to transcend their medium – they and their work have resonated to this point and huge they’ve reached nearly divine standing in our minds.
At the moment, I felt actually caught in my little London bed room taking part in to the wall, and greater than something I simply wished to be a part of what I noticed in Hyde Park.
I actually love that cathartic launch on the finish the place you sing, “Oh, by God, let me be fairly, let me be good.” What does this finale symbolize, for you?
Sebastian Schub: Oh that’s when the tune actually got here collectively for me. I at all times discover songwriting to be just a little bit like strolling right into a room with the lights switched off. Arms stretched out, making an attempt to determine the place I’m.
For many of the writing course of, I solely have a imprecise thought of what the tune is admittedly about. Till it clicks. Once I wrote that bridge, the load of the tune actually hit me for the primary time. It may be very easy to lose myself within the pleasure of intelligent imagery, metaphors, and fairly phrases. Particularly in a tune like this, that’s so riddled with bigger than life language, it was necessary to discover a grounded nucleus – that’s what took probably the most time.
Do you’ve got any favorite lyrics or strains from this observe?
Sebastian Schub: It’s obtained to be the 1 son and 16 daughters line. I spent a great month altering the variety of little children round, backwards and forwards. It was closely mentioned across the dinner desk.
What do you like most about this tune, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
Sebastian Schub: Songwriting is kind of an summary factor. Glen Hansard as soon as described it as making an attempt to lure a chicken by means of a window right into a cage. Which is kind of correct I feel. One not often finally ends up the place one supposed to go. And most songs find yourself being a compromise. “Sing Like Madonna” for me is without doubt one of the uncommon ones that actually expresses precisely what I wished it to.
“Sing Like Madonna” for me is without doubt one of the uncommon ones that actually expresses precisely what I wished it to.
Lastly, who’re you listening to nowadays, that you’d advocate to our readers?
Sebastian Schub: Leif Vollebekk is INCREDIBLE. Only a particular author and musician. I’ve listened to no another. He has simply launched a brand new album known as Revelation. His tune “Elegy” was my intro into his world again in 2018. However actually simply go on a deep dive. Leif Vollebekk. I promise you received’t remorse it.
I’m additionally inviting artists to share with us their “greatest music of 2024”! Would you thoughts sharing your favorite…
Album of 2024: This album truly got here out proper on the finish of 2023 – however Gentle, Darkish, Gentle Once more by Angie McMahon has been taking part in again to entrance in my room each single day this yr.
Track of 2024: When “Tiny Strikes” by Bleachers performs in our kitchen, you realize it’s gonna be a great day. An unbelievable tune. That total album is gorgeous.
Artist Discovery of 2024: Hohnen Ford is doing great issues. Her tune “I want I had a God” is breathtaking. One to observe for positive.
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:: stream/buy Sing Like Madonna right here ::
:: join with Sebastian Schub right here ::
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Stream: “Sing Like Madonna” – Sebastian Schub
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