Interview: Abby Sage

Interview by Alicia Casey

With creative lyricism and a stylistically refreshing tone, Abby Sage is an artist to watch out for. Her combination of dream-pop, indie and soul anthems makes for a heartfelt and tender sound that we can’t get enough of. Spending her time between Los Angeles and London, Sage brings the perfect balance of buzzing alt-pop melodies and sonically trippy vibes. In her sophomore EP, “The Florist”, we see a dynamic shift and evolution in her artistry.

Tongue Tied had the opportunity to sit down with Sage and get to know the inspirations behind the 5-track collection. Ranging from character sketches to life events, each song becomes a tiny play or narrative that flows through a different phase of early adulthood. No stone is left unturned––from the complexities of daily life to the moments of pain and joy that shape who we are and who we become. She talks about embracing a “fly on the wall mentality” to immerse herself in the world outside the one that exists in her head.

The Florist cover art by Avia Ramm

“I think it plays into that saying “better to listen than to speak”. I’ve always been this way, sometimes maybe to a fault. I think it helps with my writing process though. With the florist, I wanted to tell multiple narratives, the only way to do that was to apply my own and then listen to others.” – Abby Sage for Tongue Tied Magazine

The pillowy production on “The Florist” brings Sage’s gentle and quiet songwriting to the forefront. In “Pool Party” for instance she zeroes in on moments in her youth when she felt unprepared and overwhelmed, “Backwards Directions” shows off her metaphorical expression, “Irene” speaks on the troubles of growing up having an overarching feeling of falling behind, the titular track“The Florist” depicts a woman who can bring light into the lives of others, and “High Five” is a celebration of solitude. 

“That line [‘Call the florist got to make something pretty of it’] in ‘The Florist’ is kind of like phoning a friend. I wanted to highlight the importance of asking for help and leaning on one another. To me, it means that good company and people who care make life a little prettier.” – Abby Sage for Tongue Tied Magazine

During her EP cycle, Sage collaborated with singer-songwriter Miya Follick, British producer duo MyRiot (London Grammar, AURORA, Halsey), labelmate Boy Willows and director Aidan Dick. Recently, she opened for Suki Waterhouse at the Velvet Underground in Toronto and she is supporting fellow Nettwerk artist the Vacations as part of their “Return To The Wild West Tour” on October 25 at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles and on October 26 at The Glass House in Pomona.

“I’m excited for every show I play in front of new people. Sharing a piece of your art and your world with a new audience isn’t something you can get tired of. The Vacations are amazing as well, I’m really excited to see their performance.” – Abby Sage for Tongue Tied Magazine

Photo Credit: Roy Freiha

What’s special about “The Florist” is how its earnest vision and originality exemplify the struggles of many young adults today instead of hiding from them. For example, on her track “Pool Party” Sage uses deliberately hazy alt-pop sounds to shine a light on the uncertainty of youth and the nostalgia of looking back on it. It delivers a profound metaphor of kids being willing but unprepared to participate in the real world. It’s effortlessly relatable messages like these that give this EP notable and radiant power. 

“​​I wanted it to be quite theatrical, really lean into the dramatics of youth. My friend and I made these paper mache masks that hung all around me in the video. That was a big element of it. To me, the masks represented a million things. Masking your true self at that early age was a big one. I blurred my face for a lot of the video because when I was young I really wasn’t comfortable in myself, I really feel I’ve only grown into who I am in recent years.”  – Abby Sage for Tongue Tied Magazine

Every last detail is meaningful for Sage, from the first chord on a track to the last swash of paint on the EP’s cover art. She wrote the project to speak on those overarching feelings of uncertainty and falling that accompany growing up and living on your own for the first time. With a beginning set in the transfixing present and the ending pairing off as an acceptance of how to be alone, Sage portrays youth as it genuinely is without glorifying the difficult experiences and emotions that fall within the timeline.

“The project tells so many different stories so I wanted the art to reflect that. I had the idea of a large Renaissance-style painting zeroing in on the individual sections for each story. Avia Ramm created the piece and she really did such an amazing job. I wanted there to be little Easter eggs, something you sit and look at for a while. It was really fun to conceptualize with Avia.” – Abby Sage for Tongue Tied Magazine

By focusing intently on diving into the realm of storytelling, Sage showcases her commanding sound and precarious outlook on society. A rare talent, she speaks directly and eloquently to listeners and gives them the undiluted truth that just might set something beautiful in motion. 

Get connected to Sage’s new EP “The Florist” and experience the wondrous and empathetic spirit for yourself. Stream the EP on your favorite music platform and watch the music videos for “Pool Party” and “Backwards Directions” on Youtube. Stay informed on what Sage does next by giving her a follow on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Twitter and Spotify.