Nick Sanborn

Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, the dynamic duo behind the indie pop sensation Sylvan Esso, share their musical journey from their serendipitous meeting to defining the vibrant Durham scene. They reflect on blending their styles after years of touring, likening songwriting to fishing—an exploration filled with surprises. The creation of their breakout hit 'Hey Mami' reveals the unexpected paths of their collaboration. With insights into their artistic identity and ongoing growth, this conversation captures the essence of their innovative sound.

Sylvan Esso has two members, Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, who met while they were both working on other projects. Amelia asked Nick to do a remix of a song by the band she was in at the time, and when that remix was done, they both loved how it turned out. They emailed song ideas back and forth for a while, until they found a time to be in the same place. It was at that point that they first started working on the song, "Coffee." In this episode, Nick and Amelia talk about the origins of the sounds and lyrics within the song, from a Little Tikes xylophone to "Hanky Panky" by Tommy James and the Shondells.

Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn and Amelia Meath have been making music together since 2013, when Amelia asked Nick, a music producer and bassist, to remix her band Mountain Man’s hit single “Play It Right.” He did, and the rest is history. Sylvan Esso has always had a very sleek, electro-pop feel to their production. Amelia’s powerful voice is front and center, surrounded by harmonies and samples of her own voice. Nick’s genre-destroying bass creates intricate, pulsing grooves for Amelia’s voice to inhabit. Now, the married couple and electronic duo have released their fourth studio album, No Rules Sandy. It’s a follow-up to the band’s Grammy-nominated 2020 album, Free Love. The new album is a mix of improvisation and experimentation. On today’s episode, Bruce Headlam speaks with Amelia and Nick about their creative process and how No Rules Sandy came to be. They also play two songs off their new album live. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Sylvan Esso songs HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.