SIIGHTS: "We write about life, the good and the bad"

Following tour dates with the likes of Dylan and Griff, hotly-tipped Dublin-Glasgow duo SIIGHTS are eyeing up a new EP.  

Words: Neive McCarthy.

Life is too short to not say how you feel. Life is also too short to not listen to music that makes you feel and moves you. When it comes to SIIGHTS, the two go hand in hand. Mia Fitz and Toni Etherson have mastered the art of honesty at all costs, all while making music that manages to be upbeat and fun but still completely stirring. They evoke those feelings that come with wearing their hearts on their sleeves in every beat and riff, ensuring their listeners feel it with them just as deeply. 

"As songwriters, I think the only songs we feel would be right coming from us are ones where we are honest and don't shy away from whatever we're going through," muses Mia. "We write about life, the good and the bad, as honestly as we can. That's the main thing we want to come across to listeners. We're being honest, and we're not shying away from it. Obviously, it does require you to be quite vulnerable and strip away your own insecurities or fears…"

Toni jumps in: "You put yourself at the mercy of that for the greater purpose of what you're doing. Music really is a purpose for us, and art and storytelling. We use our experiences as a catalyst to share and hopefully help people and soundtrack those moments for us. There's a community feeling in there." 

Their latest single, 'Words', is a perfect example of the ethos at the heart of SIIGHTS. An ode to overthinkers and those who find themselves spiralling with every new romance, 'Words' is a brutally honest take on dating in a modern age, both fearful and glimmering with hope. A driving bass line adds a levity to the track's anxieties, the pair's harmonies making everything feel that little bit more manageable – it's alt-pop with a real, human core. 

"We wanted to write something that touched on some of those anxieties you can feel and some of the thoughts that can go through your head when you're in that early stage of liking someone," Mia explains. "It's battling between being vulnerable and taking that step forward and putting yourself out there, but also being aware of what your history is and the things that have happened in the past that have made you wary." 

The guarded stance but willingness to plunge in anyway will be familiar to a lot of their listeners, as is part of SIIGHTS' charms. Amongst their upbeat bangers, they weave tales that are very real and grounded in their own experiences, many of which are universal. 

"We've all been there, and we wanted to put it out there that it's completely okay if you're finding yourself in a talking stage or a failed talking stage," continues Toni. "That's actually a lot of people's story at the moment. It's an anthem for those people and for anyone who has an anxious attachment style or might notice themselves catching feelings for someone and wrestling with the reality of having to overcome some fears. It's a little bit of encouragement in there that life is short, and either way, whatever happens you will feel more empowered for taking that step. Some of the messages we've had have been so validating from other people saying that this song is exactly what they're going through right now – that just makes us feel so amazing that we can share something that can help people."