Sandy Hsu

Name, where are you from?
My name is Sandy Hsu. I’m from Melbourne/Naarm, Australia.

Describe your style in three words?
Renaissance, matrix, witch.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
The second time I saw Grouper play at the Melbourne Recital Centre. I went by myself and sat in an empty row up the back alone. It was sublime. Her music marries perfectly with the architecture of the building, the acoustics of the hall completely elevated her music and created an immersive sound bath. I felt clean after coming out of the performance. It was also a gig of personal reclamation because the first time I saw Grouper live, I was on a date with someone who turned out to be an extremely garbage person who ruined the whole night. So it was really nice to be able to reclaim the experience and Grouper’s music hahaha.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
It would have to be Kate Bush and Björk, but for purely selfish reasons because I’d just want to see them perform live. They’re both my personal musical heroes, and my favourite kind of artists; theatrical women who make multidisciplinary music purely for themselves.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Riot grrrl, goth and punk… I think as a teenager growing up in the suburbs, reading Rookie Magazine, listening to Hole and making collages on your bed, it’s almost impossible not to…

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Roxane Gay. I’ve been reading a lot of her work lately and I’d like to be friends with her.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
I was the opening act for serpentwithfeet at The Workers Club when they were down in Melbourne in 2019 which was such a treat. Everyone was just there to have a good time, the audience was super engaged with the music and poetry, it was just a really beautiful vibe. serpentwithfeet was phenomenal to witness live. I was just lucky enough to be the support act.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Fiona Apple. I don’t think she is particularly “unsung” today, but she was chastised at the time of her ‘peak’ so to speak, for being brutally honest and vocal about her experiences, and people thought they could shut her up because she was a young woman.

Listen, purchase or stream Sandy Hsu's latest track 'Mother' via distrokid.com/sandyhsu/mother.