Strangers in Harmony: The Pulse of St Andrews' Music Scene

Since Juniper was already in full swing when I slipped into the DRA practice room, one of the last to find a spot. The tension in the air was palpable — though that may have been because of the person sitting on my toes. I pressed my back against the door as more people squeezed in, shoulder to shoulder, all drawn by the same, “Ah — I know one of them!” I didn’t. I was supposed to meet friends, but they didn’t make it in time. So, alone, surrounded by strangers, too scared to pry my toes out from under the person in front of me, I stayed for the set. Remarkably, by the end, I didn’t feel alone at all. I didn’t know these people, but the sheer talent and support from the small community cramped into a tiny room inspired a sense of camaraderie in me. I was excited for them.

That was last year, the first time I found myself wrapped up in the St Andrews music scene. My interest continues. As Since Juniper’s lead singer Claire Waskow put it, “I’ve increasingly heard my friends and other students talk about how they’ve been attending live music events and loving it.” Our town’s music scene may be small, but it’s tight-knit, passionate, and growing. We show up for each other, even when we’re strangers. This past Monday at the Union’s Open Mic Night, I bore witness to the ‘strangers’ part being particularly true. Jazz and soul singer Elena Azais inspired a member of the audience to shout, “You’re a star!” which led to the kind congratulations of a free drink. She finds the open mic environment “accepting” — an understatement in her case. 

Unhallowed’s lead guitarist Niamh Hague echoes this statement: “It's such a relaxed environment. People are exposed to more music, especially from smaller bands and performers in St Andrews who might not be playing any bigger events yet.” However, Hague also points out the need to appreciate gender diversity in these environments. “Bands tend to have an overwhelming ratio of male instrument players to female ones, so hopefully I'm representing that front,” she says. She hopes to make space for female musicians who, like her, might want to “hide behind a guitar or bass or drums” rather than be expected to take the mic.

That isn’t the only gap. Azais points out that not all styles of music are equally appreciated in St Andrews. “Hard metal and alternative genres aren’t as appreciated,” she says. “The bands exist, but we don’t hear about them or see them often.” In fact, despite growing attendance at Thursday Jazz Nights and the significant support towards Azais’ style, she remarked that jazz soloists don’t receive the same volume of support as the jazz bands. This suggestion that we should support different styles of artists and genres is echoed by Waskow, who says, “There’s always space for more.”

Calista Del Toro, a singer-songwriter from LA who was in town for the open mic, also agrees. While she praises the liveliness of the music scene, particularly in Molly Malones, she highlights the potential for expanding our musical diversity by encouraging genres like Spanish music and hip-hop. Initially, I didn’t think I’d have the chance to interview her due to the word limit, but I couldn’t resist after hearing her original music. If that doesn’t illustrate this town’s genuine support for the music scene, I don’t know what does. Let’s only encourage these performers further in their goals: for Hague to play at Glitterball, for Azais to discover her band, and for Waskow and Del Toro to just keep jamming.

It’s clear that the charm of St Andrews lies in its community. Everybody knows everybody. Whether you’re crammed into a room with strangers, performing at an open mic, or simply supporting a friend, you’re never really alone. Some of you might hate that about St Andrews, but look to the friend who always cooks you dinner, the unwanted house pet in your bed, or the person you hated in your tutorial and loved on a night out. This town is crammed and crooning, and that’s the best thing about it.

Illustration by Isabella Abbott