After 36 years, Saint Etienne are saying goodbye. They’ve released 13 studio albums, toured with the likes of Oasis, Stereolab, and Broadcast, and built a devoted fanbase along the way. For lead singer Sarah Cracknell, this decision is an act of ownership over their incredible legacy. 

“We wanted to end on our own terms,” Cracknell says. “We wanted to end on a high.” 

The English trio began with childhood friends Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, before Cracknell joined in 1991 to complete the trio. After more than three decades of touring, recording, and performing together, their connection has become so instinctive that the decision to end Saint Etienne was one they arrived at together. 

“It just seemed like we were in tune with each other and just said, you know, why don’t we just do a final album that’s really fun, go out on a high.” 

That album is International, released in September of 2025. When asked about anything new they had tried during recording—given it was the final album—Cracknell detailed the process of finding collaborators for some of the songs. “We were really lucky: everyone we got in touch with and asked if they’d want to be involved with a song, they all said yes.” 

As luck would have it, some of these artists had been working on tracks that reminded them of their own music, a true testament to their enduring influence. These collaborations add a fresh perspective to the album, while still staying true to their unmistakable identity. 

Reflecting on the evolution of their inspirations over the years, Cracknell mused that more than anything, Saint Etienne have always been music fans. It’s this curiosity and openness to experimentation that shaped their sound, exemplified by their third album Tiger Bay, which seamlessly blends folk, electronica, and techno. 

This love of music seeps into her personal life as well. When asked about a record she wishes she could hear again for the first time, she immediately answered with the Cocteau Twins’ Treasure. “I’ve always loved things that you hear and you think, ‘I’ve never heard anything that sounds like this before in my life.’”

We discussed more artists including The Specials and David Essex, both of whom gave her this same sense of discovery. More recently, she’s loved Tyler, the Creator. “Absolutely love him,” she says. “Because you hear it thinking, ‘I’ve never heard that before and I love it.’” 

Having just finished the UK leg of their Farewell Tour, Cracknell reflected on the experience so far. For one thing, the sight of a younger generation discovering Saint Etienne’s music has been a particular highlight. She commented on seeing lots of young people in the audience with feather boas, expressing her delight at this wave of new appreciators. Of course, such an expansive career brings with it an enormous catalogue to draw from when assembling their setlist, with the band even turning to their fans for suggestions on what should make the cut.

Ultimately, their priority has been making the shows celebratory and upbeat. “There’s quite a few songs that I think, ‘Oh, we could’ve played that. Why didn’t we play that?” she admitted. “But there’s too many to choose from, to be honest.” 

Their longevity in the industry became even clearer when we discussed the changes in the musical landscape over her career, particularly in regards to its expectations of women. She believes that the platform for female artists is much healthier than it was when she started out. When reflecting on the early to mid 90s, she recalled experiencing criticism from other women in the press, at a time when she hoped for greater solidarity among women in the industry. “I remember thinking, surely you should champion what I’m doing, you know? Why are you having a pop at me? That’s wrong. It is absolutely wrong. You should be championing women in music.” 

For Cracknell, finding and supporting other women in bands became a way to seek out the camaraderie she had been missing. She describes meeting Sarah from Dubstar and connecting with Miki and Emma from Lush, and how important it was to her that they supported one another and their bands.

But she believes that some things have changed for the better. She points to the increased accessibility of music, arguing that making it easier for people to discover and listen to the music they love can only be a good thing. “Surely music should be readily available. It shouldn’t just be a closed-off thing,” she says, emphasising her enthusiasm for progress in the industry. 

One thing that came up repeatedly throughout our discussion was the idea of authenticity, particularly in regards to making music that you’re passionate about as an artist. As Cracknell put it, “you just know in your heart if it’s real or not.” 

The simplicity of her answer feels revealing in it of itself. After decades of experimenting with sounds and styles, the band has continued to trust their instincts rather than conform to expectations. This is also the advice that Cracknell offers to any aspiring musicians: rather than worrying about how you’re perceived by the audience, she encourages young artists to create the music they feel compelled to make. For her, authenticity stems from passion. “I always say the same thing: make the music that you want to make, stay true to that, and people will come around to your way of thinking.” 

Despite making the decision to end the band’s time together, Cracknell is still unsure as to what she will do once it’s all over. Although she’s excited for the change, she admitted to feeling apprehensive about life after Saint Etienne. “I don’t know whether I’m going to feel like my leg’s been chopped off or something.” While her bandmates will continue to pursue their other creative interests, with Bob writing books and Pete delving into film soundtracks, she is yet to decide what her own next chapter will look like. For now though, there’s the remainder of their Farewell Tour to look forward to, including dates in Australia and New Zealand. 

While the end of Saint Etienne marks the close of a 36-year-old chapter, the sight of younger fans discovering their music suggests that their impact is far from over. Their legacy is

ultimately a testament to what can happen when artists trust their instincts and stay true to the music they want to make, and will continue to be a major influence on the music landscape for years to come.