Saintseneca is a young band from Columbus Ohio led by singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist Zac Little. Following in the footsteps of heartland bands who have sought to twist the music of the old weird America into new shapes Saintseneca perform songs that sound familiar and uniquely original, all at once.

While the group formed in Columbus Ohio, Little hails from the rural hills of Appalachia. It is a solitary and dramatic landscape that has infused the band’s songs with a sense of introspection and striking narratives. “I was raised on farms in Appalachia,” Little explains, “And I think that my perspective on music was shaped by where I grew up. It was twenty minutes to see the nearest person. Being so isolated forced me to be introspective and resourceful. As a kid I would explore these abandoned houses and barns and wonder what had happened in those places.”

With a diverse assemblage of influences, the band’s poetic lyricism and folk instrumentation is consistently enhanced by elements of pop, post-punk and psychedelia. It is a sound that evolved from playing alongside an array of electrified bands at DIY house shows. “The scene in Columbus is really vibrant and diverse,” Little explains. “The connecting thread has less to do with musical style than a shared ethos. We were this quiet folk band playing with punk and hardcore bands so we would try to channel as much volume and power from those instruments.”

Saintseneca’s upcoming second album Dark Arc is informed by change. While previous records documented the band’s celebrated live show, the new record is the result of both a revamped lineup and a dramatically expanded recording process. Dark Arc conveys an exhilarating mix of darkness and light. Lyrics of disintegration play out against arrangements brimming with buoyant folk, post punk and pop. It’s a powerful combination and highlights a great sense of joy amidst all the doom.