HEADLINES

Sayed Sabrina’s voice is unlike any other, thrilling her audiences across the globe

November 08, 2019
Sayed Sabrina is super proud of her new project “Thou Art That”, summer released on August 8, 2019. Sayed Sabrina can hit notes that others dream about, with ease and power; she is a force to be reckoned with.  Many legendary players share this debut: Bobby Watson (Rufus, Michael Jackson), Sarah Morrow (Dr. John, Ray Charles), Gary Herbig (Elvis, Tower of Power), Carlos De La Paz (Cid, Mandrels), Mitch Manker (Ray Charles) and Bryan Head (Dick Dale, Roger Hodgson), this colossal studio album promises to climb up the Blues, Rock, Jazz, and Soul radio charts.

The super talented Sayed Sabrina multi-tasked this project, playing the piano on all tracks, responsible for composition and lyrics on every song, as well as producing the whole album. The first single “Goodie Two Shoes”, has a gritty brass based backbone with a heartfelt message that is what everyone needs to hear in our entitled society. The second release, “The Pedestrian”, demonstrates edgy vocals, with street-smart lyrics, comical, curious, and exciting.  A song that will really make you think.

Sayed Sabrina’s previous release “Big Boy Blues” was a huge international success and is currently in its 3rd printing. Not a stranger to performing, Sayed has played on the same bill as B.B. King, Los Lobos, Jimmy Cliff, Dr. John, Leon Russell, Tower of Power to name a few. Sayed Sabrina’s sound has been compared to Shakira with Janice Joplin sprinkled in for good measure, Sayed is her own unique messenger, spreading her music, her way.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music? 
SS: My birth inspired me to sing, I remember being born. My father sang and had the most beautiful stunning gorgeous voice in the entire universe. His voice inspires me to this day; it is in my heart and soul whenever I sing.

Which artists do you look up to? 
SS: David Bowie, He challenged the musicians he worked with. He did what came to him naturally. His bold, yet soft ways of expressing his art influenced me greatly. Plus, I too am not from this planet. I am here to help balance enlightenment and love, I know this, I believe in this.  Chrissie Hynde from the pretenders. I use to fantasize I was her. Judy Garland, girl could sing. Her daughter Liza. Miss Janis Joplin; whom I’m most compared to on a regular basis when i perform live. I have been told this by people who have known her. Etta James; I love her voice, always full of power and depth till the end. Anita O'day, her voice was like percussion and melody in one, she was incredible and never got the accolades she deserved. Billie holiday, her pain you could hear in her voice even if she was singing a lullaby, emotional and yet so lively. Miss Ella Fitzgerald’s voice is untouchable, a goddess. Debbie Harry was so fun to sing along to. Patty Smith, badass intelligence and poetry. Martha Davis, a good songwriter, and a good singer. Dug her when I was a kid and i met her and man do I dig her still. Nina Hagen, her voice and her character were also truly influential to me as a kid. I liked to sing opera and she made it cool. So I believed there was hope for me.

What message do your songs convey? 
SS: My songs hopefully convey the message of tolerance and love.  Of intolerance to those that would hurt another.   I didn’t plan on making a protest album; it just turned out that way. I write what comes to me, what I’m feeling. I write a lot of love songs too, they’re actually all love songs.  You could call it an inspirational album, but a lot of the time when folks hear the word inspirational they think it’s going to be religious or something. I am not religious, I believe in no religion. I believe in kindness, truth, science and historical fact. I worship my family.

Why blues music over other genres? 
SS: The blues singers bring it. It’s not about fame or coolness or who is cute. Nah, the blues community likes real organic sounding music. Blues is to me, punk rock for those that aren’t little kids anymore. It’s the beginning of where all the popular sounds we hear today started. The root of it all. At least here in the US. Blues and Jazz are the backbone of America. Man, KoKo Tailor, Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton, these ladies never failed to get their point across. Blues is an important part of our history in America and it gets such little respect. The blues community is strong and doesn’t give a hoot about what’s popular on the top 40, that’s a joke. Blues is a music that has tested the truth of time. Singing the blues is for me is like getting all my sorrows out in the most expressive way vocally. It’s been therapeutic for me. I have been blessed to be welcomed by the blues community. Those women that are out there singing the blues bring it, man, every time. No need for auto tune, the truth need not be auto tuned.

Are you working on new music? 
SS: I write all of the time, nonstop. I am always writing something. I don’t call it work. It’s what I’ve always done. It helps my psyche. I’m an artist, not a musician really. I think of my songs as my diary, I have many songs. I am already started on my next album, and have enough material for several.

Any performances that stand out in the past? 
SS: Yes, many...When opening for Mr. BB King throughout the years. I remember when it was only the second time-sharing the bill with him and his band was backstage after just arriving at the venue. One by one the famous band walked past me and remembered my name and I got some hugs. It was super cool. They’re super cool. Man, still not over how kind Mr. King was to me. He was gracious and it was something else to stand in his presence when he said my name and thanked me.  Also when I was asked by the one and only Dr. John to join him onstage and sing with him. He was a spiritual brother. It felt kismet to meet him and be in his presence. He was like a kid onstage having so much fun and the audience knew it too. It was a blast, plus, his band was super powerful and so tasty, it was a real treat.
Where do you see your music going in the future? 
SS: I see my music withstanding time. Maybe not all of it, however, it’s a dream of mine to have people moved by my songs long after I’m gone, like a Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Etta James, truly timeless.

What do you do to take care of your voice? 
SS: Taking care of my voice means, good rest and sleep, with a humidifier on. I drink tons of water, stay away from sugar (for the most part) that’s a tough one, no soda or sparkling water, and a clean diet.  I take Lots of herbal remedies. My coffee habit has slowed down, which is good, I enjoy black coffee and it’s not good for vocal chords. I mostly drink room temperature water. Alcohol is rare for me. I like sativa.  

What were your first memories of music in your childhood?
SSS - I was born a stuttering fool. Singing was more natural for me than to speak. It calmed my brain down enough to sing what I needed to say.  My dad had musician friends come over on occasion. Some pretty notable (raga) East Indian musicians. Sitar’s and hand drums. I learned how to emulate classical Eastern vocal styles early on, along with classical American styles.  We had a big old Victorian house in Pico Union Los Angeles area, every room had an instrument. I thought it was normal. I didn’t know until i was a little older that none of my friends lives were all about music, mine was. From musicals to singing along to every commercial and TV show song, I knew them all.

What family member inspired you to sing?
SS: My Dad.

Who are your music mentors?
SS: My biggest mentor is my Father, then my childhood school choir teacher, Adele Bloom.  A mentor is someone that helps give you encouragement along the way. They do what it is you’d like to aspire to do. For me to be honest, the only two people in my life that ever encouraged my singing were my Father and my choir teacher. My first solo album with my originals only happened because of the push of a dear friend that has passed on from this dimension, Ray Hernandez, drummer, he was known from the band BB Chungking and the Screaming Buddha Heads.

What is it like being on stage?
SS: To be on stage performing has never been an easy thing for me. It is where I am allowed to be vulnerable and to get to there and be transparent is a lot of psyching myself up beforehand. Once they’re though, I let go and it is truly freeing. The audience reflects me and it’s a powerful feeling. The electricity I receive is in volumes and I return it. It’s all about reciprocation, it is exhilarating and emotional in the best way, I live for it.  I channel my ancestors when I sing. 

What do you do for enjoyment?
SS: For my personal enjoyment I spend my time writing, painting, hanging with my beautiful doggy beast besties, reading and studying ancient writings, religions, histories and metaphysics and philosophy. I love to laugh and be in nature.

Do you have a health regiments that help you with your singing?
SS: Health regiments uhhhhh I eat a clean diet. Which for me means organic and sticking to gluten free mostly greens diet. No refined sugars. Getting rest. Lots of water. Being mindful about my state of consciousness. Happiness is a state of mind.

Anything else you’d like me to add?
SS: I am a biracial person that fits into no category. Musical or otherwise. Unless that category is about living your truth. Not much I do is conventional. I do not follow trends. I like what I like, I do what I like. I believe in causing no harm to others. I believe in blessing those that are ignorant and hate and forgiving them for their ignorance’s and hate. None of this is about music, but I hope to convey this thought through my music. We all have the same infinite power as humans to heal our ancestral wounds.

Though she was featured in recently released Lifoti's October/November 2019 issue 10, you can check it from below link's for your country:

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