We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Saritah a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Saritah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Girls were being strongly encouraged into scientific fields when I was in highschool, but that didn’t resonate with me at all. I completed a BA in English and Asian Studies and then studied photography, making my way towards a career in photojournalism. I even shot a few weddings! At the same time, I was also in an acro/fire performance troupe. And I was songwriting as I loved it and it came naturally to me. But I had no concept that being a professional artist could be a “thing” until I started going to music festivals and seeing it modelled before my eyes.

The moment I decided to pursue music was very clear, and really it was more that music chose me. I was watching a wonderful artist from Mali called Rokia Traore at a music festival and it was like a transmission – of pure Love, Unity, Upliftment, Oneness. It was a spiritual experience and a cellular one all at once. In that moment it was clear to me that if I spent my time on earth creating and sharing songs that could make people feel even a fraction of what I felt that day, then that would be a good use of my time here.

Saritah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a singer / songwriter / musician, and a recording and touring artist. My first instrument was piano, and I’m so grateful for that solid musical foundation. When I was 15 and living in the south of France with my family, we went to Barcelona on holiday and my parents gifted me a Spanish guitar. I learned a few basic chords and then taught myself from there.

I’ve released 3 full-length albums, one EP and a bunch of singles, as well as a collection of music videos filmed in amazing locations around the planet including Aotearoa, Mozambique, Hawai’i and Death Valley, California.

I’ve toured quite extensively in the USA, Australia and Europe as well as Canada and several shows in Asia too. Some of the more well-known events I’ve performed at include Glastonbury Festival in the UK, Rototom Sunsplash in Spain, Reggae Sun Ska in France, California Roots Festival in the USA, and Jarasum International Jazz Festival in South Korea.

I make music with the intention of putting more love and good energy into the world. I want people to feel better after listening to the songs I create and share.

My new album GIFTS is coming out in September 2024.

The process for most of this album was mostly me creating demos of the songs myself in Logic during lockdown, and then sending them out to producers around the world. I collaborated with producers in Los Angeles, Portland, Finland, France, Nigeria, Australia and Spain on this album. Two of the songs were recorded in-person in Barcelona with the band I toured with there (funny how life brings things full circle sometimes, seeing as that’s where my journey with guitar began!). I’m proud that I had the patience and dedication to learn the basics of Logic, and that some of the drum programming and electric guitar parts I recorded made it onto the final versions. I’m really excited to put this project out. And for all the music to come. I already have a lot of the next album written thanks to an incredible 3-month artist residency in New Mexico last year (2023).

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

There’s a mentality I’ve observed, especially in “mainstream” culture – a kind of closed-minded sheeple syndrome that art, or music, is only deemed good and worthy of attention and support when someone else, usually a “tastemaker” with some kind of authority – such as a TV show, radio DJ, a playlist creator, podcast host, curator etc – declares that it is so.

As many grassroots events and artists around the world struggle to survive and stay afloat, especially in a post-pandemic world, the billionaires that profit from the the syndicated programming of major radio stations, multi-national touring and editorial playlists are thriving.

The antidote to this corporatisation of music is to support local creatives. Go to their gigs, buy their music on CD or vinyl or from Bandcamp, buy their merch. Go to their exhibitions, their plays, their events. Share their creations with your circle. Go to the smaller festivals. Listen to your local community radio station. If enough of us tend to and support each other’s creativity as well as our own, we can cultivate a thriving creative ecosystem.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. I make music to pour more Love, more Beauty, and more Good Energy into a world that really needs it.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://saritah.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/saritahmusic
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/saritah.official
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/saritahsong

Image Credits

golden voice photo + hand on heart photo + yellow dress photo by Star Love Photography