We recently connected with Semayah SaraVon and have shared our conversation below.

Semayah , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

When I first started music I was around the age 4 or 5. originally I was sure I was going to grow up and be a classical musician. I saw myself playing in concerts or symphonies and while that is still in music, it’s no where near the world I ended up in. My musical journey has been a lifelong venture. I started with piano as soon as I could identify letters. Classical training takes a level of discipline and practice that has helped me surpass many levels of musical understanding that many are unaware exist. It taught me that every note has its place and it’s importance in a piece. There’s layers and layers of melody and dynamics and voicing that can be lost when not completely understood. That’s one thing I heavily not only rely on but appreciate when it comes to learning the craft of songwriting. It taught me how to separate and appreciate every single note and decision put into every track. It’s a detailed process even when creating a song of simplicity, but it’s a beautiful world to be in and learn from. I had been in classical training around 10 years when I was introduced to the world of songwriting. I had always played piano and written poems but it wasn’t until I was a little older that it clicked in my head to mix the two. Songwriting was always something that I felt safe doing. I was a rather emotional kid (I’m still a rather emotional adult), but it was my method of coping and learning emotional intelligence. How to explain sadness and anger and excitement in more ways than just saying “I am this” is a skill I learned through writing that truly affects every aspect of life.
It wasn’t until I went to Berklee school of music summer sessions that I learned the conception of lyrics and the theory behind the building of a song. What each section is meant for and how to make listeners feel what you’re trying to invoke. The technical side of songwriting and the creation of a song isn’t always the most fun and at times can feel as though it’s interrupting the creative process. However, it’s one of the most important steps in creation. It’s what ties the emotion, melody, and lyrics together as a whole.
Me and singing have always had a love/hate relationship. I started as a instrumentalist and later paired vocals with it. Because of this my confidence was in my hands not my voice. I often told people I was a writer not a vocalist. Through the circles and artist I’ve surrounded myself with I learned it was hard to be one and not the other. In order to be a songwriter you have to sing for others to even be able to hear your music. I figured if I have to do it anyways I might as well build confidence in it.
Even now I’m still practicing and trying to grow and expand my vocals, my playing, my lyrical ability, and my understanding around music itself. I believe that’s the main thing I’ve picked up while learning the songwriting craft as a whole. Theres a million little avenues within it that allows so much creativity and the constant generation of new music. I will never be finished discovering and learning every single one of them. Growth never stops.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’ve known that I was going to be in music for my entire life. Sometimes I truly think that it was the first decision I ever made. It was almost never even a choice to me, there was only ever plan A. The realm of classical music, while it is really harsh and can be difficult to grow up in, I wouldn’t have preferred my start to be anywhere else. Classical training teaches you the discipline but also the frustration that can come with the world of music. How many times I’ve come to my mom after a lesson sobbing and begging her to let me out of piano over a song I couldn’t get the hang of is countless. How many times I’ve sat down and practiced each song until I could play them, also countless. Because of this the transition period of turning a hobby into a career was frustrating but not world stopping. Every songwriter and musician has there method of creation. I’m passionate about the musicality of every song. Because of this I like to blend the lyrics into the foundation of the music. I like to write in a way that allows you to almost play a movie in your head through the lyrics. That’s really only because that’s exactly what my brain does when listening to any track.
Out of everything the best part of my work to me is the connection to people that listen. I was raised with the idea that “all music is good music if it touches someone somewhere”. When people listen and can relate or like the place that my music takes them, it makes it all worth it. That’s enough payment for me.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When Entering songwriting I experienced a bit of whiplash culture wise. In the classical environment the idea is to play the music as it is written. You spend months learning the song as it was written by the composer and playing only as they intended. During auditions you were expected to play note for note what you saw and only express emotion through the ways that were notated. Songwriting requires the opposite skill. You have to open your brain and bend theoretical rules when coming up with new ways to say the same thing that has been said a million times before. You can be anything or anyone when songwriting. You can jump into a totally different life and come up with any scenario you want. I had to unlearn the rigid ness of classical music in exchange for the creativity of songwriting. When I made this transition my piano teacher even threatened to have me leave her studio because “ a true pianist can’t also be songwriter”. That’s false. I am both, I just had to learn how to be both.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Peace in the valley is most important. I’m a big advocate for mental health. In my own mental health journey music has been essential to me overcoming certain circumstances and experiences. When I’m upset I play, when I’m mad I sing, when I’m anxious I write, they all flow into each other. When I want to be someone or somewhere else even just for a second, I write from a perspective I’ve never had and never experienced. I create a new world and with that a new version of me. Then when you’re done you can sit back and remember and hopefully internalize that everything you’ve written was you. Every word that’s made someone cry or laugh or scream was you. You did that. Soon, you’ll fall in love with life a little more through every word you write.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/semayahsaravon/waves
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYfEIgRrXGz/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRyT2Qnp/

Image Credits
Iconstudio