Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I was born and raised in San Francisco, California, and I’ve been playing music in one form or another since the early 1980s. My parents were not musical, aside from playing records. I soaked-up Fleetwood Mac, Willie Nelson, Led Zeppelin, etc. from them. I still believe that music is in the blood, though I may be an exception to that.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: Bryce Drew, Wretched Stench, Gregory Mann, Devin Townsend.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Said Sara’?
A: Rush, Journey, D.R.I.
‘Said Sara’ is a line from the song Sara by Fleetwood Mac.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Same’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Lyrically, it’s about simultaneously being overwhelmed with emotion and attempting to suppress emotion. Throughout my life, I have prided myself on being able to squash or even destroy emotion for the purpose of re-achieving sanity. This pride is a fantasy, because its source is false. I say that “I can exit this bad or obsessive feeling if I want to, because it’s dangerous,” though I actually cannot. Lyrics can be an outlet for fantasy. ‘Same’ is about the fantasy of being able to suppress emotion. Penning this type of concept might make it real for someone.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Yes! Next year…
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: There is an underlying punk element to my music that seems to resound with some. I come from that background, and I believe that it shows through. Modern folk tends to be polished and Said Sara is not this. I want to be seen a a classic folk singer – a modern troubadour. I would describe Said Sara’s sound as dark alternative folk. It’s riff-based, which may be unique for acoustic music.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: I am fulfilled, personally, by the music — but I want more fulfillment from everyone else! More ears!!
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do you usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: It simply starts with making time to write. There are constant, swirling melodies and words in my head: at work, driving, in bed, etc. The trick is finding time to sit down and write. Once I do, the music pours. I can usually refine a song to the point of satisfaction within a few sittings. Lyrics on the other hand take a lot more. I pour over them for weeks, listening to rough tracks in my car.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: This isn’t the most difficult thing by far, but it has been tricky — and an “adventure” to put it in a positive light — to navigate the promotion of Said Sara and to search for a community of equals. Not only has my musical life revolved around the very genre-specific, but also primarily in extreme music (I play drums in crust punk/death metal band Acephalix). Though Said Sara may be more “accessible,” its inlets and outlets are not in my wheelhouse. I’m not sure even where to start.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: ‘Same’ is my greatest achievement with Said Sara. Aside from that, I have done some successful tours with various bands, and I was signed to SST Records! That’s my claim to fame.
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