SAÏNA

Saïna blends soulful elements with an RnB flow, while also singing in English and Japanese on some tracks, creating a unique sound that continues to push her as an artist. Discussing the influences and experiences that have shaped her current music to the importance of understanding how personal lyrics translate to an audience. Strangers by Saïna is out now! A beautifully written song based on the disconnection of her Grandpa’s fading memory from dementia and the struggle her family face coming to terms with it.  

 To start with how did you build your passion for music? Have you always known you wanted to step into the industry?  

So, I started to play the piano and guitar when I was 7, learning pieces like studio Ghibli compositions and film theme songs. Pieces that I loved, I guess melodic compositions. But I was never singing until a lot later. The first memory of writing a song was on holiday with family. When I was like 10, I wanted to put on this show with my cousin. I remember I basically rewrote the lyrics of Back to Black by Amy Winehouse, with the lyrics being something silly. But I guess that's kind of that innocent beginning. When you don’t think about your career or what you are going to do in school. You just did it because you loved it. that's what it stems from, all these hobbies turn into passion. In school I was doing music and started learning to produce so then I guess you just kind of figure, okay, you can do this, you know?

Building from that were there any specific influences, experiences or experimentation that played a role in shaping your current music identity or sound? 

Going back to Amy Winehouse, I mean she was always someone I listened to since I was little. Nina Simone as well. We'd go to bed at night listening to their album CD’s. Also, my dad introducing us to 50 Cent, blasting this in the car on the way home from school. So Hip-hop as well, carried through to when I was crafting my style - what do I like and what resonated with me? Soundcloud had a lot of jazz influence in lofi and I loved that blend of jazzy sounds with the grit of Hip hop. I always find new music genres I like but these early influences are  the backbone to my inspirations.   

Additionally, how did it feel to release your first ever song in Japanese & English? Do you feel like this has only elevated your sound further as an artist? 

I always kind of had it in the back of my head it would be cool to do it, but I was too nervous because I'm not fluent, so it’s a challenge. But when I came back from Japan last year and had a session with producer, Jdan Productions, I knew now was the time to try. 

I didn't want it to be random and for the sake of it. I also wanted to have East Asian influence with the instruments. It started blending into this East Asian influenced, Afro track. I think after that I had this weird epiphany where I realised, this is sounding cool, I could try and do this more. There's also so much to explore with the sounds, with so many instruments that East Asian, folk traditional sounds use. For example, taiko drums, koto, the shamisen, which are all traditional instruments you don’t really hear, even in mainstream Japanese music.  

I love how thoughtful it is. I think because, you know you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone in a way.  

Yeah, for sure. You become too static in your  comfort zone so I’m always  thinking about what the next step is.  

You wrote a beautiful song called ‘Strangers’ about your Grandpa who has dementia. How important do you think it is to see personal stories reflected within music?  

For me and a lot of artists, the most effective and touching songs, are concepts that come from deep personal experiences. I mean you can listen to a lot of great songs, and the instrumentation is nice, but there's not that substance. Covering topics that other people will relate to. Maybe not everyone and that’s okay. It's also an awareness.  

It's a lot more personal because when you're listening you can almost see that person and feel their experience.

Maybe not everyone has experienced knowing someone close with dementia but I think the way that I at least try to make the lyrics, is that the chorus could still kind of relate in other situations. You could also be thinking about the memory of someone you miss when I sing, ‘We’re just strangers, walking on by...’. It’s about finding ways to not make it way too niche but also being specific.   

Lastly how do you navigate feeling lost or overwhelmed in a creative industry, while continuing to make art that you believe in?  

I mean, there are so many phases where I have a week running around every day, going somewhere, doing something. So, then I have all these things piling up at home I need to do. For me, writing down works the best. It clears your head, because it’s like having a diary in your head. How are you going to navigate that? You can't! I think when we get so overwhelmed, we are so caught up in our heads, that we almost become quite selfish in a way, and everything becomes a problem. You look at everything with this half glass empty perspective and I think it's so important in those times to step back and just reflect. You can’t be creative all the time, and it’s not always going to flow. But you have to trust the process. 

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