After a vibrant run of releases these last few years, Boston-based singer-songwriter SARIKA is now kicking off her 2024 in fine form as she delivers the sweeping new single 'Nightrunner'.
Capturing more of that sweet and tender aesthetic she has been building for herself of late, 'Nightrunner' makes for a beautifully rich and alluring listen. With her bright uplifting vocal performance layered across a shimmering production from start to finish, she is certainly looking to turn some heads with this emotive new release.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Piano! And to this day it’s still the only instrument I play (besides my voice if you count that). I started learning classical piano when I was about 7 years old and it was my introduction to music and eventually composition/songwriting, so I’m really grateful for my piano journey.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I’ve always been a pop girlie. I consider myself both a pop and folk artist because I write a combination of both now, but in my heart of hearts I’m an aspiring pop star.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Hannah Montana 2. Banger after banger.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I’d have to go with Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac. It’s timeless, and the piano version that Stevie Nicks plays in American Horror Story is especially beautiful.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Not particularly, except that I use an app on my phone where you can take both audio and text notes and sort them into folders super conveniently, so that’s my first place to go both when an idea pops into my head and when I’m looking for ideas to write a song with.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I’ve been a huge fan of Two Door Cinema Club since I was a kid, but recently I’ve been re-discovering all their music after recommending it to a friend. All the eras of their music are so good and their older stuff makes me so nostalgic. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Sara Bareilles, partially because a lot of people have been comparing my recent single to her, and her songs are just so fun to sing. Also MUNA! Love them so much.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Such a hard question, there’s so many. Maggie Rogers is definitely one—she’s such a huge inspiration for me and I’ve had the privilege of seeing her perform at a music festival which was amazing, so sharing a stage with her would be a huge honor.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The community. I just graduated from college last June, and it’s no secret that it’s hard to make friends and find community as an adult, especially in the US. A lot of my friends from school have said that since we left our college town and went our separate ways they feel lonely and are having a hard time connecting with new people. I feel lucky that I have this passion of going out and playing music because it’s allowed me to meet so many cool people and bond over that shared interest.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Being on the clock 24/7. It’s hard to maintain a work life balance when part of your job is being constantly active on social media, you have to be constantly creating in your free time, and most of your friends are other musicians, often collaborators. (Luckily that last part is also super rewarding as I mentioned.) Also the constant perfectionism, self doubt, and anxiety, which maybe isn’t universal but I think is pretty common in artists unfortunately.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Kill the part of you that cringes. Writing music from the heart is cringey. Posting it on the internet is even more cringey. Promoting a show is insanely cringey. You just have to do it. If you let it, the fear of being cringey will stop you from ever creating or sharing anything of value. I’ve recently come around to liking so much good music I wrote when I was younger after years of hating it because I thought it was cringey. When I realised how many people loved it, I decided that just because something (a song, a video, whatever) is a little silly or juvenile or imperfect doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve to be shared.
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SARIKA's new single 'Nightrunner' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.