‘FOREST‘ is over eight minutes of mind-blowing musical exploration by the incredibly talented London-based bassist, singer and producer S.A.A.R.A.
Aside from its clear influence from jungle as a genre the hypnotic track employs elements of acid-jazz and blues drumming up this incredible journey through what feels like a genuine living, breathing jungle. The creative genius at work on ‘FOREST’ is absolutely divine as this unique tune dares to go where others have been scared to tread before.
S.A.A.R.A hones in on her creative process:
“This was the first track I completed for this project. In a way it kinda found me as I had been in search of what my ‘voice’ and ‘sound’ would be; partly because I listen to such a broad range of music and, essentially, I wanted to make everything!
It was an interesting experience to arrive at designing my own project after many years working inside other people’s music. I went off into the wilderness and decided I wasn’t coming back until I had something!! No one, including me, had any idea what this project would sound like, all I knew that I wanted to make music that people could dance to. I wanted to be playing gigs that would be different to most gigs; people standing at the back with a beer and talking though the set! I wanted our gigs to feel like a rave!
Forest began as a really simple bass line that would evolve rhythmically throughout the track, and a DNB style beat. At the time, I was studying an MA in Experimental Music and had become interested in exploring the line between what we consider reality and hyperreality, the IRL (in real life) vs the URL (online). After many weeks of just a bassline and I beat, I decided to get over my fear of singing and start mumbling into a microphone to see what would happen. Fortuitously, Forest was the result.
Forest is about not being quite certain whether you are in a weird dream or a dystopian reality and trying to find something, anything, to confirm it – kinda fitting for these strange times.
I have quite a visual approach to songwriting and production, in the sense that I want to create atmospheres and experiences for the listener which can be transposed into the arrangement. I took inspiration from artists like Kate Bush, Bjork, London Elektricity, Gil Scott Heron and The Knife to create a track that has a magical but dark quality to it, much like entering a beguiling forest in search of answers. In addition to the woodwind there are multiple synth textures and timpani which I was super excited to include in the production.”
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