We were lucky to catch up with Sarey Savy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sarey, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
When I was younger, I was soft-spoken. I didn’t advocate for myself that much because I was scared to speak up about my needs and instead would put others first more often than not.
As I became older and the more I felt used, taken advantage of, and tolerated instead of loved, I started to change the direction and course of how I approach relationship building and life. It’s almost like a sudden epiphany took over the voice in my head that told me I needed to start treating myself with respect. It is a disservice to your health & well-being when you constantly put yourself in a position to be available all the time for people who take you for granted.
I woke up one day and decided to risk so much, be more selfish, and put that energy into myself and not into others. We all know that risks come with either rewards or consequences, but there are going to be moments in your life when you need to ask yourself if being comfortable is more important? Or is growing more important?
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
So I am a singer-songwriter and producer from White Center, WA. I’ve been creating music for about 10+ years and dabble in a variety of genres. However, my main home base is House, Pop, and R&B music. I’m huge on incorporating lyrical thematic elements like mental health, love, and things that people are scared to say out loud into my music. I write music that’s meant to make the listener face their problems head-on and be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It can be very honest at times.
I grew up in a very musical Khmer family. There was never a moment when traditional Khmer music or Top 40 radio would not be blasting through our stereo system in our home. Both of my parents, oldest sister, and uncle are professional Khmer vocalists. So hearing people sing all the time and going out with my family to be backstage at shows was a very common thing I would do since I was a kid.
It wasn’t until I was introduced to Cubase Pro and FL Studio that I got into music. That was when I was about 12 years old. I enjoyed experimenting with music production and writing original songs. It was an escape from the reality of growing up in a very toxic environment and a way for me to cope with that healthily.
My career has taken me down very different paths and has taught me to be flexible. From signing single deals at 15 to charting and having radio airplay in Europe at 23 it’s been a whirlwind of a time that continues to be such a blessing for me.
I’m so excited for what’s coming soon. I won’t say much yet, but there’s a lot in store that I can’t wait to share with my fans the Sarenaders!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being consistent is a huge characteristic trait that all artists pursuing music need to have. It doesn’t matter if you’re an independent artist or signed to an indie or major label – you need to always make sure you’re presently active. Whether it’s consistently releasing music, always posting new content, or presenting your work differently, what should be a top priority is that you’re constantly doing things that are tangible and lead to the elevation of your career.
Flexibility is a huge one for me. Because of my experiences with working side by side with labels and independent artists, you must keep an open mind to new opportunities and experiences. Don’t box yourself into a specific genre of music, but show the world and your fans that you’re capable of doing things outside of business as usual. Switch things up and give people a reason why you’re worth paying attention to.
Kindness and respect are huge! Making sure that you’re going out of your way when you can to make your fans, venue staff, and other people who are behind the scenes feel special is extremely important. You don’t want to be known as the artist who’s hard to work with right? Haha!
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Solidifying myself as an independent artist was such a scary thing for me to do. Holding myself accountable to be on top of my game at all times was challenging for me to face. However, after diving right in and doing it, I was thrilled to see the reception my fans had for what I felt was more authentic to who I am artistically. I love House music and always will, but I also need the freedom to be able to write music that speaks to me regardless of genre. I don’t think genres matter that much anymore – it’s what you say when you speak that does.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sareymusic.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/sareymusic
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Sareymusic
- Twitter: https://x.com/SareySavy
- Youtube: https://Youtube.com/c/SareySavy
Image Credits
ZRP Studios Russ Byrne Photography
