Having spent the last few years growing her reputation as a fresh and vibrant singer-songwriter on the scene, LA-based artist Sanjana has now unveiled her long-awaited debut EP 'Water, I'll Grow'.
With a rich and heartfelt approach to everything she does, 'Water, I'll Grow' looks to merge the worlds of lo-fi soul and soaring pop with an elegant simplicity. Channeling the aesthetics of artists like Gabriella Cilmi and Lianne La Havas, this new release looks to bring her far more attention in the months to come with its sublime sound.
So with her new collection now with us, we sat her down to find out more about her as a person and what she has experienced in her musical career so far.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I fell in love with was the violin, and I started learning how to play it in elementary school but I was never very good at it. I absolutely love how strings sound, but I ended up being much more interested in playing the guitar. I listened to a lot of John Mayer growing up and I really wanted to learn how to play like him.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
The most prominent inspiration has been the people around me and the things I learn from the different experiences I’ve had. It’s often my family and friends who inspire me, but sometimes I get inspiration from people I don’t even know, like a character on a TV show or someone I see at the mall. I also think the process of growing up just makes you really introspective in general, and that has really inspired my music.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
As a teenager I experimented a lot with what I listened to and a lot of my listening was influenced by my friends and my sister. I listened to a lot of alternative rock bands like Bombay Bicycle Club, Young the Giant and The Strokes. Those bands made me feel really badass and helped me channel my angsty teenagerness. But I also loved listening to folksy bands like the Fleet Foxes and Blind Pilot, and singer-songwriters like Norah Jones, John Mayer because I felt like that style of music had a lot of honesty in it.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
I think 'Stop this Train' by John Mayer was one of the first songs that made me inspired to write music myself because I thought the lyrics were so clever - they were poetic but accessible. I had been writing a lot of lyrics in middle/high school and wanted to push myself to write music at that level.
When you wake up in the morning, what kind of music do you like to listen to?
In the morning I either like listening to chill R&B music by artists like UMI, and Raveena to make myself feel peaceful or old R&B/jazz like Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone to make myself feel blissfully happy.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
All of my songs are about people in my life. From experiences I’ve had with them, to conversations - there are so many ways people in your life can spark inspiration. For example, my song “Water, I’ll Grow” is about a conversation I had with my friends about gratitude, and that you’re not always in control of the results of your actions.
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
Honestly, probably the messages I get from people I don’t know telling me how much my music means to them, and how it has helped them in some way. I think that’s the whole point of being an artist - making music that people can connect with.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
I am really interested in Psychology! I have a degree in Psychology and it’s really helped me navigate difficult situations and enabled me to empathise with people more.
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
I think I would work well on the business side of music. But if I wasn’t doing anything in the music world at all, I would have liked to do something involving child psychology - maybe working as a school psychologist.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
Try to learn about every aspect of the music industry, and not just the music side. Understanding the broader music landscape will help you make informed decisions. Also, as a songwriter, I think the best advice I’ve heard about writer’s block from multiple songwriters is that you don’t have writer’s block, you’re just afraid to write a bad song. So don’t be afraid to write that bad song, it’s a part of the process.
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Sanjana's new EP 'Water, I'll Grow' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in full via the player below.