We approach ‘Gotcha!’ with a certain reverence and heightened respect. Not just because it’s a unique, creative piece – sui generis, as cultured folks like to say – born from deep artistic exploration, but also because it’s the direct result of quite an extraordinary life, a journey that has shaped Saadi into the eclectic and multidisciplinary talent she is today. Born in Damascus, Syria, and raised in Pennsylvania, Boshra AlSaadi carries with her all the anti-folk prowess and leftfield inspirations found in NYC (East Village) and beyond; such a fertile city helped her conceptualise a style that’s contemporary, but also rooted in world music and enlightened lyricism.
‘Gotcha!’ is the perfect evidence of that. Taken from Saadi’s wider LP ‘Birds of Paradise’, the track benefits from the influence of the Sierra Leonean Bubu music of Ahmed Janka Nabay, who was a very influential musical collaborator until he passed in 2017. Blending African rhythms and Western synthetisers, Saadi develops an aural framework that’s hypnotic, nostalgic and curious, a breath of fresh air in an otherwise atrophic art landscape.
As Saadi explains: “Birds of Paradise is a post-apocalyptic record for me. It was culled from the ashes of so much destruction. I had lost some mobility and the ability to tour. My collaborator and friend had passed away unexpectedly. America was pivoting to the right. I was disillusioned about everything: art, music, politics, religion, relationships, justice, family.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Gotcha!’ on Spotify and YouTube:
