Saidah Baba Talibah is one of my best surprise : she totally rocked the scene at Rennes. Yes, I already have her music in my iPod (for those who wondered : I bought it). Oh and she’s from Toronto so it’s one more reason for fell in love with her sound (I’ve family overthere and I’m chauvinist) .

During all this show, I was salivating like a starved music gangster !

She will get you high with strong vocals, electric guitar riffs and stage presence : she has an energy that just pulls you in, makes you smile, gives you thrill and then makes you want to just get up and dance.

Backup by musicians Rob Teeham (sousaphone),Roger Travassos (drums), Hill Kourkoutis (keys) and Donna Grantis (guitar : I was very impressed, her solo was a total blast). Saidah’s band is locked into her groove !

I’ve really been bitten by this music : a perfect blend of deep funk, hot soul and bluesy rock. I don’t think there was a single person that was not moved after her performance at Transmusicales.

With her first album (S)cream who speaks to a very empowering aspect of womanhood, countless performances around the world; you’ll be sure to hear more about this daring, ferocious and sensual performer setting stages ablaze.

 

Lesly Lynch : What is your story, your background ?
Saidah Baba Talibah : My story began in the womb of my mother, Salome Bey. She was a great singer, songwriter, actor and playwright. When I came out, she said I was dancing, so she enrolled me in dance as soon as I could walk and she had me singing as soon as I could talk.

My favourite show as a child was FAME – a television show centered around a school for the arts. I then persuaded my parents to find a school for the arts so that I could dance, draw, and play tuba.

 

L.L What’s the place of music in your life ?
S.B.T : Music is my life. It’s my living, my food, drink, inspiration, passion,
fulfillment. Music is a direct extension of me.

 

L.L :  Can you describe your music in 3 words ?
S.B.T : Sensual. Edgy. Soulful.

 

L.L : How born yours songs ? 
S.B.T : Well there’s a number of different ways that I use to write a song. I like
to stay fluid and flexible — be a vessel and co-create with the universe.
Sometimes a song comes all together with melody and lyrics, other times it’s
either lyrics or melody. Sometimes I’m inspired by another songwriter, a
sound, a feeling, an experience, etc; All in all, my songs come from life —
good, bad and ugly.

 

L.L : What did you think of your show in Rennes ? 

 

S.B.T : I loved the show in Rennes. The crowd was warm, we had fun and I’m really looking forward to coming back.

 

L.L : What do you like to do in your life except music ? 
S.B.T : I’ve recently taken up running, dancing, visual arts, health & wellness
related ideas…I know there are more, I just can’t think of any more at the
moment.

 

L.L : If you should change your work, what would you do ? 
S.B.T : I’d be a ballet dancer or a naturopathic doctor, a personal trainer, or a
psychiatrist.

 

L.L : What is the worst song you listen (you like it for some reasons but you dont know why) ?
S.B.T : Muscles by Diana Ross — apparently, Michael Jackson wrote it, and it is
such a cheesy song. I like how blatantly cheesy it is and how adamant she is
about what she wants. But to add to the cheese-factor, the video is
wonderfully awful, which makes me love it all the more.

Muscles-Diana Ross: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFJO5LcWGfk

 

L.L : Let’s say you have only 2 mins to live, you pray but you pray for what ? 
S.B.T : I pray that my family are taken care of and that they want for absolutely
nothing.

 

L.L :Odd fear/habit you have ? 
S.B.T : An odd habit that kind of stems from a pet peeve that I have is, putting the caps on all pens that I see lying around because I hate it when I get a pen
and it’s all dried out.

 

L.L : What would you want to do in 15 years ?
S.B.T : I would want to still be making albums, touring shows all over the world and have started building my own special type of wellness centre.

Official website : http://sbtmusic.com/

Enjoy the stunning video of Scream :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0c2WwM7vqk&feature=player_embedded

 

Interview and photography by Lesly Lynch