Arizona based Saiah (by way of Pittsburgh, PA) on the incredibly catchy and subversively truthful [Black] Planet pushes retro buttons blending proto punk + new wave + indie pop +hip hop. Within Saiah's infectious sound there are faint remembrances (to me) of the Brit two tone bands like The English Beat as well. The running guitar lines and female backing vox offsetting Saiah's smokey vocal aesthetic hooks you in even further.
Saiah's hybrid sense of criss-crossing genre's is exhilarating even more so because the upbeat sound is counter positioned with candid revealing lyrics. '[Black] Planet' is a commentary about racism and the 'punch in the gut' line "i love myself so much my skin makes cops go nuts" is both a declaration of self empowerment and a condemnation of how some police perpetrate racism through their blue color of authority feels like a cold splash of truth thrown in your face (while you are dancing). Wrapping such a relevant line of what is happening today within this kind of sound is as brilliant as the song itself, as heart crushing as it is.
"You can try and take it all away from me...
but I am badder than you, it's you this world don't need"
The only thing I hate about this song is that it ends too soon.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, saiah moved to Arizona with his family during high school. Finding his confidence and his voice through his art, saiah released his official debut EP, Loverboyraceway: Lostboy at 20 years old. Previous support included Lyrical Lemonade, Overcast, RapNation, and Spotify's Fresh Finds and idk.
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