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RealmGothica:
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I understand your parents are both talented musicians. When and how did
you start down your own music career? |
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Sabrina:
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Well, I guess you could say I have been singing my whole life since it is
something I love to do. However, professionally, it's been a few years. I
have always worked one way or the other in the music industry, which
ultimately led me back to where I am today. I know this sounds like a
cliché, but I really believe I was put here to do this. No matter what I
have done, somehow I am always brought back to the music. So, this time, I
have chosen to take this path and I am loving every moment of it. |
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RealmGothica:
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Your experience and talent are immediately evident on "Euphoria". It
shows what years of practice can do. Do you play any instruments?
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Sabrina:
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The extension of playing an instrument would be a bit of the violin at a
very early age, and that lasted about 6 month… Honestly, I just don't have
the patience to learn and I hate the years of baby steps that lead to
actually getting to play with finesse. I do fool around a little on keys (I
play by ear) and that's the extent of it. However, I do play everything in
my head - I hear the instrument and know exactly how I want something to
sound, explaining it is another thing, but I manage. I also think everyone
is born with a special gift and I like to surround myself with musicians
that know and excel at their craft like Keith Pires, his guitar and bass
playing are brilliant to me and that makes my music shine.... |
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RealmGothica:
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Wow a violin would be an excellent addition, not to to take away from the
talented Pires. The riffs on "Euphoria" are perfection of it's own.
How did you wind up choosing your musical style? |
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Sabrina:
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Actually, It chose me. I have never really sought out to have any special
type of style. It has just come out this way because my music is an
extension of who I am, how I think, and how I feel. It's about darkness,
sorrow, pain, and eventually hope, and finally doing something about it -
all sandwiched in between a melody that compliments the mood of the lyrics
or just how I feel at that moment in time. |
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RealmGothica:
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You truly have a unique style. I'm glad that you concentrated on the
personality of your music and not a specific genre.
Who can we find you commonly listening to? |
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Sabrina:
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I am a big 80's new wave/new romantic music fan, The Furs, Adam Ant, Soft
Cell, The Cure, and now, A Perfect Circle, Smashing Pumpkins, David Bowie,
Counting Crows, Led Zeppelin, and of course, Drew Crow Star (my favorite
druid "jeti" punk friend from the UK). |
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RealmGothica:
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What are your loves and hates of the music industry? |
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Sabrina:
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What I hate the most is the fact that still, in this day and age, women
making music is still an issue. I think the past few years of women bearing
themselves and singing sugarcoated nonsense has hurt things. I really have
very high respect for the very few women that have made it in this industry
and have not been scared to show their intelligence. I also hate the
homogenization of music on the radio. It could definitely use more diversity
in sound and style.
Things I love about the Music Industry… Yeah, I know being signed is not
looked upon as being "Cool", but I think it would be. Why? Because when you
are signed and you are the flavor of the month (and that's not a far stretch
for the music industry now days) they actually take interest in you and give
the artist marketing opportunities that they could never achieve on their
own, even though the artist is ultimately paying for it until they sell
enough music to be recouped and then finally get some cash in their pockets,
it's still the ability to reach everyone all over the world on a grander
scale. Hence, you get to reach more people and hopefully making a difference
to a few lives out there. I have had many people e-mail me or tell me that a
particular song on Euphoria has helped them through a tough time… That is
THE coolest feeling. I am a big believer of music healing the soul. I'm not
a very "Spiritual" type person, but I know that sometimes a song can turn a
person around and make them think, thus helping them get over or do
something about their problem or whatever. |
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RealmGothica:
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Not spiritual? You have me completely fooled. And don't even get me
started on the "sugar coated" crap that is on the radio. To think that there
is even an industry that supports it is unbelievable to me. Screw doing what
is cool. If it works go for it. Though I am certain you can go just as far
without being signed. That may be my marketing side speaking but one should
never forget that the reason that some people get signed by a label is
because they are actually really good. But once the industry gets a hold of
you and changes the very essence of that talent, you'll find yourself in the
door and then right back out. It really is a shame and many talented women
are not seeing the light of day talented or otherwise.
Now that we are done ranting... What is the most important message you feel
your music leaves on the mind of your fans? |
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Sabrina:
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Hope & Strength! |
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RealmGothica:
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Amen, make mine a double. If you could perform with any other talent in
the world who would it be? |
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Sabrina:
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David Bowie |
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RealmGothica:
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Ziggy played guitar.... What song would you do? |
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Sabrina:
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One of my favorite European artists, Jacques Brel's songs called "La Mort"
("My Death"), which can only be heard on the Ziggy Stardust Live LP. |
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RealmGothica:
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Hmmm now you have me stumped, I've never heard that one to my knowledge.
I have some research to do. What has been your most difficult hurdle thus
far? |
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Sabrina:
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This is an interesting irony. For example, the traffic and downloads I have
on my website is astronomical, it's crazy! People buying the CD, delightful
fan mail, etc. But, trying to build a fan base for people to actually come
out to the gigs is something else. That has to be the hardest hurdle I can
think of for any artist starting out. Since we are in the age of Internet,
people love you from all over the world, but when you do local shows… it's
rough! I think this is the million-dollar question, please, if anyone knows
the answer to this one, e-mail me with the answer. |
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RealmGothica:
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I've met the same hurdle in more of a band promotional way. It's
amazingly hard, if I could support musicians live as easily as I do online
we'd be in business. Hopefully you'll get an answer, you never know what
freak might actually be reading this. I'll let you and several other
musician know once I get a club setup to host concerts my style. Sheesh,
until then... Do you have any rituals or superstitions that are a must
before performing? |
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Sabrina:
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Nope, nothing like that… Just a nice stiff Absolute & cranberry and a good
crowd and I'm there. |
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RealmGothica:
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Sounds like my ritual for allot of things. What do you consider to be the
highest form of praise from a fan? |
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Sabrina:
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Now, I am being redundant, but the answer is when someone tells me one of my
songs helped him or her through a crisis or a much-needed change in their
life and it gave them the strength or encouragement. |
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RealmGothica:
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It's rare, you must get it often. What sign were you born under?
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Sabrina:
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Cancer |
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RealmGothica:
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What are some of your hobbies when not working with your musical talent? |
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Sabrina:
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I love to dance, but I don't to it that much because in my estimation, there
isn't much to dance to anymore unless you go to a good Goth club where they
play real dance music. Also, cartooning, painting, reading, but, when I am
not recording or performing, I am usually plugging my work and writing music
which can be a full time job. |
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RealmGothica:
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Twinkle toes, I see. I could dance to the whole Euphoria cd. That would
be heavenly,but I'd have to have some 242 right afterwards. If you could
have one super power what would you choose and why? |
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Sabrina:
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I would love to have the ability to be invisible. This way I could go around
and hear what people really have on their minds… I like to people watch. |
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RealmGothica:
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Now how the hell are you going to hear what's on peoples minds while you
are invisible? You live in New York, that's literally America's greatest
people zoo, who needs invisibility. You're better off without. Now an
invisible jet, imagine the possibilities. (<; What's your favorite food?
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Sabrina:
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I don't eat it, but I would have to say, WHITE
CHOCOLATE! So do feel free to send me pounds of it, I can always just sniff
the aroma to torture myself from time to time. |
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RealmGothica:
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If we were invisible we could eat all we wanted. How would you describe
yourself in a single word? |
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Sabrina:
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Insightful |
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RealmGothica:
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Yeah, but I'm still seeing spiritual. That's why interviews are great,
YOU get to tell us what we should see. What is something you could live
without in the world? |
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Sabrina:
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Segregation of race, religion, and stature. |
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RealmGothica:
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Why did you name your cd "Euphoria"? |
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Sabrina:
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It describes the feeling I had and have for getting the opportunity to meet
the right people and friends to help create this CD and to finally lead the
life I have wanted for so long. I just hope this ride continues for a very
long time. |
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RealmGothica:
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I hope you are wearing your seatbelt. What are some of your other
creative talents? |
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Sabrina:
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Fashion design, cartooning, dancing. |
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RealmGothica:
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I guess I kinda already covered that. I wish I were invisible. What do
you love and hate about the gothic culture? |
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Sabrina:
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Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I am and always have been in love with what I
call the pure Gothic Culture (a pure Goth). The one that doesn't have to try
so incredibly hard to achieve a look or attitude to what they believe is
Gothic. I think it's what's inside… and it chooses you. Personally, I love
the music, art, architecture, poetry, dancing, attire (from the 12th Century
to the present), mentality, and peaceful nature of it. But, somehow the
beauty of it all got lost in the mix. I hate those who have turned the
strength of the gothic culture into some sort of hated culture by mainstream
society, who think Goths are satanic worshiping criminals… Don't get me
wrong, if you wish to practice the left handed path, that's your prerogative
and I am the last one to judge on that, but it seems that because one is
wearing black and isn't preaching the gospel of sunshine to everyone, they
are automatically branded. Please I have known more Goths in my day that
were much more human and kind to others than many of the mainstream church
going people out there. |
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RealmGothica:
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Bullseye, I love the true Gothic Culture too. I'm glad you mentioned it.
What's great about it is that you can rarely find them. They are still out
there its just that its a real way of life not a trend or fashion, at least
for a true Goth. Now a day I shutter to think at how common the word even
sounds. When did it even develop a name? We should get together to rant and
eat white chocolates. What can we look forward to in the near future of
Sabrina music? |
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Sabrina:
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Much more of it. Currently we are concentrating on doing local shows in NYC
to get a local fan base and hopefully a mini US tour in the future. I have 3
finished new songs that I'm performing in the live shows, but I don't have
any plans on releasing them soon. |
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RealmGothica:
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You better not forget to come to Houston and Dallas. We love talent down
here. Final words? |
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Sabrina:
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First, I want to thank Naika and RealmGothica for your kindness and support
and for conducting this interview with me. It is people like you that give
unknown artists the opportunity to be heard and appreciated by others
throughout the world. Thank you and thanks to RealmGothica readers!
And, if any of your readers would like to write to me about this interview
or ask me any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at
Sabrina@sabrinamusic.com.
Thanks!!!
Sabrina ^..^
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We appreciated getting to know you and look forward to supporting and
following your every move.
Stay unique, stay Sabrina.
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