Written by Eric L. Irby
Like most people, I’ve always been a fan of music but particularly dance/EDM; I love the vibes and energy of a good house track especially with Black artists. I could go into a small tangent, but the way Black artists approach dance/EDM is very telling of this appropriated roots. What makes me more excited is when I see queer Black people in the space which leads to my discovery of, SAAY PARK.
Park’s musical catalogue provides a range of diversity from his earlier works like 2018’s “Paradise” which had a more reggae/dancehall atmosphere with its production, to his most current “Another Break Up Song ft (Sha Summers)” a high energy production with percussive heart beats (which piqued my interest upon first listen).
Learn how about the origin of Saay’s moniker, how he defines his performances and advice for upcoming artists.
PB: Can you please introduce yourself (age, sign, location) and define what you do?
SP: My name is Saay Park, I’m a recording artist, song writer, dancer born in September (Virgo) and based out of New York, NY.
PB: Can you share the story behind your stage name? How did it come about?
SP: So interestingly enough, my stage name actually started out as an acronym for Sometimes Anger Alludes Yearning (SAAY) which means that everyone has vices that they use to deal with getting through life and mine just happens to be music. After sometime and realizing there was another singer named SAAY already, I decided to add Park to my name to differentiate.
PB: Your discography showcases a diverse range of styles. How has your music evolved since your earlier tracks like “Crazy Sexy Cool” to your latest release, “Another Break Up Song”?
SP: When I first started doing music, I was doing very intricate and interesting styles and sounds. I was blending a lot of reggae influences in my records and creating these amazing sounds with my then in-house producer Rusty Mack, but no one was really gravitating towards it. When I decided to do Crazy Sexy Cool, I just wanted to do something fun and simple, something that people could catch on quickly to. From that record until now I would say my music has definitely gotten better. My style of writing, my choices in instrumentals have all evolved over time to showcase my artistry better. I am able to tell stories and showcase myself better overall within my music now.
PB: Btw I love “Another Break Up Song ft. Sha Summers,” tell us the inspiration behind the track.
SP: Another Break Up Song was actually written and produced by an amazing artist out of Washington named Wes. I’ve been a fan of his for awhile now and he sent me over a few demos that he was working on and I instantly fell in love with it. Our style of singing is somewhat similar, but I was able to really get behind the emotion/lyrics of the record to make it my own while adding layers of harmonies to flesh out the empty spaces from the original demo. Once I was able to get things how I wanted it to sound, I know adding Sha Summers on it would be the icing on the cake to tie it all together.
PB: When crafting a new song, what does your creative process look like? Do you start with lyrics, melodies or a particular concept?
SP: When crafting a new song, I usually sit with the instrumental for a while. I mean it actually depends on the mood I am in when I first hear the song, but usually I’ll sit with an instrumental for a while and craft a melody around it, usually a hook or chorus. Once I’m able to get a hook or chorus going, I can maneuver around to get the lyrics done for it. After that I will fine tune or sometimes rewrite things entirely until I am 100% comfortable.
PB: How do you choose collaborators and what you seek in a musical partnership?
SP: Choosing collaborators isn’t very easy for me. I actually hate asking people to collab on things with me out of nervousness of them saying NO or them disliking the song or something, but I usually know whom I want on something from the start, so I’m able to craft things in a way that they would want to join me on it.
PB: Which artists or personal experiences have significantly influenced your music and songwriting?
SP: I’m a 90s kid, so a lot of my music is influenced by the 90s, namely Missy Elliott, Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher etc. I’m also a HUGE K-POP fan lol, so sometimes I take inspiration from there as well. I look back on past relationships and sometimes even use situations my friends have been in to get influenced by for my music.
PB: Performing live can be transformative, can you share a memorable performance experience and what makes it stand out?
SP: I was able to perform for a large crowd in my hometown (the Bronx, NYC) and it was memorable because it was my first time playing for such a large crowd, I was able to perform for 30 minutes and the energy was just outstanding. My family and friends who hadn’t seen me perform before were able to witness me perform.
PB: Your music blends various genres; how do you balance these influences to create a cohesive sound that represents you?
SP: When I first started doing music, I was trying things out, trying out different styles that I thought would make people want to listen to me and it wasn’t truly who I was. When I took a step back to analyze myself and my music, I was able to realize the kind of music that I really wanted to make and it became easier to navigate the different styles and sounds from before. I’m heavily influenced by 90s R&B, my Caribbean upbringing and the different styles that have been present through these recent years and I’ve been able to use these to be able to create my cohesive sound that I think represents me.
PB: How do you engage with your audience during live performances and online platforms?
SP: My performances are what I like to describe as a “vibe”. I like to take the audience on an experience that they would remember each time they hear my name. I come with an experience that includes live vocals, background dancers and audience engagement that encompasses everything. I engage with my audience online by spamming them with everything new that I have lol. I love sending DM’s, asking them about their day and being able to send them updates.
PB: What are some challenges you’ve faced as an independent plus queer artist?
SP: I think the main challenge is budget lol. Being a music artist is EXTREMELY expensive and time consuming. It is something I love doing so I am not complaining, but it is very expensive. I think If I had a proper budget or some financial backing that I would be further in my career, but WE WILL GET THERE I Promise! Outside of issues with a budget I think the other challenge that I have faced is probably not getting enough opportunities within the LGBTQ community. I’ve tried out for Prides and different festivals and the feedback that I get is that I’m “not the right fit” for their event, which translates to me that I don’t fit whatever criteria that they have. This criteria could be that I don’t have the right look, right core fanbase or I don’t bring to the table what they want.
PB: Can you give us a glimpse into any upcoming projects or collabs you’re excited about?
SP: I am extremely excited about my 1st ALBUM! This album has been in the works for years now and I’m so indecisive sometimes when it comes to my releases. I am officially done with the entire project and I am so excited for everyone to hear and be apart of it. I cannot tell you the title of it just as yet, but I can confirm it’ll have a few appearances on it by Kony Brooks, Teddy Grahams, Sha Summers, CHANEL. & a few other surprises.
PB: What advice would you offer to emerging artists navigating their musical journeys?
SP: I would honestly say the best advice I could offer would be to stay true to yourself and know that everyone doesn’t have your best interest at heart when doing this. Staying true to yourself will surely help you navigate this industry well and you won’t have to conform to what people want you to do. Also, there are tons of people that just want to get next to you because they think they can take advantage of you.
PB: How has your musical journey contributed to your personal growth?
SP: I’ve honestly learned a lot about myself while pursuing my musical career. I’ve learned to stay true to myself as well as being firm in what I believe in. I’ve found myself while doing music. I didn’t really know where I fit in before and I wasn’t too sure of who I was as a person, but music has allowed me to actually figure out who I am as a person.
PB: Where do you envision your music career heading in the next 5 years and what legacy do you hope to leave in the industry?
SP: In the next 5 years I would love to signed to a major label, doing movies, having brand deals, everything! I just want my name to be a household name. I want to be able to leave a legacy that my kids can expand off of.
PB: Any upcoming performances, events or projects you’d like to highlight?
SP: As of right I now I am preparing a few stages in 2025, I can’t give too much away, but I am headlining something major this year and I cannot wait to share it.
PB: Where can the people find you?
SP: @saaypark on EVERYTHING.
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