SASO
Where are you from/where are you now?
I am from the Dominican Republic, but I lived there for half my life, and the other half in The Bronx, NY, where I am currently residing.
If The Bronx had a flag, I feel like you'd wear it on your back like a cape. And I don't blame you: it's the land of HipHop's birthright. But your music is HipHop's DNA gone global, from the boom-bap to the boom-chuk-chuk. How has the BX help shape your artistic vision?
The Bronx is the cultural genesis of many things that we consider pop culture today. From HipHop/Rap to Graffiti, Fashion, skate culture etc…these things were of heavy influence to me as a foreigner and young bull in the borough. My life was completely different on the island. As soon as I landed here though, all I saw were rappers, graff artists and skaters. I naturally started doing the same. Product of the environment.
Beats are essential to getting bodies moving. Your music exercises this like it's a written law. Your breakout single, "Pink", was a clever fusion of Jersey club and Brazilian baile funk. You followed up with "Sazón", which opens up with Dominican palo, and bass-drops sharply into the baile funk rhythms. What drew you to the Brazilian baile funk? Do you have a favorite track or producer from that genre? Have you received any support or feedback from the Brazilian funk community?
Brazilian Baile Funk is the reason I began to take music seriously as a career. Other than at the clubs on Dyckman (in Washington Heights, NYC), there was barely any Baile Funk being played in The Bronx/Heights/Uptown. It wasn’t until I started hanging out more downtown and in Brooklyn where I found my love for the genre. Baile Funk is naturally an embracing culture; so, this genre was prevalent in the underground BIPOC & LGBTQ+ parties and clubs in Brooklyn, Chinatown and Lower East Side. A big shout-out to Venus X, Ghetto Gothic and Papi Juice for having some of the most culturally impactful underground baile funk party scenes back in the day for me. The rhythm and percussion felt tribal and foundational to me, and that's how I fell for the genre. I feel like Baile Funk is like the HipHop of Brazil; its essence goes well together. I have connected and collaborated with a few Brazilians here in NY like Zuzuka Poderosa & Foreign Posse, but I’m hoping to grow my audience within the Brazilian funk community with more collaborations, and going to Brazil in the future.
You launched your first tour with a DIY get-it-done attitude, touching various stages of festivals and nightclubs and even rooftops. Many get to witness the boundless energy you bring to the show, but lots don't know what happens behind the scenes. From faulty sound equipment to delayed soundchecks, these small 'potholes' in the road to touring success, although annoying, also reap great lessons in the end. What lessons did you learn from self-producing your first tour?
This business is all about relationships, maintaining those relationships and having a solid team to help you throughout your journey. Always ask for a down payment or payment in advance because venues take their time to pay artists unless you have a solid relationship with the venue. I learned that I had more to my performances, not just rap on the mic. Utilizing dancers and digital installations helped in interpreting my music and heightened the senses.
As an indie artist, it's no secret that community breeds a fan base. Whether it's a Latinx festival in the Bronx or a warehouse party in Philly, the diaspora shows up strong to support you. How does it feel to see with your own eyes that BIPOC in other cities are dancing to your songs and attending your shows?
I feel grateful and elated that anyone wants to spend their hard earned time/money supporting me. Honestly, it's a dream come true. Before this, I was a pre-law student, so I never would have imagined this. I make music from my experience as a black Latino living in The Bronx and I'm happy that others, like me, can relate from the same music and experiences. We, as artists, are a reflection of our fans, after all.
Your latest track, "Suéltate" with DJ Guari, might be one of the hottest reggaeton sleeper hits of 2020. With another diasporic musical fusion - this time, a Dominican merengue típico loop and a classic reggaeton dembow - 'Suéltate' is really catching the ears of the industry, and getting co-signs from other Latin indie artists like Dominican Republic's merenguero alternativo Riccie Oriach. What's the story behind this track: How did it come about? Despite it still gaining momentum - hence being a 'sleeper' hit - what the best feedback you've heard about this song?
DJ Guari and I met about a year or two ago during a show he performed in "Afuego:" A collective of creatives curating parties and other events in The Bronx. He emailed me one day saying he wanted to collaborate on a beat and sent me what is now the "Suéltate" instrumental. I immediately started laughing because the beat exudes good energy and upbeat percussions. When Guari and I linked up, we were brainstorming on how this beat made us feel - nostalgic, happy, and loose - hence the name, "Suéltate." With these feelings in mind, it was easy to write the lyrics; (reminiscent) of the good old days. I believe the reason Suéltate is a "sleeper hit" is due to the fact that it came out too late. Guari and I were still indecisive on whether we wanted to shoot in the middle of a pandemic, so we were closely monitoring the restrictions. The video was originally meant to release in the early summer, but it was pushed back towards the beginning of Fall. I feel like timing is divine though, because the video wouldn't have come out the way it did if it weren't for the cast who made this happen, who would've normally been too busy shooting documentaries, movies or commercials. The best feedback I received from this video was from the cast and crew: We all felt like family after shooting these visuals and many of them said that this project holds a special place in their memory because of the great vibes, positive attitudes and overall wholesome, colorful aesthetics.
No doubt, 2020 rewrote everyone's plans across the world. Quarantine, tour cancellations, health scares...all of that locura. How has this global switch affected you? Have you adapted to the virtual landscape? Regarding near future plans, what's next for Saso?
This pandemic has affected all of us immensely. Many have lost their loved ones, their homes, employment; and it utterly affected the nightlife industry in New York City. It naturally affected me, as well as my colleagues. Although the essence of a real live show where I can see the faces of the people as they listen to my sounds, I have adapted to live stream performances and pivoted my marketing focusing on online ads and campaigns, as opposed to doing pop up shows and performances at clubs/venues. I have plenty more features with visuals on its way for 2021. I also have a new EP on the way full of different genre fusions, all relating back to the Afro-Latin Diaspora. We're out here working and collaborating more than ever before. It's going to take more than a pandemic to stop me from elevating the Afro-Latin culture into the Latin Pop market.
What advice would you give to a young person from the diaspora who wants to do what you do?
An advice I would give to anyone is, please believe in yourself. You, in your independent mind, know what's cool. Don't let anyone dictate your opinion on what you truly feel that sounds and looks good. That's where your originality comes from: protect that. Also, be prepared to work because stars are not made overnight, and many artists don't break through until they have released a lot of material. Make sure you listen to the OGs that did it before you because they will literally give you the cheat codes to this whole music thing. Be confident, be kind to your colleagues, don't leave bad karma hanging around, grow meaningful relationships in the business and most importantly: Make sure your music is of good quality. It'll be hard to break through if it isn't.