Sinah (pronounced Xena, like the warrior princess) is a multi-instrumental songstress whose self-produced cinematic and ethereal compositions have been compared to the likes of Bonobo and Nicolas Jaar.
Born in Berlin, the talented singer was classically trained on the piano and performing from an early age in Jazz and rock bands. In 2008 she spent a year in New York working as a session musician, playing bass and keyboards, and in the following year she moved to London to study for a music degree. She has performed alongside some big names in music, including Faithless, Kula Shaker and Reef, playing at prestigious events such as Glastonbury and SXSW in Texas.
We had a chat with Sinah to find out more about the woman behind the music...
Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?
Hi there, I'm really well. Today I'm rehearsing with my band - trying out some acoustic versions of songs and later on I'm meeting friends for a 5 rhythms dance class which usually promises to be fun. Civilised evening rave ;)
To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
Electronic dark pop? I always need to break things up with real instruments to make it less mechanic.
What are the 5 albums and artists that have influenced you the most?
Strong entrepreneurial artists such as Feist, PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsom and FKA Twigs as well as more industrial bands like NIN and Tool have influenced me and still do.
What other artists do you really like at the moment and why?
Shivum Sharma - It's impressive how he uses lyrics and melodies that might sound cheesy in another context but he pulls it off. Honest and very touching music.
Seekae - especially the song Test & Recognise. It took me a few listens to get into it but was completely worth it. Starts a bit creepy and then builds into something truly beautiful. I like how he moves into different parts without repeating musical structures.
Your songs are all self-produced and incorporate lots of layering, creating an extremely interesting mix of sounds like for example on “Loveless”. What are the key pieces of gear you use to write your tracks and perform them live?
I use Ableton Live to produce. For Loveless I built the beat first followed by piano and synths. To be honest when I finish a track I usually have no clue how I've actually done it. Once I get the basic structure it just flows. I played guitar and bass on it and got someone to play parts on a Sitar/Pipa to give it a bit of an oriental vibe. Live I trigger beats, play around with delays on my voice (good fun) and have the support from Anna on Keyboard and Cristiano on the Bass guitar.
Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Life…love.. I don't put pressure on myself to write. It just comes when it does. Some people asked me to produce for them but I declined because it's an almost holy process for me that I just use when I'm actually in the mood for it. It's my way of communicating and dealing with things. Piano is my preferred instrument to write on.
You recently performed at the Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, which you have said is one of your favourite venues to play. What is about this venue that makes it so special to you?
It's got a nice size and usually very good sound. This time I struggled a little with the sound on stage - but mainly my fault cause I skipped soundcheck ;) I had some Itsu to eat!
What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?
Uh, I liked a gig we played at Proud Galleries. Sound was amazing and they had a big projector for my visuals.
What’s the worst gig you have ever done and why?
Las Vegas - in a massive church. I drove across the USA when I was 19 and played shows along the way. A friend's mum asked me to perform at the church. There were 3 people in the audience (one of them the sound engineer) and I started laughing on stage cause it was too bizarre. Unfortunately it wasn't just a one off little laugh but continued throughout the set….
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?
A farmer….and I will be one day!
If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would that be?
Mainly producers. I'd love to release a record with my piano tunes one day that won't be electronic. Cellos, Vibraphone, Harmonium…REAL instruments and would love to work with interesting producers such as Tim Anderson and Feist's producers on them.
Finally, do you have anything coming up in the pipeline e.g. new releases, gigs or anything else you would like to tell us about?
Oh yes. I am releasing and album in June via a German label! I believe I may share this information already. Very excited! A few remixes I've done of bands are coming up as well. I will perform around the release date of the album. Plenty of tunes to follow. They are desperate to leave my hard drive!
Thank you very much for taking the time to chat with us Sinah!
Thank you too :)
Check out Sinah's breathtaking cover of Alt-J's 'Breezeblocks' below.
Follow Sinah on social media:
Official website
SoundCloud
YouTube
Words: Donnay Clancy
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