Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Marie.
Sasha, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My love for music started at a young age. I remember sitting in my father’s garage while he worked on his 1950 Mercury. I spent hours sifting through his record collection, studying the art of each cover, playing the records one by one. His collection was comprised mainly of oldies but goodies – the type of music you could cook too, slow dance to, fall in love to, and heal a broken heart to. These sounds filled up my earliest childhood memories and led me towards the path I am on now.
I didn’t have many friends growing up. I felt socially awkward and would get teased a lot. I took comfort in music and the four walls in my room decorated with all my favorite things. I spent so much time searching for music that moved me. I’d fall in love with certain aspects of each artist: the beautiful haunting voice of Billie Holiday, the ethereal vibe of Flying Lotus, the strong and empowering force of riot grrrl band Bikini Kill. I couldn’t get enough – my palette was open to it all. I started making beats on GarageBand, changing the pitch of my voice to sound like Tyler the Creator, trying to capture the sounds I was drawn to.
Around that time, my interest in music shifted to DJing – I loved how mixing gave me the ability to tell stories in a way that showcased the artists that inspired me. My father bought me a cheap pair of turntables, and I spent months holed up in my room, learning how to mix. At age 20, I got my first gig at a local queer bar, Gossip Grill. I kept these gigs a secret from my father, along with the fact that I was queer. I would sneak out of the house and into another world, playing four to six hour sets. I learned pretty fast how to play and how to express myself through music.
A few months into DJing, my mother passed away suddenly. A month later, my father passed away. I was completely devastated. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I had lost them both in such a short period of time. So much was happening around me and I struggled to cope with it, but the one thing I stuck to was music. I started putting my energy into making mixes and posting them on SoundCloud, a music sharing site for artists and DJs. I’d pour all my emotions into these mixes – they allowed me to tell a story, and at the same time, to process and grieve.
I was DJing a gig at my best friend Lea’s sexuality boutique, The Rubber Rose, when I met Andre Power, the co-founder of the LA based music collective Soulection (it was and still is the coolest upcoming collective of DJs and artists worldwide). He asked if he could look through my music, and in doing so we found that we had strikingly similar taste. After sharing my mixes with him and Soulection founder, Joe Kay, I was invited to play their 2nd Year Anniversary. My very first Soulection show! I was thrilled, excited, and honored. I later became part of the Soulection team, which propelled my career and changed my life. Through music I’ve been able to travel through Europe, to South Africa, and all over the US and Canada. Soulection became my family, and I’ve witnessed our collective growth both as humans and as artists. DJing is now my full-time gig and it’s been quite a journey. From family to fans, I have the most incredible supporters. Soulection opened up my world to new opportunities and experiences. I’ve played alongside some of the most talented artists, including Lauryn Hill, The Internet, Sevdaliza, Goldlink, SZA, Little Dragon, and more. We recently had our second Soulection Experience Festival, a sold out 5,000 person capacity show. I’m so proud to be part of our team.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think the thing I sometimes struggle with is pushing past my comfort zone. For years I’ve dealt with bouts of anxiety, and as an introvert it can be taxing for me to put myself out there and meet a lot of new people at one time. I’ve been working on expressing myself on stage and being truly comfortable in my own skin. Through the process I’ve learned how to trust myself.
Also, as an entrepreneur, some months are filled with a lot of gigs and some aren’t. Learning how to ride the wave and continuing pushing myself in those tough moments are key. Self-doubt can easily creep in. I think most artists deal with being overly critical of themselves or comparing their success to others. I have to stop and remember that I am in this industry because of my love and passion for music. At the end of the day, it’s about art and the way it makes you feel.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I DJ for Soulection. We are a genre, a community and artist collective, bringing visibility to meaningful music and curating memorable experiences.
I am an audio and visual storyteller and I’m most proud of my ability to create beautifully curated mixes that express a range of emotions. The feedback I receive on my mixes has always been so sweet and generous. I often read messages from people sharing how one of my mixes got them through heavy times. I feel honored to be able to provide comfort in times of need.
I’m versatile with my music so I play it all. I am honing two very different sides of myself – the low key side, usually shared through mellow mixes, and the side of me that plays shows and gets the crowd hyped. Seeing people smile and dance is an ultimate win for me.
This journey is also allowing me to explore new ventures. I’ve recently been working on writing and filmmaking. It’s been a wild ride and I’m so excited to see where it takes me.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Lately I’ve fallen more and more in love with our city. I’ve reconnected with the San Diego music community and have become more involved in playing and producing shows here. I appreciate collectives like San Diego’s Travelers Club – they push the culture and music scene here by bringing in acts that San Diego venues and promoters wouldn’t normally consider. It’s refreshing. My friends out here are doing amazing things and we support each other. We are all trying to diversify the scene and create a space for art and music specifically for people who feel that they are different and don’t particularly fit into one category or genre. San Diego has tended to cater to a mainstream, top 40, EDM crowd, which is probably one of the things I like least when it comes to this city’s entertainment. But we are working to change that.
Music aside, you can’t deny that San Diego has the best Mexican food. I love my city
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sashamarie.co
- Email: sashamarie@soulection.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sashamvrie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sashamvrie/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sashasashamarie
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/sashasashamarie
Image Credit:
Leslie Colon, Joe Kay, Andre Power
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
