Atlanta’s underground scene is truly like no other in comparison to other cities. As a fan of the culture, I’ve noticed that a lot of that “mysterious funnel system” that turns underground stars into full-fledged stars can be credited to the infrastructure.
It’s a proven fact that ATL’s underground scene is the source of many sounds you hear in today’s music. That was made possible because these artists were given a platform at an early stage and were able to perfect their craft.
One Atlanta creative who has opened his doors to the new wave of underground artists is rising artist, Sajalie. We had the opportunity to chop it up with him and discuss so many thought-provoking topics. You can check out our Q+A below.
How are you feeling today?
I’m feeling forward. Very forward.
Elaborate what forward means to you.
To me forward is just constantly improving and striving. And constantly being ambitious. So I’ve been moving more forward recently. That’s why today, I feel like I’m forward.
Now that we passed the halfway mark for the year, in totality, how has this year been going for you?
So basically this has been the best year of my life. No cap, I ain’t never had this much success like I’ve had this year. 3 shows, all successes. I’ve been performing consistently. I’ve been getting my name out, pushing an aesthetic. My fashion. My lifestyle. And it’s all been working. Like it’s actually kind of insane. This is definitely the most success I’ve had in one year for my artistry.
Let’s talk more about your aesthetic and the importance of white. Like what does it mean to you?
Its deep. Because I’m trying to think in the sense of Steve Jobs, Leonardo Divinci, and Kanye West. Just very innovative thinkers. (For my) Aesthetics, I literally wanted it to be a lifestyle. Like aestheticism. The idea of just embodying a certain vibe or feeling and by that feeling, at that moment for prolonged periods. It’s literally aestheticism. And right now I’m in the light period. And I’m feeling very light. Honestly to an extent, dramatized, but inherent in. Within me, it feels very very deep. Because me, pushing this light outside is pushing light inside too. I’m deadass trying to help people be the best person they could be. But sometimes when you do that shit, you end up hurting people and sometimes they get in their own feelings. So it’s like I’ve been going through a lot of different phases in that regard, but that’s a whole other tangent. Like light and white, that’s what I’m pushing right now. Eventually, I’m gonna move to a different one. I’m feeling very very abstract next year. Red season is very much creeping up.
So building off that question, how does the theme of white carry into your music?
Kind of like I said pushing this agenda. When I push it outside, whatever is reflected, that’s what’s being reflected in my music too. So deadass what I did with the narrative sunrises and their clip, that was happening within time and I felt very connected to it. So I felt I did. I should plan song or music around it. And it was so much like a landmark. So I love to see what I’m going through outside and putting into the music at the moment.
So halfway into 2024, what you think has been your biggest lesson this year so far?
I realized being the strongest you can be is the best thing you can be. Because a lot of times this shit be crazy. You go through a lot of betrayals and through a lot of hurt, but it’s the strong that survives the survival of the fittest. So you have to be very much be forward. You go through shit, keep doing what you got to do. And that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve been through a lot of shit and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve lost a lot of friends, like shit get crazy. But me forward is what’s kept me in the right track, essentially.
With you being an event curator, do you find it hard balancing it with your music?
It’s funny that you said that because I was even thinking about taking a break from throwing events, just off the fact that it’s taken away from my music. It’s kind of crazy. I deadass realized that, but the only reason why is money. And doing my own music, it’s very expensive. So it’s like I have to choose between the two. Unless I found a patreon or somebody who’s willing to actually invest into me. I don’t know if I can continue doing events, because I always tell everybody my music comes first. I’m an artist before everything. Sajalie is an artist. And if my artistry is gonna speak for itself, the events will come for itself. My name will bring pool regardless. So if I just keep working in that direction, that’s where I feel like I can gain the most success.
I consider you a young OG in ATL underground scene right now. What are your thoughts on the current underground Atlanta scene?
It’s very dry. Other than like 1018 and maybe BrainWorld, nobody’s really even throwing shows or pushing no agenda right now. Like nothings hot in the market right now. That’s why I’m kind of pushing an aesthetic. But I’m about to take a whole new redirection. I’m about to rebrand again, but like on some night mode shit. But right now, I feel like it’s dry in the current scene. I seen this shit for three years now. I’ve seen peaks, I’ve seen highs and all. But just give it time. It takes a village. So I tell people, I’m willing to help. I’m willing to throw the party with y’all, just let me know. I’m loving the fact I’m getting this interview because this is exposure for my thoughts. I love ATL. That’s my hub, like I want to build this shit to be a mecca of art.
Why are so passionate about the underground?
I feel like there’s no art. That’s why I feel so passionate about this. It’s not many people who are actually pushing artistic identities. So indirectly with me, doing this white shit. And that’s what I want to do, revitalize this shit to get more people like that. The reason why I feel passionate is because it’s lacking in that regard. I want to bring that back. Eventually wherever artistic sense is gonna be brought, it’s gonna be a whole renaissance of all these beautiful ideas just flowing through the air. And I’ve started that pinnacle of it. I want to help bring it back.
What do you want your lasting impact to be on the scene?
A nigga who you’ll always remember. Like sometimes because you know how it is. There’ll be people who come in, they’ll be fine. You think they be hard as shit. But the nigga was just a trend at the moment. What I’m doing deadass, even though it isn’t a trend yet, I wanted to be impactful on the mind, like XXXTentacion did. Like when he was in the underground, motherfuckers really felt attached to the message that he was trying to promote. And that’s the mindset I think of. I really want to help us all together. The only problem is, I’ll be trying to be the light but there’s so much darkness in this shit. Like it’s a lot of dilemma and I’m about to reflect in my art soon too.
Who are some artists that you look up to?
That’s a really good question. I’ve been fucking with 2hollis. I think he’s been going stupid. This nigga in California named Ozzy Allan is fire. People don’t really know too much about him. He has a really cool aesthetic. I fuck with him. I’m gonna name some people don’t really know, but are gonna be huge. Kenarri, shout out to her. She’s really good. She’s really very talented. She got some really dope bars. She got the look too, so it won’t be difficult for her to go up. There’s been some really dope people coming out of Atlanta.
Let’s talk about your most recent release, “Been A Minute”. What was your thought process while making this track?
Deadass, I just felt like having fun. Like that’s why this underground going through this dark shit, because niggas be trying to be so mysterious. Like bro, we can have fun. Like there’s nothing wrong with it. That’s the idea and message I was trying to promote.
I heard that this track is apart of a poem series that you’re working on? What can you share about this series? Because I don’t think i’ve ever heard of an artist doing anything like this? So like what’s the inspiration?
My boy, BRBMJ and I were trying to create this style of music where it’s based on actual lyrics itself. Like a new beginning. Like it’s the structure of it. It’s not like a hook always at the same time. It’s supposed to be like artists trying to do artistic shit. So we’re putting these songs out as poems rather than songs. The next poem that I’m trying to do is “Dark Outside,” and it’s the light being enveloped within the darkness. Essentially, that’s what i’m feeling like right now. All this shit reflects what is being reflected for me.
So before you started music, poems opened the doors for you?
Funny enough I read a lot of poems. As a kid I was knowing and feeling and understanding. That’s one of my strongest traits. I loved ready poems from people like Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, and Maya Angelou. A lot of black poets.
What is some advice that you would give to upcoming artists/event curators that want to be in your position one day?
You got to always make sure you know what direction you’re going to have the vision, but don’t tripping by the details. Like as long it gets there, the details of how you got there doesn’t really matter. Start off with an idea, and I promise you, everything with blossom from there. But execution is important. A lot of niggas have ideas, but they don’t execute. Also have money. Like don’t do it if you don’t have capital. Unfortunately, it’s the only way you can truly succeed.
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