Jo Sarah has released award nominated single: 'The Call'. A united and harmonised interpretation of Woman+, the Creative Curator has blown away audiences with her most recent project: Umaversity. Embracing her own body and empowering others to do the same, Jo Sarah has maintained her provocative portfolio that showcases the beauty in womanhood.
How has your artistry evolved throughout your musical career to what we now hear on 'The Call'?
Well I grew up hearing so many styles and sounds from all over the world and keep hearing them everyday. This inspires me to become a better artist, better creator and better person. I have learned to listen to what’s around me to enrich my library of sounds to make new daily creations. I find new ingredients for my creative soup every time I hear a song or a sound that just sparks something in me, wheter I am out dancing or listening to shuffle mode on Spotify. Besided this I have grown into a stronger woman too. I’ve always written from my experiences or the stories around me. Once I realised that experiencing life thet way I would like life to be was the juice for my inspiration to create, I let myself go out on into the world and live. Live free. The Call is an example of how I’ve experienced meeting amazing empowering tribes of women+ all throughout the world and all I wanna do is unite more of the tribes, so we can make a wave of change for women+ by uplifting one another.
Which song of yours would you play to someone who has never heard your music to make them an instant fan?
I would put on The Call first, because it’s a song I produced and I loved making it as it came from this mysterious creative space that I loved to experience. But I am proud of all my songs, because they’re my creations, parts of my life stories.
Biggest musical influence/dream collaboration?
My biggest musical influences were Sade, Sting, Michael Jakcson, Alicia Keys and Beyoncé. Sade for her sound and compositions. Sting for his songwriting and lyrics. Michael Jackson for his performances. Alicia Keys for singing and playing an instrument and just being her real self. Lastly, Beyoncé for her fierceness, stage skills and perseverance. I would love, love, love to collaborate with Alicia Keys!
What album has had the most impact on you?
Songs in A minor definitely did a number on me. I have covered each song from the moonlight sonata in the intro to playing the guitar in Butterflyz. The music felt so honest and taught me in my teenage years that being the most authentic me was beautiful.
What was the first concert you attended? Which one has been the best of your life?
Funny enough I don’t really remember the first concert I attended. I know wanting to be on stage to actually giving a concert myself. My first real solo concert as Jo Sarah was the night I graduated from the Conservatory in the Netherlands followed by a super cool tour with a Jazz orchestra. The best concert I’ve attended in my life is probably a concert by Beyoncé. That show is one big well-oiled entertainment machine. It’s an experience.
What was the most memorable show you’ve performed?
Oh that’s a hard one. I’ve done so many fun ones. I think the most memorable one was Aarhus, Denmark, while I was touring with a different orchestra, I had the chance to also arrange my song Waves for the orchestra. And that feeling of hearing my arrangement come to life for the first time and performing and playing percussion was so much fun.
Personally, who’s an artist you think has had the most influence in the industry?
The most influence is hard to say, but I think some of the most influential artists were The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Adele and Beyoncé.
Can you describe the first moment you knew you wanted to be a musician?
The moment I knew was in the tv room in Jakarta, Indonesia, 5 years old and seeing Whitney Houston and Mariah sing. My whole being said ‘that’s it’, you’re purpose on a silver platter!
What’s your upcoming plans for the future - any new projects?
I have so many plans. First of all I have my newest project called Umaversity: it’s a movement, an event where anyone who identifies as woman and/or has a vulva (women+) can go to learn about their bodies and sexuality. The lineup consists of expert talks, panels on taboos, a special market for women+ and a personal concert by myself and other invited female+ artists. There’s a lack of education on female+ bodies and sexuality and it holds us small. I want to change that with my movement called Umaversity. The first event will take place on the 27th of November in Amsterdam.
I will probably also drop a new EP in 2023 and maybe even shoot some beautiful music videos! I really want to go to Ghana and shoot a music video there.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself touring around the world playing my music for different people in many countries and organising events where everyone that identifies as woman and/or has a vulva can go to learn about their bodies and sexuality. I know this will help a lot of people and will help against the orgasmgap and gender inequality.
Questions by Jasmine Greener