Songbird on Fire: Sarah Jane Rameau, An Interview

Sarah Jane Rameau….[Photo Credit: Sarah Jane Rameau ]

Rameau’s thyme leaf-soft voice runs through this ballad entitled “Jardin D’Hivers”—Winter Garden on her EP Introducing…SJ. I could feel this warmth in her voice, and at the same time I thought I could feel this coldness, this sadness. I truly felt enraptured. For some reason, my mind thought of a conversation I had once overheard as a little girl at a salon. One of the patrons mentioned Josephine Baker and the black expatriates who had gone to Paris to escape racism in the USA. Up to that point, I had not been schooled on this part of history, and how ironic it was that I had to learn it in a beauty salon, of all places. I don’t know why this memory came up as I listened to “Jardin D’hiver”. Maybe, it was because I was thinking of these expatriates, leaving hot Mississippi, Detroit and New York for the cold of Europe, for the warmth that they couldn’t get back home. I wondered why this singer had written this song, and why she had recorded it, and what had inspired the lyrics.

Get this: Rameau herself lives in France, where she’s studying architecture. Also known as SJ, she describes herself as a “small individual, continuously discovering herself and striving to make this world a better place by using my favorite tools: art, music and architecture.”

Kreyolicious: Are Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday among your musical influences?

They are, but mostly Ms. Fitzgerald. She has a particular voice that really gets me all the time. But the men in jazz have really influenced me. They bring an energy that these women don’t have. And I think if a singer has both, he or she is definitely complete.

Kreyolicious: There is thing song that you sing on your EP called “Jardin D’hivers”. What made you record that track?

I am a big fan of Henri Salvador. His voice is very expressive, very theatrical. Through his lyrics, we feel quite full of feelings which perspire there. So when I first heard “Jardin d’Hiver”, which is a bossa nova genre, it really hits me to hear a voice so calming and soothing compared what he usually did. Oh! I love this song! It’s like silk on your skin…And I love bossa nova, so I thought, why not paying him tribute?

Kreyolicious: When you were putting your EP together, was the track selection difficult?

It was! I mean, a regular EP should have up to five songs. Mine has seventeen…So you get the picture! And since I’m a risk-taker, I dared published an EP of seventeen songs.

Kreyolicious: Musically speaking, what can we expect from you?

Oh! A lot of things! But I don’t like expectations; I don’t like plans…they sometimes lead to disappointments… I prefer surprises. I like to live my music on a daily basis. It changes depending on my mood, on daily lessons, and a lot of other factors. It might evolve into many other things that, I, myself don’t even know of. I just let the Universe do what He’s got to do with me and my voice and the path it has to take…But more concretely, I’m working on a new EP with really cool and talented collabs…Surprise!

[Photo Credit: JD Painson ]

Kreyolicious: If your EP had seventeen tracks, does this mean your eventual album will be a double-album?

Oomph…[Laughter] Let’s not talk about it…Although it’s not a bad idea…One day! [Smiles] But as I said earlier, my upcoming EP will respect the standards—five songs tops.
Kreyolicious: How do you care for your vocal cords?

I don’t really have a particular regimen for my vocal cords. I drink cold water—which is not good for them…oops…When warming up, I like to sing off-tune sometimes. It’s weird, but I think it’s leading me places I’d intentionally never go…But on a serious note, I drink tea with honey at night, and take jazz singing classes once a week. The rest of the days—after school—I sing in my little home studio.

Kreyolicious: Why did you choose music—of all things?

Ha! I didn’t choose music… Music chose me…When I thought I was the one who chose music, I had it all wrong, trying to control it and to lead it to places where it didn’t really belong…I wanted to be a superstar with flashing lights and paparazzi, living the “big life”…Well the dream that most of us has now…One day I woke up and realized that it’s not where I want to lead my life and my music… I took a leap of faith and thought of quitting then, that’s when I realized that music chose me. And it has chosen me to be the voice that helps, that encourages. I want to be the voice of the people, the voice of a change, of a better world.

Kreyolicious: Are your parents your biggest champions when it comes to your singing career?

Definitely! My father is my first mentor when it comes to music culture! I definitely owe it to him. And my mother—and all of her sisters—sing beautifully. Thanks to them, I learned music and rhythm since I was young. I am really blessed and lucky I have them to motivate me musically [up to this point].

SJ performing in Montreal, Canada. Photo Credit: Isabelle A. Jolicoeur

Kreyolicious: When was the last time you traveled to Haiti?

Last summer, to visit my family and friends. I also had the chance to perform with the Akoustik Band at Yanvalou and was also a guest at Bibi’s—Fabiola Coupet—Radio Show. Both were rad!

Kreyolicious: Have you ever been at a loss for inspiration?

Yes, I [have been]. A lot, actually. But when it happens, I meditate, I read. I go out for a drink with my friends…Refreshing the mind a bit.

Kreyolicious: A melody…lyrics…which usually comes first for you?

Definitely a melody. They come at anytime. [Laughter] You may catch me anywhere recording a voicenote, and be like, “What the h—“. [Laughter] Although the lyrics, when they come, I just write them down in my messy little notebook.

Kreyolicious: Creative people always have messy notebooks on hand. But you know what I read in this book by entitled Show your Work? That writing on an electronic medium hinders creativity since it emphasizes perfection…Have you ever written a song on an electronic device?

I should definitely check up this book. [Laughter] But yes, true. Today, technology devices tend to “kill” inspiration. I’ve been there. I think I have approximately 15 apps for music creation in my phone—melody finders, apps that help finding what’s rhyming with what…you name it…But, I have never ever finished a complete song with their help…I tried, but the results are quite disturbing. My mind may like technology, but my subconscious likes the old method… and it always wins.

Kreyolicious: What advice would you give to an upcoming singer-songwriter?

Perfection is a process: Practice your craft everyday. Don’t be afraid of critics: swallow the good ones, analyze the bad ones. And the one I prefer: Be yourself and don’t forget to have fun while doing so.

Kreyolicious: Going back to your EP, I noticed that you have collaborations with other artists. How did those teaming-ups come about?

I strongly believe in collaborations and talent meshing. That’s when you come up with a very good “dish”—I must say. Everybody has his or her own specificity. Alone, he or she can do really good—but when together—it’s magical. It’s something out of this world. I always say it! When I work with another artist, whatever we come up with together—[however small] it may be—brings me goosebumps. Just like I believe in the artistic union, I also believe in the union of the social groups. I think that it is a step towards the progress and towards another degree of humanity. As we say, Linyon fè lafòs.

CLICK HERE TO READ KREYOLICIOUS’ REVIEW OF HER EP | | |

Last Updated on November 10, 2023 by kreyolicious

Kreyolicious in Memoriam | Songbird on Fire: Sarah Jane Rameau, An Interview

Other Posts

We Will Miss You

In loving memory of our dear friend. We are heartbroken and will miss her dearly. She was a shining light in our lives, with a kind and loving spirit that brought joy to all who knew her. Her passion was an inspiration to us all. We take comfort in knowing that her memory will live on through the website, which was a true testament to her talents and dedication. Rest in peace, dear. You will always be remembered and loved.