Canadian-born, Los Angeles-based vocalist and songwriter Sara Diamond is continuing her journey through love, relationships and self-acceptance with her new EP, SaraX, out today. Arriving two years after the release of her IDK EP in 2020, SaraX finds the songwriter embracing growth and chance, coming out the other end more confident than ever before.
With crystalline vocals shining through each of the eight tracks on SaraX, the new EP finds Sara Diamond at her best. We recently caught up with her to talk about her growth sinceIDK, the creation ofSaraX and plans for the future. Read the full interview and listen to the cathartic and relatable new EP, which is sure to hit home with listeners, now below.
Prelude Press: You’ve released a handful of singles so far this year and just released your new EP! What has been the highlight of your year so far?
Sara Diamond: It’s been an exciting year so far. The highlight has been being consistent with releases and prepping for the EP launch. I’m really proud of this fun body of work and I can’t wait to share it!
Your new EP, SaraX, marks your first collection of music since your IDK EP in 2020. How do you feel you’ve grown or evolved as an artist between now and then?
IDK was a very tumultuous time for me, and that energy was expressed in the project. I’ve grown a lot professionally and personally since then, and I’m excited to release SaraX because it shows that growth and more than anything, is fun! I owed it to myself and my listeners to show that through struggle, can come new heights and moments of excitement.
Sonically, SaraX finds you expanding your sound even more – was there anything that you knew you wanted to experiment with or try with these songs when you first started working on them?
Honestly no – it was a natural process of evolution. I worked with new producers, DJ Coco and Gage Brown, for the bulk of the songs (plus my long-time collaborator, Jay Century), so naturally there would be a new sound to the music. Lyrically, I was feeling really free and sexy, so that definitely shows through the music. Whereas my older music was filled with painful heartbreak and longing, this body of work shows how you can go through a breakup and still come out the other end unscathed (or as unscathed as possible!)
The EP is a really personal release that touches on heartbreak and self-love. Was it a bit cathartic to work on these songs?
It was definitely cathartic! Music making is usually like that for me. It has always been a therapeutic process. On one of the songs, Not All Fun Is Forever, I really experimented with the therapeutic process, because I co produced it! Something had just ended with someone (and by just, I mean 5 minutes before!), and I went to my computer to hash it out. One thing led to another, and I had a production on my hands! I sent it over to my friend Jay, and he added the heavy drums and really fleshed it out, but I was proud that I was able to channel my emotions in a way that was new for me.
Were there any stories you knew you wanted to tell or messages you wanted to convey with the songs on SaraX?
I had never really written from a lighter place of heartbreak before. This project wasn’t about the ex that really affected me – it was about situationships that helped me grow and learn. Riverside happened really naturally – I think I wrote it in 10 minutes – and it was a story that I felt I wanted to share – where you know you can be treated better, and coming to that realization happens in the song. Not All Fun is Forever is similar – it’s sharing that things don’t last forever, and that’s ok. You can still enjoy the moment for what it is, and nothing more.
The visual side of the EP has played a big part in these songs, too! What stories did you want the videos to tell?
The videos were a collaborative process with the director, Jonathan Redavid. His visions fit perfectly with the storyline of the songs, and we worked really well together. The point of the videos is to show how you can get lost in love, and really lose yourself in the process. The videos are more in line with my past life, whereas the songs are this new part of me. I liked merging the two.
How was Jonathan Redavid able to make these songs come to life visually? What was it like to work together on the videos?
He is an extremely talented director! Such attention to detail. It was a pleasure to work with him and his team. It was almost as if he was a psychic – understanding my life and my story before I even told him about it!
What would you like for fans to take away from the EP?
I hope they take away that love and heartbreak don’t have to always be so heavy. That it’s ok to enjoy the moment and take what you can from it. I hope they also take away that self-love and communication in love are so important!
Do you have any other big plans for 2022?
I’m gearing up for some BIG changes in 2022-23. Stay tuned 😉
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you for taking the time to ask these questions! I’m looking forward to sharing more of my story soon 🙂
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