TENTEN: Time for Sahati
A young, rising Kosovan-Albanian-Canadian music star is making waves with her multi-instrumental skills, haunting voice and trippy sound. Her nom de plume is Sahati and her time has come.
Lisa Sahatçiu AKA Sahati lives in the cold Toronto and she certainly carries a certain warm, artistic “je ne sai quai”. She plays several instruments, has released a number of singles and today she’s releasing the video for her latest drum&bass pumping, reggaeton-infused video “Again again” (you can listen here to the audio version on Spotify). She oozes with understated confidence, projects urban spirit in both her style and statements - so we figured she’s a perfect candidate for our publishing platform, for a new type of interviews we’re launching named TenTen.
So, without further ado, here’s Sahara’s ten answers to our ten questions.
1. What's your new single about?
‘Again Again’ at its core is about being a baddie, and the responsibilities that come with dating a baddie. A lot of people fantasize about being with their dream girl, but once they get the chance to they don’t know how to act right. This is an official callout to treat your woman right.
2. We have to ask, your artistic name is Sahati which means "watch" or "clock". Rita Ora's last name also means something similar. Is it true you're related?
Haha, yes that’s right, our grandfathers were brothers and I guess they passed the artistic gene all around.
3. Next natural question is what keeps you worried about the passage of time?
The pressure of falling into a societal normalcy once you reach a certain age worries me. It excites me to see people over the age of 50 who are still experimenting with their looks, ideas, style, and are open to new things. I hope to be even more like that as I grow older.
4. What is the Albanian-language song that speaks best to your generation?
5. What's your first concert you attended, and what's your first concert where you played?
I think the first concert I’ve been to is probably a classical concert in The Red Hall in Prishtina, my parents would often take me and my siblings there while growing up. Being a student of classical piano at Prenk Jakova for 9 years, the last thing I wanted to do was attend more classical concerts. But now I’m grateful and feel its influence while composing today. The first concert I played must have been when I was 6 or 7, for a piano recital, but the first concert as Sahati was at Vancouver Mural Festival in Canada, which was super exciting for me.
6. What are the first lines of the last song you wrote in your notepad?
“Look at look at me all of me I want everything”
7. Who or what are you obsessed with?
I am so obsessed with krelanë. It’s been my favorite dish since forever and I indulge in it every time I come back home, although it’s not the most nutritious. As for people, I’m obsessed with Rosalia, Linda (@Serpentclaws), Lui$a, Gala Dragot, FKA Twigs, my boyfriend, Yaeji, and all the women in my life.
8. Are you a winter or summer person?
Summer all year long is the dream.
9. What’s the first instrument you learned playing and which one you like best?
I learned the def first, then piano, drums, bass, and guitar. So far the drums remain my favorite, and I definitely want to go back to playing with other artists as well.
10. A ma mirë ktu a atje? (Sorry folks, this only works in Albanian)
Gjithçka që boj e boj për ktu. Po kanihere osht ma mirë atje.
