CHEMUTAI SAGE

USANII blazing spirited trail a By Maureen Shelmith www.jazzsymphonic.com

People fundamentally turn to music for relaxation, to forget their grief and anxiety. They want to be happy. They want to sing it, dance it, tap toes to it, whistle to it, or clap hands on the beat to it or even play it.

Amidst the issues we are all currently facing, I had the esteemed honor of chatting with Kenya’s renowned, soulful singer, pianist, songwriter, composer and self-taught guitarist. Barbra Chemutai popularly known as sage.

MUSIC IS A HEALER

Sage has always been a bit apprehensive talking to publications. “I don’t know what we’re going to talk about,” she said, sounding a little bit uncomfortable. The possibility that her conversation could be spun out of proportion by gossip sites terrifies her. Demons like this have pursued her, and she can never reconcile herself to such 'supposedly necessary' accoutrements of fame any more than she can adjust completely to fame itself. To put the morning on an informal basis, we forget about the interview and we hit it off, with a cordial cup of tea, as we watch Taylor Swift's: Miss American documentary on Netflix.

“music really saved my life.It really helped me focus”

To put the morning on an informal basis, we forget about the interview and we hit it off, with a cordial cup of joe at my house, as we watch a Netflix documentary, Taylor Swift: Miss American

For Sage watching the documentary triggers memories of how her relationship and personallife were magnified by the media back in 2014. She had gotten entangled in a ‘celebrity’ relationship that led to the birth of her child.

It seemed everyone had an opinion about her life. In 2015, despite the bountiful baby blessings, she dipped into post-partum depression – she talks about how she became so reclusive. During that time, Sage, got blessed with a beautiful daughter, Ayanna. Despite the bountiful blessings, she dipped intopost-partum depression – she talks about how she became so reclusive.

"My family and close friends were ver� suppor�ive of me during that time," she recalls. However, “In a lot of ways,” she elaborates, “music really saved my life. It really helped me focus. The st�dio and stage became a ver� sacredplace, that is where I had an amazing connection with something higher than myself, where I could create and be out on the edge and totally be comfor�able with that edge, creating and feeling and hearing and not thinking, not being inhibited or intimidated”.

Curating a musical sacred stage

One of her greatest joys is music. She enjoys talking about music focusing on genres that are not too specific to one generation. “The majority of stuff I listen to, my parents listened to – I grew up listening to a lot of contemporary gospel music and of course my dad’s favorites’; Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Classical music and Choir music”. I’ve got quite a collection at home, Jazz and semi-classical. I prefer to have good music around me at all times."

In 2011, she started off her solo music career, her skillful and wistful writing provided opportunities to work with Octopizzo, Muthoni the Drummer Queen, June Gachui, Jay A, Kaz Lucas, Didge and Olive Karmen

Sage currently plays with her trio, veering back and forth between jazz and different versions of funk, soul and pop. Nothing she has played has come back to haunt her as either too radical or too traditional.

She plays what she likes, and trying to make music that, in a gingerly way, reflects advances in pop and jazz.

The gift that keeps on giving and Finding the Balance

She nibbles through a sumptuous spicy noodle, as she hands me over a juicy and succulent pineapple they have just harvested from their shamba. Explaining how she likes to eat and whip up noodles, she says: ” “It is the same thing with how I sing I work with my ear and try to make it feel right, spicing it up with personal stories until I see the audience relating to each song.

Hearing this from Sage as a formula sounds modest; she has the training, the tools the instruments. Hers is a big and forthright voice. She is a singer with virtuosity, improvisational prowess, and unique jazz and R&B stylings. She is best known for her own songs, which reflect her own character and opinion.

In 2015, she debuted her album, ‘Expose Yourself’ , which she co-produced and wrote. Sage’s songwriting prowess wields the power of her skillful instrumentalism.

Moreover, motherhood has taught her the invaluable lesson of giving back. As we speak,Sage is currently working on a curriculum to teach passionate individuals about music as a way to give back. Through the lessons, she hopes that she instills a deep appreciation for music, an entrepreneurial spirit, identify work-life balance models and coping with the everchanging business needs of music.

As we make plans to meet again, she is more relaxed, seems to have a firmer sense of her own direction and looks forward with enthusiasm to a greater measure of spare time. Her modesty and musical honesty remains deeply ingrained. Love is all we need by Sage

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