Learning More About "The United States of SARIKA"

Last week, SARIKA was nice enough to answer a few questions for us about the creation of her latest EP,  "The United States of SARIKA". Today she has even more to say, as we dive into some of the specific details of the project. I knoe behind the Scenes is my favorite place to be, and I hope you'll agree.

Here's what she had to say!

How did you come up with the EP cover artwork?

The EP cover is from a photoshoot I did with makeup artist Jordyn Klegraefe and photographer Mayker Duran in Providence! Jordyn and I met on TikTok and knew we wanted to collaborate on a fun makeup look and shoot. I originally didn’t know what I was going to do with the photos, but I felt like it ended up being a perfect fit for this EP between the dramatic pose, the glittery makeup, and the purple lighting (the EP feels very purple to me because of the red + blue = purple metaphor in “Violet” plus the United States references throughout the project).

Do any of the songs on the EP stand out in your mind?

I can honestly say I love them all equally! Each song became my favorite when I finished it, and I think that is super special. 

Do you have any favorite memories of the recording process?

My engineer and I had a lot of fun recording the gang vocals in the bridge of “High School”! I also really liked receiving submissions from listeners for the boarding call at the beginning of “Passport”. It was really cool getting to involve listeners in the creation of the song in a way that I’ve never done before. 

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this look at her EP with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!

Introducing "The United States of SARIKA"

I'm sure that you've all been listening to the latest EP from SARIKA, "The United States of SARIKA". I know that I can't stop. It makes me want to learn more about the EP, and I can only assume that you feel that way as well. Thankfully, SARIKA was willing to answer a few questions about the EP so we could all appreciate it even more.

Here's what she had to say!

What do you want listeners to know about the EP?

Something listeners might not know is how long this project took to come together and how much of a journey these songs were from start to finish. Much like my previous EP, some of the songs were written several years ago and have been previously released in other forms. I wrote the first verse and chorus of “Back In Time” in middle school, then finished the song in college a few years ago. “Violet” and the chorus of “High School” were written when I was actually in high school. I’ve released versions of “Back In Time,” “Violet,” and “California King” in the past (which I later took down with the intention of improving and re-releasing them). It took many iterations (and many talented collaborators) to get them to the more polished state that you hear on the EP!

How does this EP compare to your previous work?

It’s more glittery, synthy, and dance-y than anything I’ve released before! I feel like my previous EP drew a lot of inspiration from music I listened to as a young kid (in the early-mid 2000s), and this one kind of comes next chronologically—it reminds me a lot of the music from when I was in middle school in the early 2010s. It’s also a lot more queer, both in lyrical content and musical influence, representing my coming to terms with my sexuality throughout my teenage years and even in the past few years.

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this look at her EP with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!

The Story Behind "Something Blue (Acoustic)

By SARIKA

Honestly I made the acoustic version because when I released the original version, I posted a TikTok comparing a voice memo of me playing the song to the final production, and one single person commented that they preferred the original stripped down, sadder version of the song. It’s not that I’m obsessed with making everyone happy (okay, maybe a little bit), but I agreed with that person that when I play the song solo it has a more raw, emotional feel to it. I thought people might like to hear a version like that. It’s funny because it’s been a full year now and the person who left that TikTok comment doesn’t even follow me so they have no idea they inspired a whole new version. But shoutout to them!

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this story with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything (including her two most recent singles)! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!

Questions about "Lessons Not Learned"

I'm sure that you're all huge fans of the latest EP from SARIKA, "Lessons Not Learned". I know that I can't stop listening to it. But whenever I find music I really enjoy, I want to learn all I can about it. I can only assume that you feel that way as well. Thankfully, SARIKA was willing to answer a few questions about the EP so we could all appreciate it even more.

Here's what she had to say!

What do you want listeners to know about EP?

The EP took over a year to record fully–we started in the fall of 2023 and finished just last month. I wrote the oldest song (“Something Blue”) in 2018 and the newest (“Paper Mind”) in 2024. It’s a pop EP overall, but there’s definitely a lot of different styles in there–”From Inside The House” has a very musical theater-y sound, “Paper Mind” draws from alt/indie rock influences, and “Nightrunner” is almost country pop (controversial take given people’s strong opinions on what is and isn’t country, but I’ve heard it from enough people that I don’t think it’s entirely off base). 

How did you come up with the name for the EP?

“Lessons Not Learned” is a lyric from “Nightrunner,” the last song on the EP. I chose it because when I was looking for a common thread between all of the songs, I realized they’re all kind of about either me being foolish or someone else being foolish: “New Spring” is partially about me being emotionally clumsy in a relationship and putting my foot in my mouth; “Something Blue” is about pining over a man who has moved on with someone else; “From Inside The House” is about hypocrites who lack self awareness; “Paper Mind” is about my tendency to put others on a pedestal and base my identity on them; “Everything’s On Fire” is a critique of people who only care about their immediate bubbles in the face of climate change and global turmoil; “Nightrunner” is about getting back with an ex multiple times. 

Do you have any favorite memories of the recording process?

Five friends came into the studio with me to record the gang vocals in the bridge of “From Inside The House.” It’s a home studio on the third floor of a house, it was the middle of the summer, and the AC was making noise so we had to turn it off while recording. We all got very sweaty and very close (literally and figuratively). I remember all sticking our faces in the fan and window between takes to cool down. But we got it done! And got some yummy food and drinks after!

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this look at her EP with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything (including her two most recent singles)! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!

Some of the Songs on "Lessons Not Learned"

By SARIKA

One thing that I find really interesting about the EP as a whole is that only half of the songs are about romantic relationships. As a pop artist I feel like the norm in my genre is to write primarily about love or breakups, and especially when I was younger, I felt a lot of pressure to write about that stuff even when it wasn’t a super significant part of my life. That’s how I ended up with songs like “Something Blue” and “Nightrunner,” which, fun fact, aren’t actually based on personal experience–I’ve never gotten back with an ex or had a dream that my ex was marrying someone else.

The three songs that aren’t about romance are “From Inside The House,” “Paper Mind,” and “Everything’s On Fire.” I think “Everything’s On Fire” in particular is interesting because it’s supposed to sound like a love song on the surface, but it’s really a critique about people’s preoccupation with their own individual lives and indifference to collective problems like the climate crisis. This meaning becomes especially clear in the bridge. 

“Everything’s On Fire” also stands out to me sonically. I generally love a song that builds dramatically from the beginning to the end, but this one does it in a particularly drastic way, starting off with a super simple piano and voice arrangement, then growing to include very sweet sounding backing vocals and instrument parts, then finally taking a dark and chaotic turn in the bridge.

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this look at her EP with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything (including her two most recent singles)! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!

The Story Behind the "Lessons Not Learned" Photo Shoot

By SARIKA

I knew I wanted the artwork to include an unlit candle or a lightbulb that wasn’t turned on, to symbolize an idea that was never had, or a lesson that was never learned. And I also knew I wanted to wear the red corset that’s in the cover art, but initially I was just planning on sitting in a chair or something.

Then some friends and I were at the Tasty Burger in Fenway after one of them performed nearby, and we had had a couple of drinks. The counter and hand dryer in the Tasty Burger bathroom are bright red, and I was wearing a red sweater, so I was like “guys take a picture of me sitting on this right now.” I posted it on my Instagram and someone commented that it needed to be album art, and she was totally right.

So I went back to Tasty Burger in my corset and nice outfit with a photographer, wrapped string lights around my neck, and sat my ass back on that counter! I was kind of uncomfortable because between the tight corset and string lights around the neck I felt pretty constricted, plus we had to hide the battery pack by shoving it in my corset (plus editing out the wire and weird boxy bulge from it later), and I’m actually not resting my legs on the trash can at all because of how high my heels are, so it was kind of a work out to sit like that.

But any discomfort was totally worth it, because I was super happy with how the photos turned out! Then I wanted the hand dryer and soap logos gone, and I thought it’d be fun to incorporate the EP title and my artist name in a creative way, so I had another photographer friend Photoshop the hand dryer to say “SARIKA / Lessons Not Learned” instead of the “Xcelerator” logo. So that’s how my tipsy impromptu Instagram photo became the official EP cover!

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this look at her EP photo shoot with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything (including her two most recent singles)! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!

New Music From Swara Modi, Cece Benz, Asmi Aderay, SARIKA, Gracie Modean, and Olga Prepis

"is it over yet?" - by Swara Modi

Release Date: March 14, 2025

What You Should Know: "this song means so so much for me because it’s the first song I produced by myself along with the incredible help of @iam_lkfmusic in mixing and mastering. and a big thank you to @warman__music as well for helping me out with some awesome guitar riffs! this song is also a really personal song to me which was, at first, very difficult to share with others publicly but i’m so glad i decided to release it now because of the love and support I’ve received from it! thank you so much to everyone that has been there for me through everything. go stream! this song is now yours!"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Swara Modi Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Just Pretend" - by Cece Benz

Release Date: March 14, 2025

What You Should Know: "i’ve been waiting a long time to share this one - as you can see on the voice memo from the day that i wrote it. from sitting down on my dorm room bed and writing this song to sitting down in the studio with @collinpastore and @jakelfish, this song has been so fun to bring to life. i can’t thank the both of you enough for taking such great care of this one!! and thank you to @p_coch for putting on the final touches with the mastering.
as always, thank you to @viewsbyterry for working with me to see my visions through - this was a fun one!! i hope you enjoy this song as much as i enjoyed creating it"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Cece Benz Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"My Version of You" - by Asmi Aderay

Release Date: March 14, 2025

What You Should Know: "LISTEN TO THE LYRICS - This is a sign that he’s not real and you’re wasting your youth on someone who doesn’t exist."

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Asmi Aderay Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Paper Mind" - by SARIKA

Release Date: March 14, 2025

What You Should Know: You know you enjoy the rest of her music. You'll love this song too!

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "SARIKA Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Who's Crying Now?" - by Gracie Modean

Release Date: March 7, 2025

What You Should Know: You won't want to miss this one!

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "It's 2025 in Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Gracie Modean Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Sober" - by Olga Prepis

Release Date: March 14, 2025

What You Should Know: Continuing the string of amazing releases from this talented artist.

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

New Music From Kilough, Jessica Woodlee, Riley Wells, Alexis Bleu, SARIKA, Julia Adrian, Andie Mechanic, Anna May, Gracie Modean, Aysha Luzia, and JØRDYN

"I Know You're Listening" - by Kilough

Release Date: August 2, 2024

What You Should Know: Another fantastic song from this artist.

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Previous Noteworthy Releases: "States Between"

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Kilough Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Jess" - by Jessica Woodlee

Release Date - August 16, 2024

What You Should Know: "This album has been years in the making and I’m so glad that it’s finally yours."

Find It: Everywhere, like  Apple or Spotify

Previous Noteworthy Releases: "Rainy Day", "Dude", "Whiskey", "By Now", "Dairy Aisle"

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "What 2023 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Jessica Woodlee Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"heaven is a kiss" - by Riley Wells

Release Date - August 9, 2024

What You Should Know: Another wonderful addition to her must-listen music catalog

Find It: Everywhere, like  Apple or Spotify

Previous Noteworthy Releases: "Lilith", "I Am"

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Riley Wells Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Self Sabatoge" - by Alexis Bleu

Release Date - Aug 16, 2024

What You Should Know: "Self Sabotage is a new sound for me, and I love it! I hope you guys love it too"

Find It: Everywhere, like  Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Alexis Bleu Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"From Inside the House" - by SARIKA

Release Date: August 16, 2024

What You Should Know: "this song is a diss track about the person who bullied you in high school meanwhile their instagram bio is “always be kind❣️”… the most selfish person you’ve ever met who’s always saying they need to start putting themselves first... a performative hypocrite who is constantly preaching and rarely self reflecting. someone’s gotta tell them they’re the villain bc you know their therapist isn’t going to!!"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "SARIKA Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Potential" - by Julia Adrian

Release Date: August 30, 2024

What You Should Know: "it’s potentially my favorite song I’ve created so far and I am very excited for you to hear it"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Julia Adrian Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Boys" - by Andie Mechanic

Release Date: August 30, 2024

What You Should Know: "I’ve been avoiding men like the plagues of Egypt since I was probably 13 years old. The lengths I went to to not have to touch one genuinely astounds me to this day.

As the story goes, in 2022 I got ma-ha-ssively drunk and stoned with my brothers before going to Fenway Park for a baseball game. We were walking through the stadium when I randomly started freaking the literal fuck out, so I ran to the bathroom to hide. Then I pulled up my phone and just started typing.

That’s when I realized what I had been doing my entire life."

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Andie Mechanic Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"The Show" - by Anna May

Release Date: August 26, 2024

What You Should Know: "I am performing September 7 in Brookline at Village Social Cocktail Club"

Find It: Everywhere, like Bandcamp

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"Roof" - by Gracie Modean

Release Date: September 6, 2024

What You Should Know: "This first single from Gracie is definitely one you won't want to miss!"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "Gracie Modean Visits Section 36 Music!"

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"Cocaine Kiss" - by Aysha Luzia

Release Date: September 6, 2024

What You Should Know: "Ahhhhhh I’m so excited to FINALLY announce my debut single Cocaine Kiss out September 6th!!!!
So much blood, sweat, and tears in the project!"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

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"Wake Up (not quite a woman)" - by JØRDYN

Release Date: September 6, 2024

What You Should Know: "Another amazing song from this artist"

Find It: Everywhere, like Apple or Spotify

Her Spotify Playlist Inclusions: "What 2024 Sounds Like From Section 36", "Women Going Places, from Section 36"

Previously on Section 36: "JØRDYN Visits Section 36 Music!"