Sarob talks us through his latest 'Transitions'
Sarob is a hip-hop and neo soul artist from Columbus, Ohio, whose music often blends smooth melodies with politically charged, coming of age lyrics. His most recent release, âCarrion Dawnâ, criticises the water crisis suffered by the city of Flint in Michigan, where over 100,000 residents have been exposed to lead-poisoned water since 2014.
MusicMap was eager to hear more about Sarobâs Transitions series of EPs, his musical background and the scene in Ohio, so we sent through a few questionsâŠ
âCarrion Downâ has quite a moody, tense atmosphere, how would you describe your mindstate while you were writing it?
My mindstate was tense, to say the least. I was hurt â well, Iâm still hurt â over the fact that people in Flint, a predominantly-black city, lack drinkable or usable water. The crisis there has been going on for several years â it never shouldâve happened in the first place, but you would think in the âgreatest country in the worldâ thereâd be a better response to it. Iâm not from Flint, but Iâm still deeply frustrated, and I wanted to do something in my music to help people remember whatâs going on.
Do you feel musicians have a duty to speak out politically right now?
I donât think musicians have a duty to be political. Iâd prefer many musicians stay out of politics because they donât know what theyâre talking about and sometimes say some wild shit that empowers the wrong people. I think musicians should just make good art.
For me, politics have been important throughout my life. Like most of the stuff I think and talk about is rooted in politics somehow. But I grew up in a politically-aware household and studied politics in college, so itâs not like Iâm going out of my way to say something; my perspective is just highly political.
The E.P. is called Transitions: Phase Two. What transitions do you feel youâre experiencing as an artist at the moment?
This year Iâve been going through a lot. Iâve been succeeding, Iâve been struggling and Iâve been sacrificing. I think dealing with fear has been the hardest part. Iâm so driven to do something meaningful â to achieve goals and positively impact millions â that I fear making mistakes or being set back. Like if I donât get an A+ on something I do, then I basically got an F. The Transitions Series is a way to help get me out of that. It was a way to help me trust myself and share that growth with the world. I just made songs, trusted my talent and let them go. It was an explorational process â self-explorational and sound-explorational.
What sort of music were you exposed to when you were growing up, and how has it influenced your work as an artist?
My mom put me on to all my favorite music. She grew up in the fifties so I grew up listening to the same things she grew up with: Smokey, The Temptations, Chicago, Dionne Warwick, Zapp, The OâJays, Isleys, Carlos Santana. Timeless music. All of that is a big inspiration to me. Itâs a challenge, too, because Iâm never satisfied with anything unless I think it can stand the test of time, like Princeâs or DâAngeloâs catalogue. I know I donât quite measure up to them yet, but hopefully one day my art can reach that caliber of greatness.
What is the music scene like in Ohio? Any other local artists who should be on our radar?
Ohioâs tight. I think because of where we are geographically, we soak up a lot of different styles and genres of music â you can see influence from the East Coast, South and West Coast, and it all blends together. This is cool because thereâs no particular sound â thereâs not a Columbus sound nor a Cincinnati sound whereas thereâs definitely an Atlanta or New York sound. And I say that with all respect. I think weâve benefited from hearing that Atlanta sound and that New York sound while also hearing that Toronto sound (which is closer than both cities) and that Chicago sound and that West Coast sound, etc.
Dom Deshawn and Joey Aich are two rappers to watch out for. Souther is a fire band with some amazing stuff on the way. Tae Miles from Cleveland is unbelievable â Iâm excited for him to come back.
What should music fans visiting Ohio see/do/drink/eat?
In Columbus there are a ton of nights where DJs spin at parties, which are always super dope. My friend Satele will pop up and DJ at random events a few times a month, and itâs always mad fun. Thereâs Orange Soda, which is a 2000s R&B party hosted by DJ Bern. Thereâs HIPS at Brothers Drake, a local meadery. Things are starting to bubble, which is so good for our scene and culture here.
Can you send us a photo of the view from your window?
My window is blocked by like a million trees but I can get yâall another picture.
Finally, what is the meaning of the name Sarob?
Sarob loosely translates to âmirageâ in Arabic.