ONE TO WATCH: SAIDAH
Amsterdam-based with London roots, SAIDAH takes inspiration from the birthplace of garage to bring high-energy four-to-the-floor beats to her sets. Blending UKG classics with underground gems across garage, house, and bassline genres, she offers a fresh sound and perspective to open up the UK scene to new audiences. A resident at Amsterdam’s Radio Radio, she hosts her monthly radio show Sweet Like Chocolate, dedicated to UK dance music soundscapes, and a quarterly club night inviting personal inspirations to join her on the program.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got hooked on music? I grew up in a household where music was always playing. I had a heavy UKG influence from my mum, who was into that scene, and grime from my older brother, who rapped and had Channel U on the TV at all times. I also love to sing, so I was involved in bands and choirs from a very young age. As soon as I was old enough (and even when I wasn’t quite...), I couldn’t get enough of clubbing, and that opened up a whole new way of experiencing music for me. What inspired you to become a DJ? I’ve honestly wanted to learn how to DJ from the moment I saw someone do it. The idea that you could be in control of the music, play all of the songs you want to hear, and experience everyone in the crowd loving the music as much as you do felt like the coolest thing ever to me. But I didn’t learn until I moved to Amsterdam and one of my besties had decks and taught me how to use them, which I’m forever grateful for. I fell in love with it immediately, and spending hours on end discovering music, learning techniques, and developing my own style inspired me to share that with people on dance floors. Is there a track that shaped your musical identity as an artist? I can’t put my finger on just one track, but I know for sure that discovering some of the earlier Conducta and Sammy Virji tracks like ‘Whippet’ opened my eyes to the fact that there were people out there making some sick new garage music in a style that felt totally different to the old school. It was a signal that the genre had so much more life in it, and judging by its popularity now, I was right! Are there any genres or artists outside of the music you play that you’re particularly into right now? So many! I spend hours and hours listening to fast-paced dance music, but when I want to relax or transport myself elsewhere mentally, I’ll listen to artists like Kelela, Hiatus Kaiyote, or Big Piig. I really enjoy that softer, more soulful side of music too. What’s the most memorable gig you’ve played so far? It has to be Lowlands Festival in 2024. I was playing on Sunday night, but I’d been at the festival since Friday, so I had all that time to soak up the atmosphere and prepare myself for what was to come. I had crazy nerves when I got into the booth, but I can truly say that throughout the entire performance, I was fully present, and it was such a euphoric experience. Everything felt good, and the crowd was incredible. I left the booth thinking to myself, "ok, you can actually do this", so I always try to reference that memory in moments of self-doubt. What challenges did you face while breaking into the industry, and how did you overcome them? I think the biggest challenges came from within, to be honest. You have to continuously believe in yourself and what you’re doing- if you don’t, then it’s very hard for anyone else to. I struggled with imposter syndrome a lot at the start, but I think the only way to overcome it is to continue to challenge yourself to do things outside of your comfort zone. Then, when you achieve those things, you can look back and say, "That was something I didn’t think I could do, and I did it, so I’m definitely capable of doing this next hard thing.". It’s also about letting go of perfection and not being too hard on yourself when things don’t go as expected. Learning to be comfortable with discomfort and imperfection is a huge superpower, and it allows you to enjoy every moment so much more, which is what it’s all about really. If you could go B2B with any DJ, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Armand Van Helden. He’s a living legend, and the music he’s made is timeless. To share a moment onstage with him would be INSANE. Do you have a bucket-list gig? It’s a pretty standard answer for anyone who’s English, but it would have to be Glastonbury. It’s the UK’s biggest and most iconic festival, so it would feel like a proper bucket list moment to perform there. Where do you see yourself in five years, both musically and professionally? I’ll be releasing some of my own music later this year, and I’ve been working on tracks both as a producer and a vocalist. So I’m excited to see what new opportunities that brings and to contribute to the scene. I hope that I’ll get to travel to cool places, meet even more amazing people, and mature as an artist and performer. So much has already happened that I would never have imagined a few years ago, so I feel really hopeful about what comes next. Anything on the horizon that you're really (and we should be) excited about? My first EP release- stay tuned!
