“Reaching for the Sun,” Szarr’s new release, is a song that conveys a sense of freedom and emphasizes the importance of pursuing goals and dreams. The Swiss singer and songwriter translated these emotions into the track by mixing various sounds and wide synth tones to create a lightness and a feeling of liberation. Incorporating Middle Eastern darbuka drums was important for the artist as they evoke a sense of looseness and movement, reminiscent of floating through the desert towards the sun.
Szarr’s personal connection to different cultures and countries, including Switzerland, South America, and the Middle East, has inspired and influenced his songs. He believes in experimenting with different genres and sees no limits in music, embracing diverse emotions, moods, and vibes. His upcoming debut EP, Idioma, will feature a unique blend of pop songs with elements of Latin, trap, electronic, and Balkan sounds.
Find out more about the artist in the interview below.
“Reaching for the Sun” transmits a sense of freedom. The lyrics express the importance of pursuing goals and dreams. How did you translate these emotions into the song?
Thank you so much for this interview. The title of the song is related to the message of pursuing our highest goals, and the emotions that come with that. Often we hear the sentence to reach for the stars but in this song we go even further and focus all our energy to reach the ultimate dream. I really try to blend this emotion with various sounds and wide synth sounds to give the listener that lightness and sense of freedom. There is a part where I wrote “let’s reclaim our power cuz time is a treasure,“ which talks about how now is the time to take life and dreams into our own hands and just go for it.
In this new single, the integration of Middle Eastern darbuka, along with a distinct combination of drums and melodies, holds great significance. Could you elaborate on why incorporating these particular sounds is important to you?
I have traveled a couple of times through the middle east and I find its flavors and sounds very unique. When producing the song, I wanted these specific drums because they make you loosen up. You feel like moving your body freely. I felt like floating through the desert again on my way to reach the sun. I preferred that over hard and tight drums. Also a playful interaction between the melody and the drums is key for me, so the goal was to make a song that feels both free and rich in melodies and movements.
How does mixing music from various parts of the world contribute to your increased self-value? Are there specific countries and cultures that you feel a personal connection to?
Growing up in two different cultures, I sometimes felt that I didn’t belong to either. I think some people struggle to appreciate diversity if they don’t fully understand how valuable it is. Soon enough I realized “hey, I am just a kid on this planet and I can be a mix of cultures and it’s not a bad thing, it’s actually pretty cool.”
Traveling through various parts of the world I have really embraced different cultures and their beauty. My parents are from the Balkans, I grew up in Switzerland and I have spent a lot of time in South America and the Middle East. All of these beautiful places and people have influenced me to this day. I feel connected and inspired by them, and ready to continue exploring and learning.
If I understand correctly, your parents have Balkan heritage, which boasts a rich musical tradition. Have you ever thought about integrating sounds from the Balkans into your own songs?
Yes, that’s correct. I have a new song coming up soon for my new project, where I mix English and Serbian lyrics. I think it’s fun and interesting, because it’s not very common to find songs mixing sounds and these languages together. I am also making and producing some pop tracks, which use traditional Balkan sounds and melodies that make you dance. That’s what we do the most in the Balkans, we dance, drink, and have a good time. So I hope you soon join the joy of dancing to my new songs.
You mentioned your interest in exploring genres like reggaeton, trap, and delving deeper into electronic music. Is it challenging for you to experiment with different musical genres? In your opinion, is it more advantageous for an artist to excel and focus on one genre, or is it beneficial to explore and try out various genres?
Thank you for this question. I can only speak from my personal view and I think that for every artist it is different. For me, music is full of rich sounds and aspects and has no limits. Just like our emotions. This is how I approach music, by diving into different waters to experience different emotions, moods and vibes. I don’t like labels and to limit myself. I love to explore different genres and creating new sounds and songs mixing all of these together. When I look at my playlists, I see a mix of different elements. Sometimes I feel like dancing reggaeton in a club so I write and make a song for that, and if the next day I feel sad what comes out is a pop ballad.
As you work on your debut EP, Idioma, what can fans expect in terms of its style, theme, and the number of tracks? Will some of the songs from the record be released as individual singles?
Idioma Is a journey through the various cultures and languages that I speak that inspire me and also sound wise. On this project I wanted to create a unique sound blending pop songs with different beats, integrating latin, trap, electronic and balkan sounds. You definitely will hear an interesting mix of music in this EP, rich in diversity. So far I finished six songs and they are ready to go, but I always come up with new ideas. I will release two more singles before the whole EP comes out, just to give a taste of it. I hope you will all enjoy it as much as I did making it.
How has technology impacted your approach as a musician and producer, and what innovative tools or techniques have you embraced? In your opinion, how will it continue to shape the future of music production, and what opportunities or challenges do you anticipate as a result?
The impact for me has been huge. I remember ten years ago I thought you could only make music through connections until I learned how to write and produce songs by myself with all the information and skills you can acquire from the internet. Blogs, videos and tools out there have helped me become a better musician improving my songwriter skills. I constantly do courses to keep growing.
AI nowadays is making the learning process even faster. You can become whatever you want, which is amazing. All the information at your fingertips. These tools are an inspiration and help me translate my ideas into reality. Art is fueled by emotions, life, and talent. I want to share my music and technology plays a key role in that. I think it’s a great tool and I always make sure that my songs feel authentic and follow my intuition, my feelings, and what resonates with me.
Check out the official music video below:
Listen to “Reaching for the Sun” here:
