Conscious

Roots artist SARITAH (sa-REE-ta)

launches Ancient Forward, an important, inspiring and extremely relevant

album.

South Korean born and raised in Western

Australia, SARITAH is a hard-working

independent artist who has built a solid fan base across the country. Since the

release of her debut album ‘Gratitude’ in May 2004, and her ‘These Days/You’re

The One’ EP in September 2005, SARITAH

has toured consistently both within Australia and overseas, performing over 400

live shows.

SARITAH has graced the stage of many

of Australia’s well loved festivals including the Big Day Out, the West Coast

Blues n Roots Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Reggaetown, Island Time and

Peats Ridge amongst many others. Overseas SARITAH

has performed at the Greenroom Festival (Japan), Sori festival (South

Korea), Parihaka International Peace festival (Aotearoa/New Zealand) and

Canadian Music Week (Toronto).

Recorded at Brisbane’s Tanuki Lounge with

producer/bass player Paulie B (bass player for The Beautiful Girls and George),

Ancient

Forward is an engaging, uplifting and playfully powerful release.

Songwriter, vocalist and

multi-instrumentalist SARITAH is a

talented artist with a positive vision for the future. On Ancient Forward, she

plays an array of instruments including electric, steel string and nylon string

guitars, keys, percussion, melodica and on the defiant Our Future, drumkit and bass guitar. She is joined by a diverse

selection of some of Brisbane’s finest musicians.

From the opening track, Right Way Home, you are instantly drawn

in by the combination of a driving dancehall groove and vocals delivered with a

captivating blend of attitude and grace. The track is a fitting opening to the

album, questioning the intention of the individual and our collective vision

for the future.

A worldly core resonates throughout Ancient

Forward. In Right Way Home guest

musician, Cievash Airen, a refugee from Iran, takes you on a journey with

desert melodies played on the Neah (traditional Persian flute) and haunting

vocals. This global flavour is prevalent in many songs on the album; Saritah

sings Spanish lyrics to a Cumbia flavoured break in Blessings, while on Most High,

South African vocalist/musician, Aranha, does a killa verse and plays the

Berimbau (an ancient instrument from Africa that is at the heart of the

afro-brazilian artform of Capoeira Angola).

Jamaican tones are also key in SARITAH’s style. Many songs incorporate

Jamaican styles like dub and dancehall. Guest Jamaican vocalist Ranking Roger

(UK) offers colourful toasting on Time

Will Come, while ceremonial ‘Nyabinghi’ inspired drumming features on Serious Times.

Environmental concerns are strongly

relayed on Ancient Forward. Time

Will Come is dedicated to a particular development SARITAH opposed in WA, she explains; “I wrote this song when I was

living in Fremantle and a planning proposal to ‘develop’ one of my favourite

beaches was approved. The song questions the notion of ‘development’, and asks

– how long can this go on for? When will we humans realise the long-term

effects of our actions?”

Although SARITAH raises strong issues in her songwriting, Ancient

Forward resonates with optimism. The radiant Sunrise sings of slowing down the pace and enjoying the simple and

beautiful moments in life. Sunrise

uniquely features nylon string guitar and double bass, capturing a soft and

elemental feel.

Whilst Ancient Forward as a

whole is an upbeat album, tracks like Tears

Come Easy and Stargazing showcase

SARITAH’s more delicate and

vulnerable side – songs that pulse with emotion that she captures so

reverently.

On Ancient Forward, positivity and

affirmations sit organically beside the serious. Driving rhythm sections and

programmed beats give way to space and melody; earthy textures create a worldly

yet intimate album that for the listener, is a joy to hear. It is an album that

flows and ebbs in a dynamic, colourful style that SARITAH has cemented, as her own. An accomplished recording, it

confirms SARITAH as one of

Australia’s most talented and exciting artists, with something to say.