sakakosmos

Meet Mainland China-born UK Open Mic performer sakakosmos:

sakakosmos

Hi sakakosmos, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

Where were you born?

Mainland China

Where did you grow up?

Asia

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

I’m like a sponge which naturally absorb and “automatically” analyse on the musical and cultural roots of the places I’ve lived in. East Asian culture makes me thinking deep when expressing music, and London has shown me a kind of subtle yet undeniable freedom—something that encourages expression in all its forms. In my music, this translates into blending different instruments and techniques, while creating a boundary-less, inclusive tone that focuses on pure, honest expression.

Where are you based now, and why?

London! I came here to do my Master’s degree in Audio Production in University of Westminster. I didn’t plan to stay here at first because I thought I might going back to Shanghai and open a music studio, but finally I made friends from everywhere who are also staying here… which the resonance and diversity given me another “home” feeling that could only belong to myself, and for the people who are looking for a creative place like me.

What got you into making music in the first place?

I learned music since I was a kid, and it’s already in my bones and nerves.

But once I found that I could actually create my music(and even my conceptual world) through the process of composing and producing, and also directing stuffs or music videos. It’s just a fire from the bottom of my heart? I don’t know but yes.

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing
Piano
Piano
Music Producer
Beat Making
Percussion
Harmonica
Beatbox
Actually I know every bit of every instrument, but I use piano keyboards and vocals as my primary instruments. I could also do synthesisers but if I perform, most likely I would be on the keys and vocals.

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Jacob Collier: harmonies and producing details
Robert Glasper: Jazz/Soul/RnB vibe
Tori Kelly: Song-writing, vocal presence especially riffs and up-and-downs
Ariana Grande: Vocal presence
Mariah Carey: Vocal presence
RAYE: Ways of song-writing and expressions of emotional deliveries
sasakure.uk (Japanese Producer): music production and sound design
Tia Ray: Vocal presence and emotional deliveries
AURORA: Stage performance and conceptual expressions
AESPA(k-pop group): Conceptual deliveries

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

12.5

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

I usually begin with melody and chords when I write a song, let the composition flows naturally.
Once the song has got a shape, I’ll add layers of instrument details and sound design effects to bring a more abstract feeling to my arrangements. It’s about capturing emotions and translating them into textures that bridge those different musical worlds.

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

I have been playing session gigs with my friends (or in my friends band) since two years ago. I did my first open mic at a bar in Battersea in November 2022 and focused on producing my own songs for my first upcoming album since that. I started being a session musician since I released my first two songs of the album, which are ‘Silver Morpho’ and ‘Skyscrapers’ since August 2024 and I found it is amazing to play my own songs live.
Afterwards I found going into more open mics is a good tool to build an audience at the beginning of moving to a new city or just get into the new environment of the industry instead of just staying online or being a producer.

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

Practice practice practice! Trust yourself and keep going. People make my mistakes, grow up and improve. So even if you are trying, don’t be scared of showing yourself because everyone has their own shyness and their shadows of mind. Just don’t care about anything but express what you want, then make friends and connections through enjoying the process with others.

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

I would say time-checking(because some of the open mics are last minute announcements) and to get in the queue on time.
And also sometimes there is no sound check for the open mics.

What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?

I would say last year in 22/11/24! Usually I would be the first one arriving at the event for sound check but unfortunately, I decided to take a cab and it was the heaviest traffic I had ever seen so I was late for the gig for almost 10 minutes. But I did managed to connect my visualisers with the projector and singing most of the songs for my solo set (Thanks to God it was a solo set).

If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?

Yes

What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?

The biggest obstacle for most of musicians to take music as a full-time job it’s to find the right resources as well as a diverse mindset that we actually do everything related to music. For example, I produce, write and sing songs for some famous games and IPs in China, but at the same time I teach music here locally, and also do my own songs and concepts. I would like to expand my market here but I was too shy to go on the stage or networking people when I just came to London.

I hope I could get to know more artists here in the UK who are just like (or different), who can share the difference between the individuals and expand the creative mind and the circle. Together let’s make something different!

What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?

I’m actually half minority and half majority (Han) Chinese, but there it’s also a bit of Jewish blood on my mum’s side. So sometimes people wondering where I am actually from, but I’m still proud of being a Chinese hardworking girl.

What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?

My first upcoming concept album ‘Silver Morpho’! I am working on the process of making a special lyrics book and the new music videos and the trailers for the release in the summer. You will see the white hair girl Silvia again when it’s out.

At the same time the production process of the second album has also started! I can’t tell you what is about in this album or the name of the main character in the second album, but it’s related to a lot of travelling works and video shootings that is really excited to explore the resonance in multi culture.