Music taking over Burngreave

Story: Fagr Al-Afif and Zanumb Bibi

Sa,rinity

Singer and lyricist Sa,rinity Powell has become a familiar face at Burngreave music events this summer, from the Burngreave Talent Competition to the Abbeyfield and Fir Vale festivals and even Jesse Jackson’s exclusive visit to Ellesmere Green. Is she destined to become the new face of the Sheffield Rap Scene? I went and asked her myself accompanied by my colleague, Zanumb Bibi.

Sa,rinity told us how much she loves performing in Burngreave although she still feels nervous before going on stage:

“I get nervous and scared at times but I feel more confident as the show goes on and the feeling I get from performing makes it worth it.”

Her passion for music started at a young age alongside an interest in writing poetry. An English teacher told her that her poems had the potential to be lyrics and so Sa,rinity started experimenting with the flow and delivery of spoken words and writing lyrics inspired by the experiences and events in her life.

“When I’m listening to music, it becomes a gateway to my trapped emotions and enables me to express my feelings through my lyrics.”

She listens to many different styles of music although finds her own music difficult to define, “I can’t call it Hip-Hop, and it’s not exactly rap – a guess it’s hard to put it into any kind of category, I’ll leave that to ya’ll to decide”- she adds with a smile.

Sa,rinity’s fortunate to have had the support of the Burngreave rappers, DB (Dem Boyz). Ralph Sque, a member of DB, heard her rap and asked if she would join them. He also encouraged her to enter the Burngreave Talent Competition with high hopes that she would win.

“Winning the competition gave my career a big boost and helped me to get out there, performing at other local events.”

After a summer of live shows and with a catalogue of many songs I guess Sa,rinity is on a roll. Her first single, ‘Tears on my notebook’, will be available to download this November.

http://www.myspace.com/sarinitypowell

Dem Boyz

Dem Boyz is a collective of local musicians and song writers Ralph Sque, Flash, Chaps, Conkera, Mercy and Sa,rinity. Their music has achieved great results so far with performances at the Fir Vale festival and The Burngreave Talent Competition and they have big hopes and dreams of making it to the top.

Solo offerings from DB members are in the pipeline, including ‘The Relentless’ from ‘Chaps’, available soon, and are currently looking forward to releasing their next group album.

When asked what he would say to other young people, Flash said:

“Follow your heart, but education is important. We love doing music and it’s the most important thing now, but you need a plan B. You need education, and it helps with lyrics, without knowledge you can’t write them.”

DB love performing live and are looking for people to sponsor them and book them for gigs. Contact Ralph Sque 07877 873 144 or Flash 07799 246 821

http://www.myspace.com/demboyzuk