SayMo – ‘Saymo’

SayMo is as real as they come. Instead of embroidering his lifestyle or past experiences, he takes an honest approach to his lyrics. Subsequently, the “BAKLAVA (Puddin Pie)” artist shows a strong suit of self-growth by working on the faults he identifies with in each song. His primary focus is to channel his energy into creating music that’ll resonate with fans and positively influence the music industry. 

From a listener’s standpoint, you can expect SayMo to deliver his music over a myriad of soundscapes. The instrumentals range from jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and ambient, to name a few. He identifies as an Armenian-American futurist that doesn’t define himself by any artistic medium. 

Although SayMo can’t quite recall when his music journey started, he does know that he’s always had an affinity for sounds and words. The first time he created a song was at Rutger’s radio station during after hours. 

“I made two songs in about 2 hours,” he adds. “I remember practicing with just the beats for hours on end beforehand. The whole thing felt like some sort of heist.”

Before hopping in the booth, he needs a peace of mind, to be well-rested, and a little bit of tea. His influences are Prince, Grisha Agakhanyan, Timbaland, Armen Abrimian, Ghostface Killah, Nas, J Dilla, and Paul Kim. 

In the words of SayMo, his latest project that carries his moniker is “a direct message to the toxic male fragility existing within Armenian Culture, whether in the Diaspora or in the motherland.” The theme at hand circles around mental health, inner work, and taking accountability. Sometimes, he even speaks about his love for a special someone. 

“It’s the same old song that exists around the world and throughout history, so really this is borderless,” he says. “Being a man isn’t some Horatio Alger or stoic nonsense, the realest show that they are vulnerable. 

I recommend that everyone gives Saymo a spin. But this time, I’ll be analyzing two tracks: “Quarane Tynes” and “VIOLET.” One track that he resonates with is “BAKLAVA (Puddin Pie).” 

“It was the last song put together for this project on accident almost. Like surprise dessert after several courses.”

“Quarane Tynes” is a pop meets Latin and jazz offering. Lyrically, he’s transparent about his faults and expresses how he’s taking the blame for former actions. Moreover, we’re reminded that no human is perfect. It’s up to us to truly embrace our imperfections and work on bettering ourselves. 

“Lately I’ve been fucking up/Tell me who hasn’t been?” he delivers. Elsewhere he says, “It be hard to tell/I can’t blame it on nothin’/No quarane tyne/no social distances.”

Before the song closes, there is a sweet guitar solo for us to enjoy. 

“VIOLET,” which is the perfect jam to bump to in the car, is an ambient hip-hop offering. In the song, he highlights the disapproval his mother carries for his career choice. He presumes that his father might disagree with his ideal job as well. Regardless, SayMo is going to invest in the music scene and cement his spot in the industry. 

He raps, “Entertainment is far from the safest bet/This path my father would never accept/I follow with no regret.”

As the song continues, he reflects on darker moments in his life and concludes that it only made him strong. He gives thanks to his older brother, who helped him see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

He delivers, “A pearl harbor baby/Born into tragedy/But what can I say? That pain made a man out of me.”

Then, SayMo drops some moving words that push us to keep going. Referencing his personal experience, SayMo reckons that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. 

Expect SayMo to drop music videos and songs in the future. For now, his advice for aspiring artists is:

“Be patient, all in due time. Don’t rush yourself and shy away from your chances. Be proactive, not reactive. Always remember why you started but do not be afraid to grow and change as you do as you age.”

Listen to Saymo by SayMo below: