You Do Not Have SARIKA Fooled
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking again with Boston singer-songwriter SARIKA whose newest single "From Inside The House" calls out performative hypocrites
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with SARIKA earlier this year. Before you dive into our newest conversation check out our initial interview here:
Mustard has observed that some humans are hypocrites. They have learned that hypocrites are humans who say one (or do one thing) but then do the complete opposite. As a condiment Mustard wonders - what does a human have to gain by doing this? Isnโt honesty the best policy? That is what adult humans tell to small children and misguided relatives.
Hypocrisy is the subject of Boston singer-songwriter SARIKAโs latest single: From Inside The House. SARIKA was inspired by high school bullies whose Instagram biography that make statements such as: โalways be kindโ or โlive laugh love.โ These statements, much like their personalities, are artificial. Humans who are intentionally dishonest are not looking out for your best interest. Performative hypocrites such as this, as SARIKA says within the song, need to listen to their own calls and made aware of their hypocrisy.
From Inside The House marks growth for SARIKA as a singer-songwriter. SARIKA, now twenty-three, wrote this song while they were twenty-two. Before this single SARIKA released an infectious ear-worm Something Blue which they wrote when they were seventeen. Each release from SARIKA develops their enigmatic personality.
In our second interview you have the opportunity to learn so much more about SARIKA. Together we discuss being immortal, wearing blue for 30 days straight, their newest release, and so much more!
1. Mustard is grateful and appreciative to have you join them again at Music Shelf. How are you doing today?
Thank you for having me back! Iโm doing pretty well. Been getting some creepy phone calls lately but besides that canโt complain.ย
2. The last time we spoke you shared your soul and cannot be killed. What is it like to be immortal? Do you often have mortals pestering you on how to achieve immortality?
Itโs pretty sick. You can do so many things that other people canโt. For example the threatening phone calls I get donโt scare me at all, I tell them to come and try to kill me if they want.
Thankfully my bodyguards keep me pretty shielded from mortals on a daily basis so I donโt really have to deal with their bullsh*t.ย
3. You also remain an enigma both in real life and social media platforms. Is it difficult to remain mysterious in our attention economy?
Not when you look like this, luckily. Face cards pay in the attention economy.ย
5. When we spoke last you had recently released Nightrunner. One of your TikToks promoting the song reached 28.9k views. Could you share more about what went out behind the scenes of these videos and the reactions to them?
Well that video is actually a follow up to one that got 760.2k views, but I made that one private because it was driving me insane. Itโs quite the saga.ย
Basically, a friend suggested that I promote my song Nightrunner using the meme about the actor Paul Mescal running away from his dates/hookups. I found a photo of Paul Mescal running at night (because โnightrunner,โ duh) where you canโt see his face, and took a video of myself that said โHelp this guy just stepped out of my apartment to get some air after we went on a date and then I saw him RUNNING away?????โ followed by the photo, with the song playing in the background. Very few people got the joke. It rapidly got way more views than anything else Iโve ever posted, but for all the wrong reasonsโฆ Basically nobody cared about the song, my follower count and streaming numbers did not increase from it. I just had a bunch of comments calling me ugly, making fun of me, or joking about why he might have run away (many of which were actually hilarious, to be fair).
The followup video that youโre referring to is a response to one of the many comments asking what happened on the date. Itโs a video of my friend, who happens to look a bit like the Paul Mescal photo, looking very uncomfortable, with text saying โGUYS I FOUND HIM OMFG.โ Once again, the vast majority of commenters did not realize it was a joke and thought I actually hunted down a random man from Hinge and recorded him for the Internet. โThis is psychotic behavior,โ said one. โWhy do yall always go for white boys,โ said another (I donโt). โHow did I just know you were the problem since the first vidโ; โGood for himโ; โI would sprint awayโ; โBro knows red flags when he sees themโ; etc etc.ย
6. Since we last spoke you released Something Blue which you wrote during your senior year of high school. This was a song that a close friend of yours wanted you to release. What was their reaction when they found out you were releasing it? Did you ever expect to release Something Blue?
Love this question. โSomething Blueโ has been a favorite of many of my friends since I wrote it in 2018, but in particular one of my high school besties has always been a die hard fan of it. I actually have a video on my Instagram and TikTok of their reaction to the songโI hadnโt told them I was working on it or planning to release it, just surprised them by playing it in the car and the reaction was immaculate. A lot of speechlessness and excited gibberish, plus they kept saying that this release was for them and their bullying worked, which is 100% accurate.ย
I actually released a version of โSomething Blueโ back in 2019 as a school project (a senior year independent project where I produced/recorded/released a 9-song album in a trimester). I didnโt want to sing it myself so I got someone else from my school to record vocals on it, and my production and engineering skills were lacking to say the least, so the song didnโt sound very good. A year later I took the whole album off the internet because I was embarrassed and didnโt feel like the recordings did the songs justiceโa decision that upset my friends but that I stand by, considering Iโve now re-released 2 of those songs with significant improvementsโand โSomething Blueโ kind of left a bad taste in my mouth because I felt like it was childish and corny despite my friends loving it. I think I was just in that angsty phase for a couple years where you reject anything slightly cringe about your teenage years. So in short, no, I didnโt really expect to release โSomething Blueโ until last year when I felt like it could be a good next step, plus when I first met the producer/engineer that ended up working on the song I thought it would be a really good fit.ย
4. To promote your single Something Blue you wore a new blue outfit every day. Before doing this, did you know how many blue outfits you owned? What was your favorite blue fit?
I knew I had a lot of blue because I love wearing blue, but didnโt realize just how many outfits I could make!! I really surprised myself! I think I ended up with 30 outfits total and I even scrapped a couple bad ones because I wanted to stick to actually cute stuff and not keep the bit going too long haha.ย
I have several favorites but the one that comes to mind, because I was proud of coming up with it and because other people seemed to like it the most, was day 17, where I layered a navy slip dress over a white button down and accessorized nicely (including tying a navy ribbon around my neck as a choker which went perfectly with the dress). Someone said I looked like a sexy flight attendant so that was cool. Honestly outfits 17-21 all went super hard. Also the day 27 dress is super cute. (If anyone wants to be sent the video on IG/tiktok to admire those days/all 30 fits, feel free to send me a DM. I dedicated a month of my life to this and want it to be appreciated)
5. For Something Blue you shot your first ever music video. Could you share more about what this experience was like? What was it like being able to connect with the Boston community who acted as extras in the video?
It was SO lovely!! I was really nervous about getting enough wedding guests together, because we shot it early in the morning up in Andover, my hometown, not in/near Boston where most of my friends live. Iโm really glad I had the idea to post in the โAndover Mumsโ Facebook group, where Andover residents (mums and non-mums alike, contrary to the title) discuss their community questions/concerns/needs, and ask if anyone would want to be an extra. People were so excited to be a part of it and volunteered themselves, their friends, their kids, their belongings for props, etc. This also really helped to diversify the age range of extras considering most of my friends are in their 20s and we needed some more mums there!! Some people from Instagram and TikTok came too after seeing my videos about needing extras. Iโm still in touch with many of these new friends, and a lot of them became friends with each other at the shoot too. It was so cute and fun!
The whole video process was so fun and chaotic in the best way. I worked on a plan for it by myself for several months before bringing the idea to King City Productions (Ellis Ducharme), who helped me bring the vision to life beautifully. The crew was amazing, and my friends who starred in the video also helped me out so much beforehand and kept me sane on the day of the shoot, considering I didnโt sleep a wink the night before and the whole shoot took 12 hours. My parents also did so so much. Overall I just felt super grateful and honored to have so many people in my life who would come together and do a bunch of crazy stuff (most of them for no pay, just some lunch haha) to make my artistic vision a reality.ย
5. Mustard wonders what shade of blue pairs well with this song?
A soft pastel blue or nice melancholy blue-gray definitely fits the vibe, but a spring wedding sky blue (like my dress in the MV) is also canon!!
6. During our last conversation you mentioned wanting to tour with some local and touring acts. Since we have spoken last you have shared bills with the likes of JOBIE, Allie Sandt, Louie Mace, and Fegan The Dog. What is it like to share a bill with these independent artists?ย
Itโs always such an honor!! Performing is definitely one of the aspects of independent-artist-hood that Iโve always struggled with moreโbooking and prepping for shows just doesnโt come as easily to me as it seems to for a lot of musicians, I donโt know. But itโs also so beautiful and rewarding when I manage to make it happen. I feel like when social media work completely drains your life force as an artist, performing is what builds it back upโgetting to share a bill with such talented artists and incredible people is a completely unmatched experience. Iโve made so many friends through it and hope to continue doing it for a long time.
7. Why is it important that both fans and artists stay during the whole show? As an artist what would you consider to be proper show etiquette?
I think itโs very important to stay for the whole show whenever possible. Of course things come up, and Iโve definitely gone to many shows for just the beginning/just the end to see one of my friends if I have a conflict, but especially if youโre on the bill, itโs super ugly to be the person who leaves right after you play for seemingly no reason and to have no interest in watching the other artists. Meeting and befriending other small artists and supporting each other is one of the best parts of playing live, why wouldnโt you want to participate in that?ย
As for fans, you should try your best to stay for the whole show because it feels pretty shitty to see a bunch of people leave right before or during your set. Also donโt overlook the opener!! Opening slots is how small artists become bigger artists and they can only do that if people actually go watch! Plus itโll give you some really sick bragging rights in the future when some of those openers inevitably blow up.ย
8. You were also seen in the studio with JOBIE. Mustard wonders if we can expect a collaboration in the future?
Sadly not right now, because at that session JOBIE and I were actually recording our songs separately (though she also played guitar on my songs). But I would definitely be down for a collab in the future and based on my Instagram comments it seems like there is considerable demand!!
9. As a condiment Mustard is curious: how does someone become the "hottest bitch alive?"
Sadly, itโs a lot like being immortalโyouโre either born with it or youโre not. Luckily, Mustard is already the hottest bitch/condiment alive <3
10. Mustard and their human intern love your merch. What is the best way for a reader to obtain your merchandise?
I actually JUST made my merch available to order on Bandcamp :) so you can head to sarika.bandcamp.com/merch and place an order, but if youโre able to come see me at a show, itโs best to buy merch in person to avoid shipping costs! If youโre not sure if Iโm playing in your city anytime soon or would like to ask about another way of acquiring merch please feel free to shoot me a DM <3
Also I offer a 10% discount on t-shirts/tote bags to people who are subscribed to my email list, and free stickers to anyone on my email list/following me on anything! But Iโm unsure of how to make that happen on Bandcamp tbh because I donโt see a coupon code option. If any of that applies to you and youโd like a discount or free sticker, also send me a DM!! (Or if you know a better way to make a discount an option on bandcamp please help a girl out)
11. If you could have a SARIKA sticker featured anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
On the door of every Boeing 737 in operation, so that every now and then the last thing some poor soul on Earth sees is my pretty pink logo hurtling towards them at fatal speed.
12. Mustard would like to congratulate you on your newest release: From Inside The House. What are some telltale signs that a call is coming from inside the home? Could you share more about your latest release?
Thank you!! This song was inspired by several of my enemies. Itโs got a similar early 2000s sound to my last two singles, but the concept and lyricism are a lot more sassy and biting. Musically, it sounds like something Sara Bareilles might have written for the musical Waitress. Itโs the first song of mine to incorporate both horns and gang vocals, and itโs Fun As F*ck.ย
The title comes from the saying โthe call is coming from inside the house,โ used to indicate that someone is being hypocritical. I think a telltale sign that the call is coming from inside the house is if someone is constantly making excuses for things they do, and separating their own mistakes from other peopleโs similar mistakes that they criticize!!
13. You've described this song as a diss track inspired by high school bullies who have "always be kind" in their Instagram biography. How did their hypocrisy help inspire this single?
Iโve met and gone to school with a lot of people who like to portray themselves as very morally righteous humans but donโt practice what they preach, and it drives me insane because I always feel like nobody else around us can see through them. This definitely isnโt actually the case, I donโt think Iโm actually better at reading people than the average person, I think we all just kind of ignore it because nobody wants to be the only person to speak out against them. But someone needs to tell it to them straight, so thatโs what the song is for!
14. As a condiment, Mustard wonders: what does it mean to be a hypocrite? Are hypocrites aware they are being hypocritical? What are some examples of a human being hypocritical?
Great questions Mustard. A hypocrite is someone who does the very thing(s) they accuse others of doing. For example if I were to start pointing fingers at other people for being too sexy and distracting to their peers, that would be glaringly hypocritical.ย
I think in the case of the song, the hypocrite is semi aware of their hypocrisy, and definitely experiences some sort of cognitive dissonance from their words and actions not matching up. But they tell themselves all sorts of stories to justify their actions and convince themselves that their own mistakes are all exceptions and theyโre still a good person.
15. The artwork for this release was inspired by the 1974 film Black Christmas. When did you first see this motion picture? Was From Inside The House written before or after viewing this film?
I just watched it with a couple of my friends a few months ago, and I picked it because of the song, not the other way around (I wrote the song last summer). The reason I chose it is because (at least according to my Google search) it was the first horror movie to use the now-popular trope where the calls are coming from inside the house (spoiler alert).ย
16. If you could shoot a music video for this song would it take inspiration from the film? Can we expect to see someone wearing something blue in it?
Yes, absolutely. To be totally honest Iโve already written an entire storyline for a hypothetical Black Christmas inspired music videoโฆ weโll see if it happensโฆ will need to acquire some funding first.
Iโve actually been making a conscious effort to not wear/use a lot of blue in my branding post-Something Blue (gotta keep the eras separate you know) but who knows, maybe weโd throw in a little Easter egg!
17. As a condiment Mustard is curious: if a human receives a horrifying phone call what is the best plan of action? How should someone respond?
Get competitive. Someone creepy calls you? You can be creepier. Hiss at them and tell them youโre in their walls. Thatโs what I did earlier today.
18. You have described your live performances as Sarikalicious. What key elements create a SARIKA show?
Itโs always something different. Recently, my backup singers have been killing it on โFrom Inside The House.โ One time I stopped in the middle of โCalifornia Kingโ to reapply my deodorant because I was getting stinky. I guess the key element is getting a little bit silly with it!!!
19. Do you have any last words for our readers?
Please help me i think the killer isย inside my hou
20. Can readers still find your music on all streaming platforms?
This is SARIKAโs representation. She was not, in fact, immortal but yes her music is still on all streaming platforms please go listen to it immediately to pay your respectsย
Thank You
Talking in the aisle
Have you listened to SARIKA?
Have you ever met a hypocrite?
Has anyone ever made a diss track about you?
Music Shelf with Mustard is a publication that interviews independent musicians from all across the globe. It is read in 34 states and 19 countries. Check out previous interviews here.
Music Shelf with Mustard originally began in early 2021. Inspired by independent musicians on social media application TikTok Mustard knew they had to do something to help share their music. Shortly after Music Shelf with Mustard was born. Its goal is to highlight independent artists from all across the globe. Mustard appreciates you taking the time out to read this interview.