Congratulations on your new self-titled compilation album, “Sabrina Fallah”. Tell us about the album. Why did you decide to make this type of album? 

My label Dance Plant Records wanted to re-release all of my previous releases and add a new track into one album, distributing it through The Orchard on iTunes. There are 12 tracks on the compilation CD, which are “All Or Nothing”, “One Chance”, “Break Through”, “Ask”, “Sorry”, “The Frontline”, “Kiss Is a Killer”, “Stuck Up”, “Didn’t Last”, “Paradise Comes With a Price”, “Hurt” and “Everything”.

Who helped you to produce the album? What was that experience like? Would you work with them again? 

My compilation CD has all of my previous releases with one new track called “Everything”.

I would definitely work with them again.   

Explain your production process. 

My compilation CD has all of my previous releases in it and my songs were actually recorded at different times, in different studios and with different producers.  My self-titled “Sabrina Fallah” EP was recorded in 2011 with Stuart Epps in England. My single “The Frontline” and “Everything” was recorded in 2015 with Chris Birkett in Toronto, Ontario. My “Kiss Is a Killer” EP was recorded in 2016 with Kent Wells in Nashville, Tennessee. 

All the songs on the album were co-written with other songwriters except for the song “Everything”. Chris Birkett and his daughter May actually wrote “Everything”. Chris gave me the opportunity to record it and then I got to release it on iTunes. 

In my self-titled “Sabrina Fallah” EP I used session players in the studio to record my songs and Stuart Epps also sang back up in some of the songs. In my “Kiss Is a Killer EP” I also used session players in the studio, however, Kent Wells played on both of the acoustic tracks for “Paradise Comes With a Price”, and “Hurt”. For my single “The Frontline” and “Everything”, Chris Birkett the producer actually played all the instruments in the recordings in the studio.  

There is a bonus track, “Everything”, on the album. What is the concept/theme of the song? Will it be released as a single? Why was it a bonus track?

“Everything” is a teenage anxiety song. Soul searching. Wondering who you are. Keeping a brave face when inside you are falling apart. I don’t think this song will be released as a single. My label wanted to put out a compilation CD, and at the same time to have a new song added to it. 

In our last interview, you cited Kent Wells who produced your “Kiss Is a Killer” EP, for teaching you a lot vocally, which you use when recording and performing. Explain what he taught you and how you use it when you record and perform. 

It is very hard to explain exactly what he taught because when you are in the studio, you follow what the producer is telling you to do. He was paying very much attention to the voice and reminding me to put the emphasis where it is supposed to be. 

Congratulations on your new record label. Tell us more about it and how this opportunity came about. 

I received a message on LinkedIn from someone in the music industry who showed interest in my music. He told me about Dance Plant Records in Montreal and advised me to contact them. So, when I contacted the label there was some interest. After a few discussions, we decided to work together.

Your single, “Kiss Is a Killer”, recently won the #1 spot in the ISR Rock 21 competition on Indie Star Radio by listeners. How did that make you feel? 

We had to get people to vote for our song and I worked very hard by promoting it to get as many votes as I could. I couldn’t believe when I found out that I had actually won. I was shocked and very happy with the result.

On Twitter, you share videos of your visits with an adorable cat named Freida. Tell us more about Freida. How did you meet her? Why is she special to you? 

Freida is my neighbour’s cat and when they are away or on a trip, they ask me to take care of her. I remember the very first time I met Freida, she jumped up on me and would cling around me. I felt that she liked and trusted me from the beginning. She is very special to me, I am like her second mom. Leslie her owner lets me visit Freida every couple of weeks. When I am there I get spoiled and treated very well. Leslie makes the best coffee ever and very delicious flavoured scones. I try to show off my baking skills as well, so I usually bake muffins, cookies, cakes, etc. and take to them. This has become something we really enjoy doing, we have very nice conversations while sampling the goodies and having fun with Freida as well. 

What advice do you wish you’d received when you were first starting out in the music business? 

I wish I was told how hard it really was to make it in the music industry. At the age of 14 when I started, I never thought about how much hard work I had to do to get to where I am today.

In what ways do you think women can be better supported in the Indie music industry? 

I think the indie music industry is more open to all types of artists and music. They allow their artists to be more creative. As a female rock singer, I have faced both positive and negative views regarding my genre of music. Luckily, 

   

What new projects are you working on for 2019? 

At this moment, I am writing new songs, thinking about a theme for my next record. 

What are your performance/show/tour plans for 2019? 

I am booking shows and when I have all the information, like dates and locations, they will be posted on my social media.

Thank you, Sabrina, for the opportunity to interview you.

Check out all of Sabrina’s music on her iTunes/Apple artist page.

Official Music Video (audio): Sabrina Fallah – Everything