Sai Masters

I love exquisite lyrics of universal appeal. Combined with beautiful melodies and interesting chord changes, memorable and relevant lyrics can touch someone at their core.

I write fun, inspiring and easily accessible songs that inspire us to live a happy and balanced life. My main genre is adult contemporary. I have worked the last ten years in the field of personal growth and spiritual development, including meditation workshops, and feel that I bring a fresh voice to the music scene. I see myself as a champion of the deeper spiritual truths that govern ordinary life, listening to our inner wisdom, and making the mortgage payment at the same time.

I have studied formal piano, but I quickly found myself more at home with improvisation and in-the-moment jamming. In both junior and senior year in high school, I earned a spot as a bass singer in the Massachusetts State Chorus. I was also a part of the school's select Concert Choir, regular chorus and senior play. My formal musical education took place in New York City at the French American Conservatory. Guitar has been largely self-taught, and I have played several Indian instruments like the dilruba, tanpura and harmonium. I play piano by ear, and love to go on evocative journeys, somewhere in between Keith Jarrett and George Winston.

My iPod is pretty empty these days, except for my own songs. I do my own production in my home studio. My influences are John Mayer, John Lennon, James Taylor, Martin Sexton, Oscar Peterson, Vance Gilbert, Bobby McFerrin, Take 6, The Kings Singers, Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Snooks Eaglin.

Before becoming a musician full-time, I've had the following jobs: sandwich delivery guy, waiter, lawn care, research assistant, ice cream counterperson, clerk, office assistant, overseas English teacher in Morocco, teacher for dyslexic kids, day-trader on Wall Street, meditation leader, community-access Cable TV producer, jewelry maker, music producer and workshop facilitator for a touring personal growth seminar.

I graduated from Yale in 1994 and then went to Morocco to teach English and ESL. I discovered that my ability to write songs had a practical application in the classroom. Songwriting stuck with me through my ten years in New York City (East Village and Lower East Side) where I soaked up the music and began playing piano. I discovered the blues in Thompkins Square Park when I asked a street performer, a grizzled African-American man, to please show me one blues scale. He showed me the C blues. I never looked back, and continue to compose with a jazz and blues flavor today.

After six years on Wall Street, I went to India and began meditating. As I began to discover more of who I am, I discovered my true calling in music. I thank God for this gift, and feel blessed. It's a privilege that this is now my work in the world.