If you thought Canadians were nothin' but nice, Toronto's SATE will kick you right upside the northern noggin. She won't say "sorry" either. Her debut album, RedBlack&Blue, features a band hot enough to melt polar ice caps and a voice that'll stop you dead in your bear tracks. Strong language warning. Strong woman warning, too. - NPR

There's no doubt that SATE's gritty energy will be unforgettable come Saturday, so you may want to practice her moves ahead of time. In preparation for the event, check out RedBlack&Blue, the full-length debut album from Toronto vocalist and songwriter, as a helpful warm-up. - fuse.tv

SATE is one of the most dynamic acts out right now. If we take sate back to the literal meaning; satisfy a desire to the full, the definition eerily describes seeing this rock and roll goddess perform as well as being immersed in her music. Accompanied by her complete #DGAF style and energy SATE is an artist that will appeal to you most primal instincts. We caught up with rockstar at AFROPUNK 2016 and she gave us an insight to her life growing up with music in Canada and performing for the masses now.

Where are you based?: Toronto.

Album?: It’s called Red, Black, and Blue. It was released on June 10th.

How long have you been performing?
Since I was…well, my mom’s a performer, so rolling around in her womb. I was probably singing background for her then and she put me on a stage around 6 years old or so.

What was your mother’s act called?
Salome Bey.

Describe your sound.
I describe it as bluesy, raunchy soul meets dirty rock ‘n roll.

Who in the realm of music inspires you?
Bette Davis! Who else…there’s new and old. There’s Melitia Vox and Tamar-kali. A couple of local ladies. I love Reignwolf as well, and he’s actually a Canadian guy, but been doing a lot of shit down here. Royal Blood, Queens of the Stone Age, Jack White…

Diverse influences!
Yeah, I mean, I listen. I just listen. I love funkadelic too. Love Fishbone, love Living Color.

Who outside of the realm of music influences you…Art? Literature? Philosophy?
Salvador Dali I love, Frida Khalo, Twyla Tharp, Bob Fosse.

Where are you headed to next?
France in October. That’s the next place.

Why France?
They WANT me! Those damn French, they get all the best people. I won’t stay, though. I really love New York. I have a real love affair.

Do you think you’ll stay living in Toronto?
I don’t know, I really love New York. So it always calls me. My thing about moving here is I don’t ever want to lose the magic and I’ve heard sometimes people who move here lose the magic.

That’s understandable. A lot of people are stifled in New York by the sheer magnitude and competition and overstimulation of the senses.
Well, see, you know what? Toronto I think can be stifling, just because it doesn’t have the magnitude of this. There are different things at work here in New York than in Toronto. Toronto is a great incubator of…we’ve got fucking amazing talent, but there’s no structure to really support it and grow it, and really make it blow up worldwide. You know?

Absolutely. So many brilliant people there, though, so I hope that infrastructure for fostering talent is cultivated in the coming years! On the subject of traveling/touring…do you have any particularly memorable tour stories you can share?
Um, yes. My uh, keyboard player, he’s amazing. We love him. But he has a slight tendency of leaving things in places and just dropping them and leaving them. So, we were doing a show in Philly, and at the end of the show he said, “I lost my cell phone, I don’t know where it is.” We’re like, “What?!” And we have to be in Cleveland the next day. And, we’re like, “Okay, well we gotta … where are we going to find it?” Turns out he had placed it on top of someone’s car. And that person left with the phone on top of the car. My manager was calling the phone and finally on like the 5th ring a woman picked up and said, “Your phone has been run over. So, come here and pick it up, I’ve got it. And you’ve got to come now because I need to get on the bus.” He eventually got there, but she was gone, she left it in a Redbox. THEN, my manager came back after the show and he’s like, “I lost my passport.” What the fuck is happening?! Yeah. So he left it on the same car, okay? And by some stroke of God or the Universe, we found his passport! - ladygunn.com

When you think about punk music, you might picture some very thin, pale young guys with mohawks. But Brooklyn's Afropunk Festival is out to prove that punk is much more than that.

The young Canadian rocker Sate was one of the up-and-coming acts at Afropunk, which took place Aug. 27 and 28 this year. I met her right before she hit the stage. She was wearing a cut-off Fishbone shirt, and she says the black punk band inspired her.

"I think I was just, like, dumbstruck," Sate says of her first time seeing Fishbone live, "and I just remember there being sweat on the walls and being like, 'That's the kind of show that I want to create, where there's sweat on the walls.'"

And with soulful mosh-pit anthems like her song "Warrior," she's achieved that teenage dream. - NPR

SATE, formerly known as Saidah Baba Talibah, has been described as a modern-day Betty Davis (the legendary 70’s funk soulstress). Like Betty, she’s got a dynamic and unique personal style, and she cuts to the emotional quick with her live performances. SATE aims to make the audience feel exactly what she’s feeling when she performs her blend of rock, hard funk, blues and soul. Fiercely independent, she’s successfully crowdfunded 3 EP’s and her debut full-length, 2016’s RedBlackBlue, so expect some fervent fans to be out in the crowd for her set. (Saturday August 27th) - bandcamp

Dear Danko Jones,

Good day sir! How is life on the rock and roll island I am sure you are rule as dictator? Did the Smugglers’ ever repay you for your pants, or just pay tribute to them in song?

I am writing to tell you about the discovery of your female musical counterpoint. I am confident she is actually the female version of you from an alternate universe and, somehow, the two of you are existing in the same physical plane. Her name is SATE and her new album, RedBlack&Blue, is a massive hard-hitting rock, blues, jazz, soul, Afropunk influenced album with as much bravado as….well… a Danko Jones album. Allow me to explain.

The opening track “Warrior” kicks off with a high energy, gritty, riff rock anthem complete with powerhouse lead vocals, falsetto sing along background vocals, heavy guitars, crazy drum-fills, huge bass sound, effected vocal percussion and an explicit deleted vocabulary for extra attitude. Every instrument on this track (and yes, the voice is an instrument) locks in like a jet fighter laser targeting system to demolish anything in its wake. During the emerging rock and roll destruction, each player has a chance to shine with fills and riffs and big-produced madness. “Warrior” shoots your plane out of the air only allowing you to catch your breath as you parachute down before the next song starts.

“What Did I Do” starts off with moody, solo blues guitar and a hugely soulful vocal line, with expression to take down any jazz purist, opening up into a driving Death meets the Headstones playing in a blues club evoking Robert Johnson and the “woke up this morning” line of any classic blues tune. The chorus grooves out into a solid, sing along rock melody complete with a Big Sugar “Drive Like Hell” guitar riff. Soaring soul and blues influenced vocals propel the driving force of tight guitars and splashing cymbals.

The vibe of intimidating vocals, standoffish guitars, fuzzed-fat bass, and rumble-tough drums continues through “Live on Your Love”, “Know My Name”, “Talk to Me” and “Silence” displaying the consistency of style and differing creative choice; the sound is established but not repetitive. “Know My Name” has an opening riff that would Montreal’s classic Deja Voodoo proud. Elements of Living Colour shine through in musical grit and technical solidness. Lyrically there is angst, anguish, attitude and a self-assured confidence of facing, struggling and defeating life’s attacks. “Silence” is a great mix of punk angst and pop delivery with a unison lick that should be on the next edition of Rock Band.

“The Answer” is the album’s first foray into a ballad, an emotional, understated opening with vocals and piano. The slow jam remains, but the pace changes with intensifying instrumental parts and a big, rock sound. The arrangement of “The Answer” builds as each section layers on top of the last, building intensity and emotional appeal. “Try” continues the slow tempo format but with a greater rock feel and a slight 1950s style; imagine if Aretha Franklin was fronting a 90s hard rock band playing a Shangri-Las cover.

“Feel” has the one of the best use of finger snaps and hand claps ever on any album. Tough groove, yes. Rhythmic vocals, yes. Best hand claps and snaps ever, yes. Tina Turner fronting later years Bad Brains all over this track.

A whirling Leslie speaker opens the closing track “Peace” with a gospel delivered “Peace hear me / Peace feel me / Give peace to all the ones I love” transitioning into a dramatic, half time ending. The lyrics become a mantra, pleading for peace’s guidance and delivery. A powerful closer for a massive album.

Listening to the record, Danko, I think I have devised the perfect super group for you to develop combining your musical elements and SATE’s musical elements to produce the biggest sounding collaborative band since Alpha Flight, if Alpha Flight was a band, that is.

Here’s the line-up: SATE (lead vocals), Danko Jones (vocals and guitar), Big Sugar’s Gordie Johnson (bass and vocals), blues rock extraordinaire Megan Lane (guitars and vocals), the Belladonnas and the Temps’ punk noir vocalist Zelda Belladonna (guitar and vocals) and Age of Electric’s Kurt Dahle (drums). This combination would create the biggest vocal and guitar sound imaginable. Each one of you would bring your own reminiscent take on your respective genre sounds. Get on it, sir, it would be brilliant!

Oh, and have Hawksley Workman produce the album with guest appearances by K’Naan and / or Classified.

If you are in the Toronto area, her release album show is June 16th at the Bovine Sex Club. Check this vocal force of nature out for yourself and prepare for an amazing show!

Hope all is well with you and your Cadillac!

Musically Yours,

The Riz - canadianbeats

Imagine this: A goddess rocking a close cut and feathers in her hair, riding into the room on a panther. She has gorgeous, vibrant butterfly wings attached to her back. Guitars and amps are strapped to the back of the panther as well (this is a large panther–roll with us on this one), and there is loud, crashing noise surrounding her. Big noise.

This is a statement. This is how SATE would introduce herself to you.

SATE is a real force to be reckoned with. And we don’t take that cliche lightly. The woman is an absolute badass (see: review of her “Feel” music video). She’s kind, she’s smart, she’s funny, and her musical roots have always been entirely too strong to deny. When you’re a natural, everything just sort of clicks for you. SATE is a natural.

And she’s also really charming on the phone.

We sat down to speak with her right after we saw her music video for “Feel”, because we were drawn to everything she represents. Get a look into her life, her love of the art, and her message right here!

What’s going on right now? Where are you calling from?

I’m calling from Toronto. I’m calling from… I guess we call it The Six now?

How do you think being from Toronto that has aided in shaping who you are and how you live your life?

Well, growing up in Toronto, it’s really very diverse. Apparently it’s the most diverse city in the world. It’s food and music and language–having access to all those things and really just being immersed in a lot of it. Having the freedom to really sit back and listen, and feel how that shifts you, how that changes you, how that affects you. I think that’s Toronto.

There’s a stereotype that all people from Canada are really, really nice. Do you think that’s true?

People are polite in Canada. There are lots of undercurrents of bullshit that are not very nice. There is a lot of passive aggressive shit that goes on. I guess that’s what makes people very nice.

People say that people in New York are assholes. But–quite frankly–when I go to New York, I have the best time and people are really nice. It’s real. I’ve never actually come across anyone in New York that isn’t nice and real. There’s a lot of second guessing sometimes, I agree with that sentiment. But, that’s all over the world.

And that’s my diplomatic side.

We know that you have a pretty extensive musical background. Was there a moment that you realized it was what you wanted to pursue?

It’s been in the family. There are so many of us, and it was just kind of what I fell into. I didn’t think to really do anything else. I love dancing. I grew up dancing for a very long time. Singing gives me a chance to incorporate all of the things that I love. The stage is my home.

photo by Che Kothari
photo by Che Kothari

What’s your favorite part about performing live?

The exchange of energy between me and the audience, as well as me and my band. It’s really a spiritual, freeing experience. Anything goes. Anything can happen if you really let it happen and you really let it go. You could just create magic and be witness to that.

You just got back from tour in mid-May. Any crazy stories?

YES! Yeah, a lot of them. There are a lot of crazy stories, but one of the things that happened was we kept coming across the word–or the spirit of–the wolf. We played a place in Montreal that was called Le loup Garou, which is “The Werewolf” in French. The next day, we stayed on Wolf Road. When we played New York, our sound guy’s name was Wolf. Where we parked our car was right in front of a place called that had “wolf” in its name. The last place we played in Cleveland, the owner of the bar had just lost her dog and it was half wolf. It was a little crazy.

We looked into it. It means “listening to your intuition” and sometimes going solo.

How would you describe your music?

I would say it is bluesy, raunchy soul with a hint of dirty rock ‘n roll.

Do you rhyme everything when you talk?

I like to.

What made you choose to do a PledgeMusic campaign with your latest work?

I felt that PledgeMusic was the best vehicle because they focus on music. They’re really hands on. I just liked the model. I like the interactions. Every outlet [like IndieGoGo] is great, but I really like Pledge because it’s just all about music. They’re fucking warriors, too. They’re amazing.

I noticed that through PledgeMusic, you had your backers vote on songs to put on the album. Did that make you nervous at all?

No, no! Not nervous at all, actually. It was something I brainstormed with the Pledge guys and I thought it was an incredible idea. Why not? It makes so much sense. If I’m going to put the music out there to people that are believing in me by giving to my campaign, why would I then not ask them what their opinion is as to how we shape and form this? I wanted to put my best foot forward so that they’d be happy with it and they’d champion it just as much as I have. I put out all the music that I loved. So it was just a matter of narrowing it down.

I feel like I’m more of a winner because I had their input.

I can’t make decisions to save my life, so I’d probably do that too.

Me neither. Are you a Libra?

Nope, but I’m an Aries and we’re supposed to work well as friends.

New buddies! We can definitely be friends.

The music video for “Feel” is so empowering. How did the idea for it come to be?

It was really a collaboration with Ramon Charles. He’s an incredible editor and these are the styles of videos that he does where he takes footage and creates an art piece. I almost kind of left it in his hands. I had visual concepts of movement, dancing, and movement as in moving forward. Shaking up foundation, fighting, and feeling. All-encompassing feeling. The thesis behind the song was about being–whether you listen to your intuition or not–and what happens. Where does that take you and how do you deal with it?

What do you hope that you fans–and people who see the video in general–take from it?

I hope that they feel something. I hope that they see that not much has changed. We have a lot of work to do. There’s a lot of humanity in the video and I want them to look at what entertainment is versus reality. I want them to have conversations and question things. Let’s change shit, let’s change the world.

I was really moved by what Ramon created from the ideas and even just the song that I put forth to him. Fuck yeah.

I’m not sure if a lot of people would know–only my family would know–but there’s footage in the video of my mother, my uncle, and my aunt singing in Paris. It’s just a little clip in there, and you’d have to be looking for it.

You are playing Afropunk in Brooklyn in August. What are you most looking forward to about that?

I am so looking forward to playing with Fishbone and Living Color again. Or just being there to watch them. I’m also looking forward to this super jam made up of members from each band. That’s inspiration for what I do. It’s black people in rock, and it’s rad.

Who is your favorite superhero, and why?

Black Panther. He kicks ass. He’s only one of them, actually. I actually have three favorites for you. Black Panther, Martha Washington is another one, and Tank Girl.

What’s up next?

I just had the official/unofficial CD release part at North by Northeast. Heading back down to New York and doing a few shows there. I’m going to Windsor. I’m going overseas in the fall as well, doing tours in Europe. I’m going to be busy! It will be hella fun.

Keep the fire burning hot. - impose magazine

SATE “RedBlack&Blue” Review

SATE released her debut album RedBlack&Blue after busting out some really intense singles. The album is not only loud, but it is independent, energetic, and full of rock and roll with a blue blend. The album is comprised of her ten best tracks, the songs which really exhibit what SATE is all about – huge statements and proud intensity.

It is inarguable that SATE is not only a talented musician who makes great tunes, her objective vocal ability is unlike many in her genre and in contemporary music. The range works extremely well with the wide array of sounds of the pounding guitar melodies and swaggering beats. Alongside the unequivocally impressive vocals are rhythms that simultaneously make you want to riot and dance, infectious yet impacting.

There is a grit to the music which makes it unique. It almost incites rebellion, acting as an outcry to encourage awareness of self-identity. There is a lot of soul in these tracks, especially in “Know My Name” and “Feel” notably.

Definitely check out what is sure to be one of the year’s more exciting releases in not only the genre, but in modern music this year. - punchland.com

When SATE and her band strode into studio 211 they brought the rock with them. There was a palpable energy in the air as the band rolled in their instruments and unpacked their gear. Kirt Godwin, the guitarist, started ripping blistering solos to warm his fingers, as Wade O Brown, the keyboardist, eyed the studio Hammond organ — that we promptly added to his mix.

The sound check was very loud, with Tony Rabalao pounding the drums and Justin deGraaf thumbing the bass. SATE ran her band through a few songs and just as quickly as she'd appeared, she returned to the green room to save her voice for the show.

If you haven't seen SATE before, these videos will convince you to catch her next show. And you'll understand why SATE was resting her voice before the performance: she played the most energetic, bombastic, entertaining show we've had in studio 211 in the past year. Her voice soars, growls and caresses as she works her way through blues, rock, funk and even a "jazz" tune. SATE doesn't just dance, she prowls, she struts, she seduces. With the band laying down the heavy grooves, you can hear why her list of influences includes Tina Turner and Black Sabbath.

As her bio states, "SATE knows your desires and she is prepared to give you more than you can handle. SATE [definition]: satisfy a desire to the full." - CBC Music

Good morning! We have a premiere for you this morning from blues musician SATE, a new project from Toronto.

Here’s what the musician had to say about her new tune “What Did I Do?”:

You know that feeling of reaching out for a friend or a loved one and having this gut feeling sense that they’re no longer in the proverbial bed with you? That’s what this is about. This is about that relationship, where the rug is pulled out from under you. You’re thinking everything is cool, cause there’s no indication of what went wrong. So now you’re faced with that person not beside you any longer and forced to ask the question, “What did I do that could be so bad?” - Ride The Tempo

With the blood that fuels her high-energy shows, music has always coursed through SATE’s veins. As the daughter of “Canada’s First Lady of The Blues” Salome Bey, SATE—born Saidah Baba Talibah—has been exposed to jazz and blues all her life. She’s put her own albums out, sang background vocals on multiple others, and has even shared the stage at Toronto’s storied Massey Hall with her mother. Her decision to begin a brand new musical project, though, has begun with three EPs—Red, Black & Blue—that are “a journey into the multitude of emotions dealing with the three most important ladies of my life.” Each EP is represented by one of her totem animals: the Robin Red Breast, Black Panther, and Blue Morpho Butterfly. Those three important ladies are her mother, daughter, and sister. They’re all different records, but SATE’s raunchy, furious take on a classic genre runs through each one, the tunes distinctive because of Talibah’s incredible pipes. The EPs are the first steps in Talibah’s new journey as SATE, and one she insists was very necessary. “I needed to get this out,” Talibah says over coffee in Kensington Market. “I needed to have this rebirth. I needed to.”

The three EPs will form what will be SATE’s debut record. Her PledgeMusic campaign to record them raised way over it’s intended goal, and part of the deal is that pledgers get to vote on what songs will end up on the 10-track album. When they started putting the record together, her and producer Tom McKay cut things down to 18 tracks from over 30 songs. There’s another aspect to the campaign, though. Without her mother’s influence, there’s a good chance SATE would never have existed. Salome Bey retired from performing in 2011 because of dementia. Because the cause is so close to her heart, Talibah is donating 10 per cent of any money raised above the original goal to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

Noisey: What was recording the EPs like?
Talibah: Leading up to recording them, writing them, and working with my producer was pretty intense. It was an emotional piece of work. So it was magical to actually get in the room with those guys and have it all come to life, and just the fire and the passion. Everything that went into it was just exactly what I'd heard in my mind. Everyone was really in it and understanding and excited about it. It all came out exactly the way we wanted it.

Can you explain the relationship your EPs have with your totem animals?
Each EP is named for the colours of the totem animals. The Red EP is the robin, and the robin is about springtime and renewal and rebirth, and also letting go. The panther again is rebirth, and embracing darkness, feminine energy, power. And then the blue is rebirth again. It's a butterfly, so it's transformation, and going into the unknown but having faith in the unknown. It's a lot of letting go and transformation and rebirth in each one of them, but in different ways.

How did you pick these animals?
I would say they picked me. I kind of listen to what's going on around me, watch what's going on around me. There are animals that kind of pop up in my spirit or I gravitate towards them, and I don't know if I'm the right person to say that they're my spirit animals, but that's what best describes them. These animals just follow me, and there's something about them. Every time spring comes along and I see a robin, I just get really excited and happy, and it makes me kind of go, "what is that about?" Every springtime that happens. When I looked into that it just really resonated with me. Just like the panther and the butterfly. There are other animals, but I didn't want to do like, seven EPs [laughs]. There's the squirrel, and the snake, and the wasp...

What does the song "Warrior" mean to you?
There are so many different meanings, but the one that I wrote it from was just to awaken that passion, that dream that you have that you've been leaving on the back burner. This is our time. Each one of us have something that we can offer the world, and to seize the day. But in the recent events of the world, especially what's going on in Baltimore, I think it's about having your voice heard. And burning down systems that hold you back.

With SATE, do you feel like you're finally able to, not just have people hear your voice, but hear the voice you want them to hear?
Absolutely. There's a lot more freedom, a lot more focus, determination, perseverance. All of the experiences that I have, that I've learned from, what the album is about. These three women that I've taken their wisdom and become who I am. Life experiences, traveling the world, meeting different people, all of those things create who I am today. And that's really what SATE is: finding my voice and clearly putting it out there.

How do you think your music empowers people?
I think it empowers people to do and be themselves, in all of the beauty and the ugly in the most human form, just to be authentic. To be raw, and roaring, and strong, and having people around to support that.

Do you think it's weird for Pledgers to have a final say in the track listing of your album?
Absolutely not. That's a no-brainer. I'm putting this out for people to listen to and love, so why wouldn't I want them to tell me what they love, what they dig, and just go from there? It's like an in-house survey... I think it really translates into the world if there are hands-down 500 people that say, "I love this song." Why wouldn't I listen to that?

You're donating a portion of the proceeds to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Can you tell me a bit about your experience with your mother's dementia?
It is and it continues to be very challenging, especially since my mother is a singer, a communicator. It's really taken hold of her communication. Every once in a while she'll sing. Music is definitely something that awakens her, but it's hard to watch her not be her.

I've never thought about it that way, how weird it would be to not be able to communicate how you usually would.
I can only imagine what she's going through in her mind. If it's devastating me, it must be tearing her apart. And I mean there aren’t a lot of good days, but I have to focus on the fact she's still here.

What do you think the most important thing for people living with dementia to have?
A sense of dignity. Patience from their family, friends and loved ones. Understanding. Touch. Human contact. It's hard because for me, sometimes it feels like limbo, watching my mom be in limbo. It really can be any day, where anything can happen. So it's just about savouring the moments right now.

How has it affected your approach to your music?
It's definitely given me a hunger and desire to just put stuff out, and not be afraid. And to really honour her, because aside from being my mother, she's honestly the reason why I do what I do. So it's honouring her, and keeping her alive. - Noisey

Throbbing keys, screaming guitar solos, dirty funk bass and snug rock drumming. The vocals are some sort of funk rock power roaring. This band is the full package. The night ended with me covered in sweat, beer and rock n roll.

This was the maiden show of Toronto’s newest gem, Sate. The two sets were intimate, dirty and invigorating. The Dakota Tavern is known mainly in the bluegrass, country and roots music scene, but much like our site’s philosophy they are fully and simply about good music. I have never had anything but an amazing musical experience there, even when I just happen by.

The crowd was an eclectic mix. Ian Blurton was spinning vinyl and Steve Marriner, of the multiple Juno award winning band Monkey Junk, came in from Ottawa to play the second set, while Sate played the first and third, the place was chockfull, not bad for a Thursday night. The song ‘Revolution’ was a highlight, their vocalist did a full, head high kick after spending a full five minutes on top of the monitors. She also spent the preamble to the song whipping the crowd into a frenzy with a passionate monologue. She also heckled an audience member who hadn’t smiled yet, until he smiled. It was beautiful.

Sate, like the Dakota, has a very simple goal, ‘… to satisfy earholes’. Their sound is difficult to describe, as it appears to be have been funneled in from so many musical genres. Their sonic signature is akin to the band that would result if the Dead Weather and Tina Turner found Stevie Ray Vaughan’s secret stash of songs. Sate brings dirty break-neck blues rock with occasional punk-metal tones and an r & b based rhythm section.

If I may take off my reviewing hat and pull my photographer stalking over my head, Sate is so photogenic that my work was more play than anything. This band is proof of the power of passion. Their live show is both beautiful and scary like watching the birth of something new. These guys are sincerely worth checking out and one of the tightest freshman bands I have encountered. - Toronto Music Reviews

She stole the show last year at AFROPUNK Atlanta and now SATE is gearing up for another year of epic new music.

Combining a raw, blistering punk-rock sound with a blues-y cool, the powerhouse vocalist from Toronto embraces grittiness in her new banger, “Dirty Little Lie.” Dripping in sexuality and sweat, “Dirty Little Lie” was produced by award-winning Canadian songwriter/musician/producer Hill Kourkoutis and written by SATE herself. “‘Dirty Little Lie” was inspired by watching the influx of police brutality, Trump supporters and the fetishization of brown bodies’ pain and humanity,” says SATE. “Then, re-framed as a fucked up power struggling gas lighting boundary disrespecting relationship. It’s meant to shine a light in the murk of our conditioning’s and ask who are you under the influence of – the angel or the devil? And it’s also inspired by the Devil card in the tarot.” - Afropunk

I love to get the inside scoop on new releases by Black Women I n Rock. This week State of SATE hit me up with a sneak peek, or rather listen, of her new single, “Dirty Little Lie.” It’s hard and funky, with a sensuous groove. YASSSS! So of course, I couldn’t let her get away without dropping’ 5LBS. Of Rock.’ Here i’tis!


SHEILA: How would you describe your brand of rock?


SATE: Dirty Rock with a Raunchy Soul.


SHEILA: What is your new song, Dirty Little Lie, about and what makes it special to you?


SATE: Inspired by the influx of police brutality, MAGAssholes and race-related hate crimes in the world and the conversations I was having, that questioned why the pain and threats to the humanity of brown bodies are fetishized and rationalized. Then, reframed as a fucked up power struggle gas lighting boundary disrespecting relationship. It’s also inspired by The Devil card in the tarot. This song personally affects me as a woman of colour and allowed me to use the tarot as a guide, making this song special to me.

........ - Nice and Rough