Saja are Sam Erulkar and Gabija Pakstyte. From Chicago and Lithuania and based in New York City the pair make dance-driven pop, influenced by global sounds. Their new Afro house single ‘Prettier than Me’ highlights their genre bending sounds.
How did your musical project first start? Is there a story to tell about it?
Gabi and I (Sam) first met at Interlochen Arts Academy, a prestigious music school in Michigan. We were working in separate studios, and I walked into the big studio that Gabi was working in with another producer to grab a cable. We introduced ourselves and started to share our musical interests and what music we make and realized that we both have a love of house music. We started working on what would become our first single, Mi Amor. Our musical relationship started to evolve while our romantic relationship began to grow as well. After sharing our music with our mentor, Josh Hoisington, he suggested we become a duo and release our music together under one name. This is when SAJA was born.
What was your first gig?
Our first gig was in Michigan when we played a Boiler Room together. At our school, Interlochen, I was part of a group that threw Boiler Rooms for the students, and on all occasions, we hosted a couple hundred people. The first SAJA set was a headline set at one of our biggest Boiler Rooms.
How has your music/live performances been received by fans?
People love our sets because they are very unique. Gabi sings while I am DJing. Most people at our sets have never seen that, and it creates an atmosphere that is unique from any other DJ set. People love the connection we have with them.
What three words best describe your musical style and why?
If we were to describe our musical style in three words, they would be, world, house, and pop. Our musical inspiration stems from all different places and cultures. Our sound is influenced heavily by the sounds of the world. Our music and performances will also always tie back to the aesthetic of house music and its culture. It’s an essential part of who we are and no matter how much we experiment, house music will always be a part of our sound similar to the influence of world music. We also take inspiration from many pop singers, and we pride our artistry on its polished, pop sound.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
The influences of our sound include artists such as DJ Snake, Hugel, and Disclosure, as well as Selena Gomez and Madison Beer. Pop and house music are our biggest inspirations, but we also take inspiration from other genres that further distinguish our style from our own. There are also not many DJ and singer duos out there. We have always looked to artists such as Sofi Tukker and Major Lazer as musical inspiration in their performances.
Tell us about your new release.
‘Prettier Than Me’ dives into themes of insecurity and self-comparison, something Gabi personally reflects on in her songwriting. While the track explores vulnerability, it also delivers a message of understated empowerment, reminding listeners that they don’t have to feel diminished by these insecurities. She says: ” I wrote this song as a reflection on the struggle of constantly comparing myself to others—particularly, in my case, to other women. Through this song, I want to spread a powerful message: every individual is beautiful and worthy, just as they are. If someone decides to choose someone over you, you are not the problem.”
What inspires your lyrics?
Our lyrics have many inspirations but we always aim to connect with people in one way or another. Themes come from either our personal experiences or even others’ experiences. Our songs often end up being about relationships and the problems that can come with them.
How do you hope listeners will feel after hearing your music?
We want our music to fully stick with our listeners. Whether it’s Gabi’s voice or Sam’s production, we want people to receive our message, remember our melodies, and connect with it.
Do you have any upcoming tour dates?
We have a string of sets coming up in 2025 in New York City, where we are currently based, along with more to come abroad in the coming year.
What are you/your band working on next?
We are currently working on our fifth single of the project, with the release date to be announced, along with collaborations with other artists currently in the works.
Listen here:
