Folk/Review Said Sara - Then There You Are
After performances in Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Berkeley in 2023, San Francisco singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Said Sara, aka David Benson, is coming full circle. Said Sara is a smoldering extension of Benson’s essence—a true itch. As a child of the 70’s, he grew up on the singer-songwriters of that era of emergence: Baez, Stevens, Croce, Taylor, Buckingham, and Mitchell. But Benson was/is a metalhead and a punk (yes, both) in the 80s, 90s, and beyond. In 2008, he joined crust punk-turned-death metal warhorse Acephalix, of which he remains the drummer.
Said Sara's "Then There You Are" is a hauntingly lovely song that enthralls listeners with its rich emotional depth and striking imagery. This song, which was masterfully mixed by Jesse Nichols at Oakland's Atomic Garden West after being recorded at Yosemite Studios and The Guest Room in San Francisco, is proof of Said Sara's versatility. A rich, complex atmosphere is produced by adding piano, bodhran, and minor electronic components to the main instrumentation, which are his sincere voice and an acoustic guitar.
The song's mellow, folk-meets-roots guitar work instantly grabs your attention and creates an intimate, thoughtful atmosphere. Sara's vocal performance is exceptional, evoking the passion of Ed Kowalczyk from Live and the sincere and powerful delivery of Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins. His voice has a captivating juxtaposition of gentleness and strength that keeps the listener interested throughout.
The lyrics of "Then There You Are" are rife with vivid imagery that arouses intense feelings of desire and regret. Said Sara's skill as a storyteller is apparent as he crafts a tale that seems both universal and intimate. The arrangement of the song creates a dramatic emotional journey, with calm introspective passages giving way to fervent crescendos.
The music is enhanced with the inclusion of piano, bodhran, and electronic components, which provide levels of complexity without overpowering the main acoustic base. The song's eerie nature is heightened by this thoughtful arrangement, which makes it continue to reverberate long after the last note fades.
All in all, "Then There You Are" is a superb fusion of roots and folk music, performed with a sincerity and passion that is both deeply emotional and invigorating. Said Sara has composed a song that demonstrates both his technical proficiency and his capacity to emotionally engage listeners. Anyone who like intelligent, well-written music should definitely listen to this tune.