There is no greater sense of joy for an artist than having their craftsmanship and skills recognized by their peers. But the fear of judgment and harsh criticisms can often present an obstacle that holds them back from sharing their talents. Christine Sako, one of the emerging musical artists of this generation, went through a similar dilemma. But her wit allowed her to navigate around her fears, giving her the confidence needed to pursue a career in the music industry.
Christine Sako was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and she fell in love with music in 2002 when Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated” played on the radio. The infectious pop-rock track instantly projected an image in the would-be singer’s head of taking to the stage as a badass, guitar-wielding songwriter—an image that she would uphold in her career. Christine wasted no time trying to turn that image into a reality.
However, as she polished her craft, Christine found herself in a place that most songwriters face early in their endeavors: she was afraid that her peers would not appreciate her craft. Wary of judgment, the songwriter devised a plan.
Rather than ask what her friends thought of her original works, Christine would record her tracks and send them to friends on AIM under the guise of finding the songs online. She had been hoping to get objective feedback, and her wish was granted when their reviews came back with positive works. It was then that Christine knew she had to pursue her goals professionally.
In 2009, Christine Sako finally had the opportunity to take her platform to the next level when she toured with the indie-pop band Now, Now. From there, she would spend two years opening for bands like Paramore and Paper Route until she eventually decided to go back into solo ventures.
In 2012, the songwriter drove solo cross-country to San Diego, California, with her guitar and a 25 key MIDI controller. After settling into her new surroundings, Christine set off to work, writing and recording her first full-length album. She later released The Math Project in 2014, a hybrid of acoustic and synth-based pop inspired by the Cali vibe.
Christine made her comeback with new music nine years later, releasing a guitar-driven pop ballad “Sediments” and the upbeat indie-pop single “Seasoned.” The tracks showed listeners the evolution of her style. Christine aims to take her listeners on a journey through all the emotions with distinct vocals and beat-driven melodies. From catchy to melancholic, each song peels back layers in everyone, creating a relatable, easy-listening experience.
Christine Sako’s latest track, “Coda,” is about having a person return to your life, reopening a chapter that was once well-read and closed. With the doors reopened, the narrative is rewritten with previous topics and emotions revisited and transformed as new information is revealed and evocated. Yet despite the changes, the story’s outcome remains the same.
The song’s crux is about being tired and wanting to move on. Yet despite the desire to let go, there is still underlying friction and a tugging in the direction of what we know will never end well.
“Coda was written in the summer of 2021,” said Christine. “It was tracked and recorded in my home studio in San Diego, California. Synth bass tracks, vocals, drums, then more synths were added to create the entirety of the song.”
