Today we’d like to introduce you to Sage Bava.
Hi Sage , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Music has always been at the center of my life. Growing up on a nature preserve and animal rescue, I craved music and all forms of storytelling. From a young age, I would travel to New York City and other major cities to audition, and I was fortunate to have some incredible opportunities—like singing with Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz Club between the ages of 9 and 11.
I earned a pre-collegiate diploma in jazz piano and voice from the Eastman School of Music, then spent time living in London before returning to NYC. Like many young women in the industry, I faced difficult lessons and spent years gigging, auditioning, and trying to find myself in the chaos of the city.
When the pandemic hit, it forced me to slow down. I moved to Costa Rica and taught yoga for a few months, then applied to Berklee’s one-year master’s program in Spain for music production—which marked the beginning of my album.
Now, a few years later, I’m proud to say the album is complete—and I had the honor of finishing it with one of my favorite producers, Larry Klein. The album is about finding peace in the noise—reconnecting with self, nature, and love. I’m deeply grateful for the incredible musicians who played on it, including Christian McBride, Braxton Cook, and my dear friend and collaborator Ryan Barski.
The project is jazz/soul and feels like the first project that truly reflects the music I want to make and the message I want to share.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I faced hardship as a young woman and teen in this industry, as—unfortunately—many women have. It’s been a motivator to put myself out there and aspire to be in a position where I can help passionate young women avoid falling prey the way I did. Boundaries are still a lesson I’m learning, but I feel really grateful for the people close to me who help me stay on my path and reconnect with nature and spirituality. I remember when I found yoga—it changed my life. There’s a wisdom that comes with age, a kind of knowing—so the older I get, the more clearly I can see how to set boundaries while also turning the other cheek.
I wish I could tell my younger self that if you don’t set boundaries, you become a vessel for other people’s demons—and that ends up hurting you both. It’s definitely easier said than done, but it’s vital when discovering your own agency.
I have a poetry book coming out soon about healing from these hardships and dealing with the aftermath—things like derealization and depersonalization. I think it’s so beautiful to hear music or read something that reflects your inner world—so we can feel seen in our experience and perhaps touched by something larger than ourselves. The music I make and the words I write, I hope, resonate with people and bring a sense of wholeness. So we aren’t made whole in spite of our scars, but because of them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a musician, artist, writer, and producer with a deep passion for storytelling, healing, and connecting people through creative expression. My music often explores themes of nature, spirituality, trauma, and transformation. I’ve studied at institutions like the Eastman School of Music and Berklee College of Music, and I recently completed an album co-produced by Larry Klein, featuring some incredibly soulful jazz greats like Christian McBride and Braxton Cook. I’m excited to share it soon.
In addition to music, I love writing poetry and essays that delve into mental health, feminine agency, and reclaiming the self through creative and spiritual practices. My upcoming poetry book explores healing from trauma, including experiences of derealization and depersonalization, and aims to offer reflection, resonance, and hope to those navigating similar paths. I also enjoy interviewing artists and changemakers through music journalism—a space where I can celebrate others and learn from their creative journeys.
What I’m most proud of is my commitment to transmuting pain into art, and using that process to connect with others. I’ve built a life around authenticity, even when it’s been difficult, and I’m proud to now create from a place of greater wholeness.
I’m also deeply grateful for my unique upbringing on a nature preserve and animal rescue. My parents instilled in me a profound empathy for all living beings, and an understanding that nature is our true home. I believe one of my callings in this life is to help remind people of that. A mantra I always return to is: “We are nature—and the more we sever ourselves, the more we harm.”
I believe in the power of storytelling in all its forms, and spent many years working as an actor—a passion I still hold close. I’m excited to see where all these paths lead, and I trust that each one will continue to nourish and inspire the others.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I see luck as my ability to be aware. I believe all wisdom exists in nature and the universe—we just have to be tuned in to receive it. That’s the real work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sagemusicbava.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagebava/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SageBavaMusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doCcWQPeGXE
Image Credits
Ocean Photo: Kristin Burns
Hat: Holy Smoke
Woods: Ajani Jeffries
Guitar: Shervin Lainez
