Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly - an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.
𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙙 - 𝙎𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙤
Charles begs you to look back.
I’ve spoken about age once or twice quite recently. I can’t remember when exactly, for this is what happens with age. Not that I’m old… I spoke about how people over the age of 23 are made to feel middle-aged these days, or even past it by the age of 25. Well let’s go back way before that so you can REALLY feel old. Cast your mind back to a different era (or a not-so different era, depending how old you are). I ask you one question: What were you like when you were 13? What were you doing when you were 13? How did you feel when you were 13? Okay, so 3 questions. When I was 13, I had more hair, but it never did what I wanted it to do. I wanted it to look like Paul McCartney’s (circa 1965), but frankly it looked more like a blonde mushroom on my noggin. I was really into music, but only in the sense of listening to it. I was not remotely into sport - not a lot has changed there. Of course, I wanted to be a rock star - or pop star - but I had no real talents. Sure, I could play the drums and the guitar a little, and my voice was fine, but there were many others of my age - and of course, older - who could do the same. I was lazy and didn’t bother to push myself in music, but even if I had been a little more ”pro-active”, I wouldn’t have seen the point at such a young age. Who would have taken me seriously? Coming back to the point, though - I had no real talents to show. 13 is a funny age. It can be very unfunny too. Maybe I mean a peculiar age. Truly in limbo. Should one be playing with toys? Should one be hanging out with the older kids, coughing one’s first smoke? Toys are safer, but then again they “may contain small parts”. Should a 13 year old be interested in a member of the opposite sex? Should a 13 year old be interested in a member of the same sex? Should a 13 year old be interested in anything at all? These are just some of the questions you can feel free to answer in the comments below. My point is that one does not expect anything much from a 13 year old, except perhaps for them to turn 14.
The New Artist Spotlight has had several members in their mid teens - 16, 17, even 15 - but none so young as this. And so I come to explain that a Canadian artist I had been keeping an eye on for the last few weeks, is YOUNG. Sabrina Barreto is - surprise, surprise - 13 years old. Having such a young member on the society/community/group/cult is amazing in itself, but I do tend to ignore age - it’s usually pretty irrelevant. It was not her age that surprised me: it was her talent. Today marks the one month anniversary of Sabrina joining our Spotlight, but despite her tender age, she is quite used to spotlights. With 13,000 monthly listeners under her belt on Spotify alone, she has been a student of the ‘Canadian Idol’ judge, Zack Werner, and has already spent 3 years at the 'Laura Cece Vocal and Performance School’. Remember, she is 13. I am honoured to have her with us.
Let’s talk music. Sabrina is versatile, and is releasing music at an astounding pace - a new song every 4-6 weeks…! Her previous single - Against the World, released in June - is an expertly crafted pop hit, with the voice of a confident 24 year old. She then changed direction completely. Sabrina’s current single is Colourblind. Note the refreshingly English/Canadian spelling of Colour. This dark piano ballad, to me, is a future classic. The yearning, softness and restrained power in her voice makes it near impossible to believe her age. The song has notes of modern James Bond themes by the likes of Adele and Billie Eilish (for the film that may or may not surface at some point in the future). Sabrina’s voice is well trained, but what is training without talent to start with? She seems to feel the lyrics from the perspective of a young woman. An older young woman. Experience not only in voice, but in life; or at least the sense of feeling and emotion one draws from life. We all have emotion. We are born with it. But to express emotion with such depth and clarity is quite remarkable.
Sabrina is not only a hugely talented singer, but also a writer. She may be far too young to be thinking about Mr. Right, but when Mr. Wright came along they both realised a golden partnership. A writing partnership, that is. Anthony Wright is a composer, producer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and - among other things - the father to two puppies. They write all her songs together, and going by the regular masterpieces we have been given thus far, the match is perfect. I am getting very distracted while writing this - I keep being lifted to a different place as Colourblind plays on repeat. It does something to me. All great songs should move you in one way or another.
I mentioned Sabrina was versatile. Going by the title of her upcoming single - All You Gotta Do Is Dance - it is bound to be a beaty number, and I am so very much looking forward to hearing it. We won’t have to wait too long though, as it is due for release this Friday. Friday the 13th. Ooh! Unlucky? Age 13? 13,000 monthly listeners? Next release on the 13th? It seems 13 may very well be Sabrina’s lucky number. But then again, when she turns 14, I suspect so too will her lucky number.
Sabrina Barreto is destined for glory, and is spoiling us with hit after hit in the meantime. Go, TEAM SABRINA!!
It just goes to show. Age matters not a jot.
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