Photo by: Carl Rickard
Sarah Khatami is a storyteller who moves with ease between styles. Driven by curiosity and a genuine passion for her craft, the Pittsburgh native weaves her way through R&B, jazz, indie pop, rock, and traditional Persian music, while her clever, narrative-driven lyrics serve as the distinctive constant in an ever-evolving sound. Raised by a poet who exposed her to the profound words of Hafiz, Rumi, and Saadi, and older sisters who introduced her to the sonic worlds of Lauryn Hill, Fiona Apple, and Tracy Chapman, Sarah’s music perfectly mirrors the fusion of cultural influences she grew up on.
Sarah attended high school at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, PA, and, upon graduating, received an annual full-tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Currently based in Brooklyn, Sarah released her debut album, “stalemate,” in June 2024, receiving high praise from Illustrate Magazine, Obscure Sound, and Cougar Microbes. The musical home of its three preceding singles (“smoke alarm,” “over you,” and “save a lil daylight for me”), “stalemate” masterfully chronicles the universal experience of heartbreak, from feelings of confusion and anxiety, to sadness, anger, and ultimately, acceptance.
Most recently, Sarah received fiscal sponsorship from the New York Foundation for the Arts, and grant funding from the New Music USA Creator Fund for the creation of her upcoming project, “Shaydaayi” (“شیدایی”). This project will be a collection of musical reinterpretations of her father’s original Persian poetry.
With honesty and soul at the core of her artistic practice, Sarah’s music not only speaks to her listeners, but paints cinematic landscapes for them to wander in, slowly uncovering pieces of themselves.