INTERVIEW: SAGE SUEDE drops fourth album

SAGE SUEDE, the preeminent pioneer of electronic music fusions in Austin, Texas, has released his fourth album, Renegade, a true masterpiece of alternative hip hop and dance fusions. The album features experimental electronic genre fusions and showcases SAGE SUEDE’s remarkable skills as a songwriter and producer.

Renegade is an album about being cool and not caring about what others think. The songs are about living your life the way you want to, without worrying about societal norms or expectations, sentiments that the artist breezes through with uncompromising conviction across the eleven tracks.

The album opens with “New Diet” featuring Girlxhighlight, a song that sets the tone for the rest of the album with its catchy beats and SAGE SUEDE’s unique vocals. The track is a perfect introduction to the rest of the album, showcasing SAGE SUEDE’s talent for blending different genres seamlessly. The following track, “My Dannk is Deadly,” is another standout with its snapping beat and infectious chorus.

SAGE SUEDE’s ability to blend different genres together is showcased throughout the album, with elements of rock, pop, hip hop and electronic music all coming together to create a unique and innovative sound. The album is a true testament to SAGE SUEDE’s creativity and musical talent.

Overall, Renegade is an outstanding album that showcases SAGE SUEDE’s remarkable skills as a songwriter and producer. With its danceable rhythms, catchy hooks and original fusions of different genres, the album is sure to appeal to a wide range of music fans. It’s a true masterpiece that is not to be missed.

We caught up with SAGE to find out more about his inspirations, the recent scandals in the press his new album Renegade. Check out our interview with SAGE SUEDE below.

Where do you find inspiration to write your music?

Most of it is personal. Like on Thief in Blue, I sample a cop giving me a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. My Dank is Deadly is about college parties in Boston & Brazil and Just Trippin is about this time I hooked up with someone else’s sugar baby in their kitchen. It was his idea and the sugar baby asked him first if we could. He just got mad at me after, because I guess his motive was a threesome with me. So I got their sugar’s number and we hooked up again later. lol

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

You can listen to my music anywhere. For example, a lot of my vibes sound hot at the club and the bass bangs in your car, or on the dance floor. I also have songs that are more romantic or mysterious and with ~150 songs in stores now, there is a song for every mood.

You’ve just dropped your 4th album Renegade. How has your sound evolved since you started out?

I have a different style on every song and album. I art direct and produce my own music so there is a lot of variety, because it comes from within and personal dedication. I create variety in the sounds, genres and visuals because that’s what I enjoy. Renegade is more of an alternative / hip hop fusion but I have other albums that are in other styles and moods like reggaeton or pop.

How was making your new album ‘Renegade’?

Renegade has some heavier vibes than other albums. There is a lot of dank and I touch on some things that aren’t legal and it has depth. In the studio, there was plenty of dank too. One of my favorite albums is Stankonia by Outkast, so it was kind of like that at Blak Marigold Pro. This album also has a lot of variety, even a baile funk song in English, which are usually written in Portuguese. I am re-releasing my other baile funk single Aceita Minha Putaria with a second vocalist in a few months.

Recently you’ve had your private – and explicit – photos leaked, stood on broken glass, hooked up with models while intoxicated at photoshoots and were caught sharing a hotel room with Dazmin D’leon after performing with her in Denver; would you say that you feel any press is good press?

I guess so. My parents would disagree, but they aren’t entertainers.

Does your family support you as an artist?

Not very much. For years they called me crazy, because I was modeling runway and performing shows for large crowds and I told them about the pressures of having a public image. I’m the youngest, so they just don’t remember anymore what it was like to be hot at my age and didn’t grow up with internet so cyber bullying is not as prevalent to them. They don’t know how it feels overwhelming when you are getting hit on, or stared at for your modeling or music presence all the time.

They have also never had as many stalkers as I have in real life… so I had to remove them for my life just for them to understand how well I am doing on my own and that I have survived being stalked several times, but it is never paranoid to be wary of a dangerous situation.

Do you resent your family?

I have forgiven them because they were never stage parents and they never understood how to be good to me in those moments or what I have already been through. As a kid, they helped me to develop into the musician I am today and that was very supportive, but when I became an adult and opened up about marijuana, the situation was a lot like Britney. They don’t control my finances and never did, but they were moving in that direction before I pushed them away… My artistry is global now, so they can’t deny the impact or my public image like they used to anymore. We haven’t seen each other in a few years, because they called me crazy basically every day since I was a victim of stalking and my IG was trending in Boston at the time. I haven’t stopped being thankful or appreciative for when they were good to me, but I won’t ever let anyone treat me like that ever again. I understand what I’ve accomplished alone is pretty cool and they are jealous of me now, so I’m okay with that but I wouldn’t mind having them around sometimes if they can be respectful. They made a huge mistake by attacking my character but it’s over now. Honestly, at this point, I think they are just jealous of my success, but they’ll get over it.

As someone who really lives life in the fast lane, how do you feel that translates into your music?

That’s true, I guess that I write a lot of smooth talking rhymes about moving fast. Whether that is literally on the song “Keep Flexin on Em” on the album Foolin Around, or something sexy. I also do a lot of hot modeling. I’m enjoying myself and creating culture, not living a repressed life.

What’s been your favourite live show so far?

I have enjoyed all of my live shows as Sage. My favorite would probably be my show at Package Menswear, because of the audience and the free jello shots were very good. They gave me one immediately after the set ended, I think it was green apple and baccardi. They also had cherry limeade amaretto jello shots. youtu.be/mds5YVVI5oY

I’m surprised that you move so quickly. Any plans to slow down?

No, I never stop. I have music scheduled in stores through Cinco de Mayo and a new album in mastering, planned for 7/7/2023. The first single is a grime remix of Soft Serve Chillin from the album Foolin Around. I created a new vocal style for this album that includes hundreds of layers. One song featuring Girlxhighlight and Honey-B-Sweet has over 30 vocal lines. You’ll see how cool it is. I never use autotune, because singing is easy and the chords are legit powerful on the upcoming album Dirty Blonde.

Listen to Renegade below