INTERVIEW: Said Sara releases brand new single

Based in San Francisco, musician David Benson had a fascinating and constantly shifting musical journey. Originally known to many as the fierce drummer of the death metal band Acephalix, David showcases a completely different side of his musical vision under the moniker Said Sara.

This progressive post folk project allows him to explore the delicate intricacies of acoustic and emotive soundscapes, a stark contrast to the raw power of his metal roots. David Benson’s journey from the aggressive riffs of Acephalix to the elegant melodies of Said Sara is an astonishing display of his versatility and depth as a musician.

Having spent fifteen years as a guitarist and vocalist in Acephalix, his transition to Said Sara marks a significant change in his artistic expression. The shift began to take shape in 2020 with the release of the eponymous debut EP Said Sara, which he’s since followed up with a string of well-received singles. After a successful 2023 that saw Said Sara reach an even more global audience, this year he’s returned with new material. Bringing us his latest release, he shares his brand new single titled “Then There You Are.”

This new track serves as a poignant tribute to those who have passed away but whose presence is still felt. The song revolves around the notion that the departed may still be ‘monitoring you,’ manifesting in subtle signs in nature or the air around us. It’s a reflective piece that acknowledges the enduring connection with the ones we’ve lost delivered via a stripped-back folk sound with intriguing lyrical twists.

Recorded at The Guest Room and Yosemite Studios in San Francisco and mastered by Jesse Nichols at Oakland’s Atomic Garden West, “Then There You Are” is the perfect example of Said Sara’s flair in acoustic storytelling. Brought in by the warm twangs of acoustic guitar, Said Sara’s graceful and rich voice glides in to thread smooth melodies above.

Raising the energy half way through, bright guitar strums usher in a stark sonic shift where the punch of percussion drives a moody sound before floating back to the silky folk styles and expressive delivery of Said Sara’s vocals. It’s a charming musical experience that sees Said Sara continues his compelling musical story that’s sure to see him win over yet more fans around the world.

We caught up with Said Sara to find out more about his new single “Then There You Are” and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Said Sara below.

Hi Said Sara, is there a story behind the name?

Said Sara is a lyric in the Fleetwood Mac song Sara. “Said Sara, you’re the poet in my heart…” It sort of sounds like Stevie Nicks is singing “dead Sara” – I think that’s what I thought as a kid, long before I learned that the song is a tribute to Nicks’ aborted child. Anyway, Sara is such a hauntingly beautiful song, and one that’s been in my head since the early 80s. That “Said Sara” section of the song is actually often edited out of single/radio versions of the song. I have no issue with some folks thinking that my actual name is Said Sara – that my first name is the common Arabic name Said. Not the case, as Said Sara is strictly a stage name.

What do you love about the San Francisco music scene?

Though there are and have been many, many bands and musicians from San Francisco itself, it’s difficult not to include the greater Bay Area; the 9 Bay Area counties. Number one would be the diversity. I suppose it’s this way with all major metropolitan areas worldwide, but The Bay has seemingly unstoppable punk and metal scenes, not to mention every other genre and subgenre that you can name (or maybe haven’t yet named!) When a venue dies, another seems to pop up, lately. Number two would have to be San Francisco’s musical legacy. From the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane to the famous thrash scene that started in the 80s, to the revolutionary bands within the punk genres: Dead Kennedys, The Avengers, MDC, Operation Ivy, Green Day, to the indefinable bands that went huge like Primus and Faith No More, this truly is the center of the musical universe.

What message did you want to get across with the interesting lyrical twists in this release?

The theme isn’t groundbreaking by any means. It’s about knowing that you’re being watched – and possibly guided – by someone with whom you were extremely close, who has passed away. We feel these messages the most when we take the time to be in nature. I’m also equating an astral element, as the night sky has a timelessness that supports these kinds of emotional revelations. When I use the word “star” to describe someone, I’m speaking literally in this case.

Despite being a folk style track, you work in a reference to death metal legends Deicide, what’s the context behind that?

I knew that I wanted to include the age old concept of heaven and hell – or what’s between – in some fashion in this song. Not as a religious reference, but more of a recognition that one can weigh these extremes without defined spirituality. One just knows that both concepts can be equally appealing. I’ve loved a band called The Innocence Mission since I first heard them back in 1989. Everything about their music is moving, and I find myself drawn to their fairly blatantly Christian themes: descriptions of church interiors and the feelings that come up inside of Christian homes in their small hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, talking to Jesus and to god, an extreme focus on faith and family, and so on. The songwriting duo of longtime married couple Karin and Don Peris has been delivering pure joy without fail for all of these years, and it’s magical. Equally magical – but on the opposite side of the spiritual (and musical) spectrum – is Glen Benton and Deicide. I’ve always loved the decidedly anti-Christian song Trifixion from Deicide’s 1992 album Legion. The way that Benton splits the sections of the word TRI…FIXION into two is masterful and haunting. What always got me was the sound of breaking glass as the song’s intro. So, the line is:

Somewhere between Benton’s ‘fixion and the Peris’ stained glass.

…meaning that an individual’s understanding and acceptance that someone who has died is watching and guiding you does not have to be based on choices of faith. Both of these vastly different artists define Said Sara’s musicality and lyricality. Using “good” and recognizing the power of “evil” can benefit one’s thinking about worldly and otherworldly concepts such as afterlife.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

British up-and-comer Chloe Slater

What’s been your highlight of the year so far?

So far, it’s been the release of Then There You Are, which was actually recorded late last year. 2023 was a huge year for me, as I hadn’t yet played live as Said Sara until March. From there, I ended up doing gigs in Paris, London, and Amsterdam – not to mention Berkeley, CA and my hometown of San Francisco. This release feels very satisfying to me, and there are more gigs coming up later in the summer.

Listen to Then There You Are below