Raised in Oakland, California, Satya has spent the last decade building a sound that blends soulful vulnerability, atmospheric production, and storytelling rooted in real life. Her upcoming album, Yellow House, is more than just a collection of songs—it’s a place, a memory, a moment in time that she’s inviting listeners into.
Some artists make music that sounds good.
Satya makes music that feels like something you’ve lived through.
In this exclusive conversation, Satya speaks on her identity, the power of softness, how nostalgia shaped the album, and why she wanted the project to remain raw and organic instead of overly polished.
Who is Satya?
I’m from Oakland, California. I would say that I’m a very open and artistic person. I love music a lot. I love my friends and family a lot. I feel like I really have just kind of been following music the last 10 years of my life. I’m a songwriter and producer.
If you could only describe yourself using song titles from your own catalog, which songs would you choose?
Off the top of my head, I would choose my song “Summertime.” And if I could choose one more song, it’d be “Oakland.”
Why those two?
“Summertime” has always been really shifting. That song was the first song that I really started to dive into my sound—sonically and lyrically. The atmosphere of that song captures my energy a lot. It also pays homage to the music I grew up on.
And “Oakland,” because I grew up here. They both represent a shift in where my music was going, and they pay homage to the genres I love, weaving them into my own.
What is your goal as an artist?
Right now, I really just want to keep growing and expanding. I feel inspired by so much—so many people around me. There’s always something to grow into and keep learning. So my main goal is to keep watering my art.
I also feel very blessed to do this full-time. My goal is to have art and music at the center of my life and see where that brings me—whether it’s touring, collaborations, or creating spaces for people.
Would you say your music is personal? Like it carries memories?
Yeah, definitely. My music is very personal.
So are you more of a storyteller, a healer, or a witness through music?
Storyteller is what stands out to me. I base a lot of my writing on my personal experiences. So yeah, storytelling—trying to best craft it.
When listening to your sound, it feels soft but powerful. Do you think people misunderstand softness in music?
I think yes and no. I found my own power in softness—creating a sonic and atmospheric space.
I’ve always listened to Mazzy Star, Corinne Bailey Rae, a lot of jazz… music that takes its time. In that way, it becomes hypnotic. I naturally gravitate toward that feel. It’s not too intentional, it’s just what I’m drawn to create.
If your younger self heard your music today, what would she be proud of?
My younger self would be proud of how far I’ve come and the variety I’ve put out. She’d be proud that there’s an understanding that there isn’t just one lane I have to stay in genre-wise.
Was there a production decision that pivoted the sound of this album?
Definitely—especially with the track “Yellow House.” The songs weren’t recorded in one place.
For “Yellow House,” I fully produced the song and knew I wanted certain elements. I wanted bass played a specific way, and I knew I wanted slide guitar.
I recorded it fully, brought it to one studio with players, and then when I started working on the full album, I brought it to Nashville. I worked with Colin Linden, who was the co-producer and main engineer.
My main intention was wanting it to sound organic and raw. I didn’t want it too polished. I didn’t want my voice to sound too polished. A lot of instrumental takes were one take. I didn’t want to do too much punching in.
The album title is Yellow House. What does that mean to you?
It represents a time in my life. I grew up in a house—it was yellow.
A lot of the songs are very visual to me. I can see the memory and feel it. When I think about the album, I envision the front of the house I grew up in. So I wanted to call it Yellow House.
Is there a song on the album you’re especially excited to see people react to?
The song “Circles” and also my song “Cicadas.” Those two feel very special to me.
When you listen to the album front to back, what part of your identity do you feel came out through this project?
When I first started writing the album, it felt like I was tapped into my inner child. I started writing the project when a lot of stuff in my life around family kind of ripped open. I was doing a lot of inner work to see how my upbringing affected me in adult life. Writing the album felt like it was coming from the younger version of me. Like I was channelling that.
What do you want listeners to take away from Yellow House when they hear it?
I would want them to feel called to bring themselves forward too. Making this project was a very vulnerable and raw experience for me. And I want to give other people permission to not sugarcoat themselves. And also, maybe have a bit more understanding of what I’ve gone through.
Satya’s Yellow House Isn’t Just an Album—It’s a Memory You Can Hear
From Oakland to Nashville, from childhood memories to raw studio takes, Satya’s upcoming project feels like an open doorway into the past—one that listeners may walk through and find pieces of themselves waiting on the other side.
If Yellow House is any indication of where Satya is headed, her future won’t just be heard.
It will be felt.
