Sirah
Sirah | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sara Elizabeth Mitchell[1] |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | July 28, 1988 Long Island, New York City |
| Origin | New York State |
| Genres | Hip hop, pop,[2] moombahton[3] |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts |
|
| Website | www |
Sara Elizabeth Mitchell[1] (born July 28, 1988), better known by her stage name Sirah /ˈsaɪrə/[6] is an American hip hop recording artist based in Los Angeles.[7] She collaborated with Skrillex, on "WEEKENDS!!!",[8] "Kyoto"[9] and the hit single "Bangarang".[9]
Background[edit]
Mitchell was born on Long Island,[10] to a bluesman and an artist.[11] Her youth included poverty, homelessness and alcoholism.[12] She was repeatedly caught creating graffiti; she stopped after being arrested for it.[3] She moved to Washington with her father at age six, but after he died of an overdose,[11] she ended up returning to New York. There, she was arrested several times and eventually absconded to Los Angeles rather than be placed in foster care at age fifteen.[11] For a while, she considered Union Station her home before purchasing a Jeep Cherokee and living in it[11] in a garage in East Los Angeles;[3] in an interview, she stated that she lived out of her car and felt safe in doing so.[3]
Musical career[edit]
Mitchell moved from singing to rapping after her mother gave a negative review of her voice,[6] and mentioned that the turning point for her was when she heard Big Pun's Capital Punishment.[6]
After moving to Los Angeles, she booked her own tours in such countries as Germany and Romania, sleeping on floors and collecting money from fans.[13] Her first EP, Clean Windows Dirty Floors, was produced by DJ Hoppa.[11] Her first LP, Smile You Have Teeth, was never released. Prior to its intended release, Mitchell's manager sent her a contract demanding $30,000 from the LP's proceeds. She subsequently decided to abandon the album and start anew.[11]
Mitchell met Skrillex after she was contacted by him on MySpace, commending her work and requesting that they work together.[14] The first track, WEEKENDS!!! was the result of Skrillex asking her to rap into his laptop the lyrics she was working on.[15] Their second collaboration, "Bangarang", happened after he called her while he was on tour and asked her to record 16 bars[15] about the Lost Boys.[14] She forgot to close the window before recording it,[14] and thus birds are audible in the recording.[15] Mitchell has also released a mixtape, C.U.L.T.: Too Young to Die.[14] After that she released another EP, Inhale.[16]
Achievements[edit]
At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, Mitchell and Skrillex won the award for Best Dance Recording for their collaboration Bangarang. It is Mitchell's first Grammy win.
Influences[edit]
Mitchell is influenced by Joni Mitchell, Big Pun, WHY?, Qwel, Black Thought, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Jewel, and Cat Stevens.[2]
Discography[edit]
Albums[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Broken Complex (with Broken Complex) |
|
Mixtapes[edit]
| Title | Details | Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| C.U.L.T. |
|
|
| C.U.L.T.: Too Young to Die |
|
|
EPs[edit]
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Clean Windows Dirty Floors (with DJ Hoppa) | Broken Complex |
| 2011 | Trick'd | Unsigned |
| 2013 | Inhale | Pulse Recordings / Atlantic Records |
Singles[edit]
| Year | Song | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "God's Grace (with DJ Hoppa)" | Broken Complex |
| 2017 | "Deadbeat (Feat.Skrillex)" | Atlantic Records |
| 2017 | "Say My Name" | Orange Coyote Records |
| 2018 | "Shots" | Lodge Records |
| 2018 | "Sinner" | Lodge Records |
| 2019 | "Room" | Money Over Beaches |
Other appearances[edit]
| Year | Song | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "WEEKENDS!!!" (Skrillex featuring Sirah) | My Name Is Skrillex | Big Beat |
| 2011 | "Kyoto" (Skrillex featuring Sirah) | Bangarang | OWSLA / Big Beat Records |
| 2011 | "Bangarang" (Skrillex featuring Sirah) | OWSLA / Big Beat Records | |
| 2012 | "Survival" (Alvin Risk featuring Sirah) | Infinity | Ministry of Sound |
| 2013 | "Speakerbox" (The Juggernaut featuring Sirah)[17] | TBA | TBA |
| 2014 | "Lilies" (Lupe Fiasco featuring Sirah) | Lost in the Atlantic | TBA |
| 2015 | "Visionary" (Rain Man featuring Sirah) | TBA | Buygore Records |
| 2015 | "Waitin for You" (Demi Lovato featuring Sirah) | Confident | Island, Safehouse and Hollywood Records |
| 2015 | "Memories" (KSHMR & Bassjackers featuring Sirah) | Single Release | Spinnin' Records |
| 2015 | "Hotel Confidential" (Max Schneider featuring Sirah) | Ms. Anonymous | DCD2 Records |
| 2016 | "Mug Shot" (Max Schneider featuring Sirah) | Hell's Kitchen Angel | DCD2 Records |
| 2016 | "Stop Me" (Wiwek featuring Sirah) | The Free & Rebellious – EP | OWSLA |
| 2017 | "Daddy" (Born Dirty featuring Sirah) | HOWSLA – Compilation | OWSLA |
| 2017 | "Deadbeat" (Sirah featuring Skrillex) | Deadbeat | OWSLA / Big Beat Records |
| 2018 | "Text Me Back" (TQX featuring KOOL a.D & Sirah) | Text Me Back | Barney McAll |
| 2018 | "Bonkers" (Snails & Sirah) | SLIMEAGEDDON | SLUGZ MUSIC |
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Skrillex (December 23, 2011). Bangarang (inlay). OWSLA.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sirah". Facebook. Retrieved April 25, 2013.[non-primary source needed]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Rebecca Haithcoat (September 14, 2011). "Sirah: Your New Favorite Female Rapper Indie Pop Princess". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "SXSW 2013: A surprise in Azari & III, a potential local star in Sirah and a major misstep by Icona Pop". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "Mighty Mike". Pulse Recording. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "HC Exclusive: Interview with Female Rapper, Sirah". Her Campus.
- ↑ "Exclusive Q&A with Female Rapper Sirah on Lana's Land's Blog". buzznet.com.
- ↑ "INTERVIEW: Sirah Talks 'Cult'; Explains How She Recorded Vocals for Skrillex's 'Bangarang'". ralphieaversa.com.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- ↑ Article on Sirah, from Thesource.com
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 "Downtown Music Services". Downtown Music Services. n.d. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
- ↑ Ali, Reyan (n.d.). "Salt Lake City Music – Music Articles: Sirah". Cityweekly.net. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Sira One & DJ Hoppa Present: Clean Windows Dirty Floors – Sirah One,Sirah & DJ Hoppa | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. November 27, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "Sirah: Rap, EDM and "Fun Dip" | Life+Times". Lifeandtimes.com. n.d. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "INTERVIEW: Sirah Talks 'Cult'; Explains How She Recorded Vocals for Skrillex's 'Bangarang'". ralphieaversa.com. April 12, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Sirah's 'Inhale' EP: Exclusive Premiere". Billboard. n.d. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Resurrection Mix by THE_JUGGERNAUT on SoundCloud". SoundCloud. April 8, 2013.
