Find Out Why Everyone Loves Rising Star Sara Benyo

Sara Benyo swung by to chat about how she changed her creativity flow and implemented her passion for fashion into merch, among other things!

Sara Benyo is a sparkling light in the scene that must be protected at all costs. Not only does she bring a special pizazz to the dubstep and melodic bass music world that has been missing, but she also has a voice with the power to capture anyone’s attention. We aren’t the only ones falling in love with Sara; her fanbase is completely smitten with her talents and overall aura, and it’s been so fun to witness.

Her most recent festival performances at Breakaway and Home Bass blew fans away, leaving them eagerly waiting for her next appearance on a stage near them. Her latest release on Bassrush, “Never Be The Same,” with Jessica Audiffred, is precisely the perfect showcase of her vocal talents and her ability to flirt with melodic and hard-hitting elements, and it continues to rapidly reach more ears daily. If this is just her beginning, imagine what she is capable of.

We had the opportunity to sit down with the queen herself to connect on cute fan stories, how she is implementing her passion for fashion into merch, how reading The Artist’s Way changed her creativity, and so much more. Read on for an inside look and listen to her exclusive mix full of addictive music!

Stream EDMID Guest Mix 427 || Sara Benyo on SoundCloud:

Hi Sara! Thanks for chatting with us today. Let’s begin by talking about how it all started. Can you tell us about your journey into music? What inspired you to start singing and producing electronic dance music?

Thanks for having me! I’ve actually been singing my entire life, and it’s something I’ve always loved. My mother is a singer-songwriter, so it runs in the family! My father is also a musician, so I have been very fortunate to grow up with parents who have always encouraged my creativity and musical pursuits. I grew up singing every week in church as well as choir in school, began taking vocal lessons at 14, and then into high school, began singing in bands, leading worship, musicals, pretty much anything I could do musical I could do, I did. Music has always been my life.

I’ve always been a composer for as long as I can remember. Writing music is my strength and passion, both lyrically and instrumentally. When I was five years old, I wrote a song for my entire elementary school that I played in front of the whole auditorium. Fast forward to high school, and I spent all my free time writing music with my friends in bands. While I loved being in bands, my love for electronic music grew stronger and stronger to the point of asking my parents for a Macbook for my high school graduation gift so I could learn how to produce and record.

I grew up incredibly inspired by artists like Lady Gaga, Purity Ring, Phantogram, Skrillex, Odesza, and Flume, and then into college, becoming inspired by artists like Must Die!, Kayzo, Zeds Dead, and NIGHTMRE, so when I decided the genre I wanted to pursue a solo artist career in, it became very evident to me that the dance music space was what I felt the most connected to.

What trends or innovations in the scene are you most thrilled about right now?

I honestly love ALL music and genres across the board, so it makes me thrilled to see festival lineup genres expanding and so many subgenres coming into the mainstream of popularity this year, such as hard techno, DNB, and hardstyle. I think we are all evolving and wanting something fresh, so I love to see fans in the EDM world become more accepting of artists expanding into other subgenres, as well as artists pushing the boundaries by incorporating live elements and stage production into their sets (ex: stage design at Coachella for DJ Snake and him DJing in a “jail cell,” Grimes riding in on a cyber spider, and ISOxo b2b Knock2.)

In your experience collaborating with various artists, what do you look for in your partners, and how do these collaborations influence your work?

Well, for one, I have to resonate with their music first and foremost. Their music has inspired me. I love writing multiple different genres, so working with others allows me to expand creatively into new territories while still remaining cohesive with my voice.

You released “Something To Hold On To” earlier in the year under Slander’s Heaven Sent. How was your experience working with Slander’s team?

Slander is one of my biggest inspirations, so it’s an honor to release on their label. They are such good guys. I also had the honor of supporting them at the Hard Rock Tampa this past year. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with them!

Every artist is different, so tell us, what is your typical day of show ritual?

I am a perfectionist, so I definitely spend my day of the show tweaking last-minute revisions to my set. I tend to get really overstimulated the day of/before I play, so for now, I like to be alone in a quiet environment, zoned in until I perform. Since I am also a vocalist, I like to warm up my voice as much as possible beforehand so I can sing to the best of my ability.

It’s clear to see you have an adorable connection with your fanbase. Can you share a memorable interaction or story that highlights the impact of your music on your audience?

Aw, yes. I love them so much! I remember a girl who came up to me at EDCO last year and told me my music helped her get through some really dark times in her life and helped her save her relationship and life. She remembered a specific speech I gave before playing “Something To Hold On To” during a set a year previously at a show in Orlando, and she said it changed the trajectory of her life.

My purpose has always been to help others through music, but until someone like that approaches you and truly tells you how it has, you have no idea how it’s resonating with others. It’s those moments where you realize the weight, leadership, and power you carry as an artist to help others on a massive level, and I don’t take that for granted.

You’ve previously mentioned that you love to incorporate fashion into your projects. Do you plan to follow your passion for design with personalized merchandise?

Absolutely. I teamed up with Freedom Rave Wear this year to create a one-of-a-kind, irreversible, celestial pashmina which I am excited to be re-releasing soon! The more successful I become and the more I can increase my budget, the more awesome merch ideas I plan on creating that I haven’t seen any other electronic artist do yet! My mind’s ideas are endless! It’s so fun to me.

What are your current goals for your project in 2024? Will you be crossing off any bucket list accomplishments that you’re excited to share with us?

My biggest focus right now is writing as much music as possible. Lyrically and instrumentally. I began The Artist’s Way in January, which changed my life. My ideas have flown more than ever. I have been honing in my personal sound and identity this year as an artist and coming into my own, and I couldn’t be more proud. it’s been a cool process. I have also been working on some really exciting music behind the scenes with some of my favorite artists and songwriters, and I can’t wait to share it with the world.