By Cara Martinez
Staff Writer
Costa alumnus Sidney Sartini decided to pursue her musical dream when she took part in a modern pop band, Bahari. The band got a huge life changing opportunity to perform with Selena Gomez on her next tour.
The band members, Sartini, Natalia Panzarella, a former Marymount student and Ruby Carr from South Africa met Gomez while they were rehearsing their songs at Rock Mafia Studios in Santa Monica. After becoming close friends with Gomez, Gomez decided to welcome Bahari to join her on tour on June 17-July 8.
“We built a friendship with Gomez not even knowing she would be going on tour and taking us with her, but we kept that friendship and we are on the same label too which works out perfectly,” Sartini said. “She is such a strong, independent woman, we want to present ourselves in the same way as her.”
Bahari released its music video “Dancing on the Sun” on May 6. The musicians get inspiration for their vocals from classic 60’s rock and California bands as well as Fleewood Mac, The Mamas and The Papas, the Beach Boys, and the Eagles.
“In the single, “Dancing on the Sun”, the song focuses on the message of positivity,” Sartini said. “Our main message we spread in our music is living carefree, being positive and living life to the fullest.”
The band members met each other for the first time at Rock Mafia recording Studio while they were each working on their respected music with their producers. They ended up writing their first song, “Wild Ones,” in twenty minutes during their first writing session together.
“The way we quickly wrote it and came up with the harmonies made me realize that I wanted to be a part of this band and create music with the girls,” Panzanella said.
The name “Bahari,” which means ocean in Swahili, was influenced by Carr, who grew up on an Island in Kenya. The ocean is symbolic for the girls because it connects them together since they all grew up by the beach. According to Sartini, “Bahari” is very fitting and is unique from other band names.
“One of our main goals is to spread our message and to make people feel good through music,” Sartini said. The girls in the band help motivate me because we all push each other and work hard together so we can all achieve the same goal.”
Before the Gomez tour, the band members are required to go through two weeks of rehearsing the performance, set, and the description of their songs on stage. According to Sartini, they rehearse for six straight hours a day with minimal breaks to practice their songs.
“I think the Gomez tour will launch our band in the best of ways,” Sartini said. “One of the concerts is going to be at the Staples Center, which is amazing because it’s where I saw my first concert and it’s my home town.”
After the Gomez tour the band is planning on to continue to work on their album and share their music. They are going to perform in more shows and possibly have a tour of their own according to Sartini.
“I am proud of the music we created, the message we have developed, and how much we have grown together as a band,” Sartini said.
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