Introducing Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, Sayak Das. Music has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. From playing classical piano since the age of four, receiving his guitar at five years old, and being in and out of bands from twelve, pursuing music almost seemed like the natural path for him to follow. I had the chance to*virtually* sit down with Sayak to learn a bit more about his past, but I wanted to know more about the release of his debut EP NO LOSS ONLY CHANGE and what this project means to him as his first piece of work that he can proudly call his own.

Sayak was part of a band known as Dreamer and Son which was then turned into his next band, Roy Juno. Though the run of Roy Juno was only three years, they went on to release an album and perform at the Osheaga Music Festival stage in 2019. But bands are bands, they come with complications and members drift apart. Though the guys are not together anymore, they do support each other in their journeys. After breaking off Roy Juno, Sayak made the big decision of taking on the difficult project of putting together his EP. Taking elements from rock, R&B, and pop, made for an angsty record laced with catchy tunes and melodic rhythms.

Sayak mentioned how NO LOSS ONLY CHANGE was on the back burner for the longest time but it was never brought to fruition. As someone who has always been a part of a band, navigating his way through putting together his EP was an entirely new environment for him. When I asked what the record was about, Sayak told me “it’s about growth and personal accountability but it is also about self-acceptance and a lot of f*** you.” I learned how Sayak wanted this EP to show his supporters this is who he is by writing about his flaws in the songs. In his words, NO LOSS ONLY CHANGE “is an all-encompassing thought piece on trying to become the best version of yourself.”

I was curious about the album’s tracklist and why it was sequenced the way that it was. The opening track, “DID U RLY?” is Sayak’s loud introduction back into the industry. With the record revolving around the idea of growth, the track perfectly captured that with lyrics like “Did you really think I’d never change at all?/ I hope you did/ And if you hate to see me happy/ So long after you had me around/ Just cause you miss me right now/ Maybe you’re the one that needs to change.” Then there’s “NO SWEAT” followed by “HELLUVA FEELING”, which brings self-reflection into the album. “SCUMBAG” is an angry song about being depicted as a villain or an entity that is always wrong and leaning into the personality that’s been put upon you. The final track (and my favourite song) on the EP is “VICIOUS,” a song about the vicious cycle that comes with anxieties and knowing how to break away from them. Sayak’s reasoning for putting this song as the last song was, “I wanted the overall message to be ‘there’s a way out and there’s a way forward but you have to be the one to put the work in.’”

I highly recommend giving NO LOSS ONLY CHANGE a listen as it is a beautifully chaotic art piece which takes individuals on a transformative journey of the self. It was wonderful getting the opportunity to talk to Sayak about his career and his EP. Sayak’s solo music career is just getting started and I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors. Sayak Das is a talent you want to keep your eye on, he has proven himself so by blending elements of different musical genres to create lyrically powerful and raw songs.

Make sure to keep up with Sayak Das on Instagram and Twitter!