SAJÉ found her voice in a concrete basement. Now she's turning that discovery into something bigger with "Cyclone," her latest track that sounds like what happens when quiet strength finally speaks up.
The Atlanta-based artist won Soundstripe's first Sync Wars competition last year. Her new song is built for the moment someone realizes they picked the wrong person to mess with.
The Interview
How did you get started as a songwriter and artist?
I was actually a late bloomer. In college, I found this unused dorm building with a concrete basement that had the most incredible reverb. I started going down there after class just to experiment — and one day I sang, and it shocked me. I called my mom, brought her down there, and she just stood there like, "What is that?" That moment changed everything. I discovered melody before anything else, so I became melody-first. Emotion lives in sound for me — the words follow.
You were one of the winners of Soundstripe's first ever Sync Wars — can you tell us about the competition and what set you apart?
I submitted a song called "Nightfall," which was deeply personal. It came from my experience growing up androgynous — having intense emotions but not always feeling like there was space to express them. I think what set me apart was authenticity. I wasn't trying to write "for sync." I was writing something real. When something is emotionally honest, it translates. It pulls people into the moment.
What did Sync Wars teach you about writing music specifically for sync?
It taught me emotional precision. As artists, controlling emotion is our superpower. But in sync, you have to wield that power intentionally. You're serving a scene, not just yourself.
Can you walk us through the concept behind "Cyclone"?
"Cyclone" started with the idea of controlled power. It's that reversal — when someone judges you at surface level, but you end up being the real MVP. Storm energy, but intentional. What looks like chaos is actually strength.
What story were you hoping listeners would connect with?
"Cyclone" is about being underestimated. It's that moment where someone tries you because they think you're weak — not realizing they picked the wrong one. The hook says, "You picked the right one, baby... coming for you, tearing through like a cyclone." It's that superhero shift — the quiet one becomes the real MVP. I wanted listeners, especially women, to feel empowered.
How did you collaborate with producer CJ Oliver?
I loved working with CJ. She created a space where I had full freedom to write emotionally and honestly, and then she came in and elevated the record sonically. She really filled in the gaps with production in a way that made everything feel cinematic and intentional. We definitely made magic — and we're absolutely tapping back in again this year.
Was there a moment when you knew "Cyclone" was special?
Yes — when the hook locked in with the production. There's a moment where you stop analyzing and you just feel it. When the chorus hit and everything lifted, I knew it had weight. It felt bigger than just a song. It felt like a scene.
What makes "Cyclone" strong for sync use?
It establishes the atmosphere immediately, the hook is strong and repeatable, and the structure builds dynamically. It leaves space for dialogue while still driving momentum. That balance — intensity without clutter — makes it versatile for trailers, dramatic scenes, or brand campaigns.
If "Cyclone" landed in a placement tomorrow, what would be your dream spot?
I would love to see it in a superhero film or a powerful transformation scene. Something where the underestimated character steps into their full power. That reversal. That shift. "Cyclone" thrives in moments where everything changes.
What's next for you creatively?
I'm in full album mode right now. I just released my single "Butter" from my mixtape, Soft Savage, and that project is building momentum toward my freshman album, Tomboy Blues. Soft Savage introduces this strength-with-restraint energy, while Tomboy Blues dives deeper into identity and self-discovery — especially through the lens of growing up androgynous and reclaiming that power.
"Cyclone" is out now. Her mixtape Soft Savage drops soon, with debut album Tomboy Blues on the horizon. Find SAJÉ on Instagram @_astormnamedsaje.
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