Savannah Ré - No Weapons (EP) + 10 Questions

Award-winning Toronto R&B sensation Savannah Ré releases her eagerly anticipated sophomore EP No Weapons via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. A collection of unapologetic testaments created during a period of self-reflection and discovery, No Weapons was written from the perspective of an ever-evolving woman brimming with confidence, clarity, and drive.

Featuring collaborations with breakout lyricist/emcee/producer Mez and R&B singer-songwriter Dylan Sinclair and production from GRAMMY Award winners Boi-1da and Beat Butcha, GRAMMY Award nominee Jack Rochon, JUNO Award winner YogiTheProducer and fellow R&B artists RAAHiiM and Kevinshideout, No Weapons is a statement of a sophomore project.

The 6-track EP includes three brand-new songs along with previously released singles “About U”, “Closure” and “Last One”, the sensual collaboration with fellow Toronto artist Dylan Sinclair which has racked up over 3 million streams and was named a “top new R&B release” by VIBE. The opening track, “Caution”, sets the tone for the EP as Savannah steps into her power and warns in her smooth, effortless vocals, “Say you want a bitch like me / Think I’m bad news, I agree.” Linking up with artist-producer Mez on “Bands” she’s unapologetic in her confidence as her flawless tone caresses the beat and flexes, “I got these hoes twisted outta shape / I got these hoes bent up outta shape / To see a bitch winning / They’re jumping off the ceiling.” Closing out No Weapons is the syncopated confrontation of “WTF”, the focus track of the EP. Questioning love through a cloud of mistrust, Savannah channels her pain into reaffirmations of her self-worth as she shouts the last words of No Weapons, “I am that bitch!”

Savannah sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

Honestly, I've been surrounded by music my entire life. My dad is from Kingston, Jamaica and he was a reggae and dancehall DJ and he would always be digging in the crates -  he has like hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of vinyl, probably thousands. So it started there and then in my house on my mom's side, my sister was absolutely obsessed with 90s R&B - Aaliyah, Boyz II Men, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Ginuwine, Usher, like, it was just constant. So I had the reggae dancehall all the time and I also had the R&B - which is the side what I ended up falling in love with.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

100% Beyonce - the Destiny's Child version of Beyoncé and then her solo move. I remember hearing “Dangerously in Love”, the first one they recorded for Destiny’s Child before it went on to become one of her first singles for her solo album Dangerously in Love. When I heard it for the first time, I was in elementary school and I didn’t know anything about love, but the passion just seeped into me and I was like “What is this I’m hearing? What is this I'm experiencing?” I made it my personal mission over that summer to sing that song or die trying. I literally almost died trying to sing that song, like losing oxygen, but I absolutely was obsessed. After that, all the songs I tried to sing were Destiny’s Child or Beyoncé. I was like, I am determined to be Beyoncé. I mean, no one could ever, no one could ever! But I was still going to try. Also, Chris Brown was a huge source of inspiration for me, especially since I was a dancer first. He showed me how well you can blend the two.

In the future, I would love to work with those two for sure, Beyoncé and Chris Brown, and I would love to work with Brandy. From the newer school, I’d love me some Summer Walker, 6lack, Bryson Tiller and SZA. I love me some SZA, I’m such a stan!

3. Tell us about your new EP No Weapons.

No Weapons is my “Alright, I'm here” project. Opia was that sort of admission and it was me being vulnerable and open, which I love, and I think it was super necessary but at this point in my life, not only am I open, I have accepted all of these things and I also don't think they should be viewed as flaws. Each of the songs on No Weapons explores that differently and with a direct sort of feet planted way. “Caution” is like, here are all the things, and I'm telling you caution, but you're still going to want to be over here. You can take all these sorts of things that could be considered a negative, if you accept them and you stand in them, they are also part of what makes you different and special. So No Weapons is like whoever doesn't like it, it's not your concern. None of those things can stop you.

4. How would you describe your sound?

I don’t think I have a specific sound but I do have a message and I have an energy that I try to put into everything that I do and that’s always going to be honest. I make honest, authentic music. I’m always going to try to give you something warm – whether it’s my voice and my delivery – and there’s always going to be some sort of an 808 thumping.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

A: Definitely Boi-1da signing me. That moment changed my whole life. As an artist, he was the first person to really give me a chance to do this at the scale that I'm doing it now. He’s afforded me so much grace and confidence and has let me do me and gave me the space to create Opia and do things the way I wanted to do them. And then my second would be winning my first JUNO! To be recognised by pretty much the biggest institution in my country is just crazy and I did not expect it so early. Of course it was on the goal sheet but for it to happen on the first project was just like, wow.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Just to keep going. I know it ends up sounding cliché, but I really say it all the time. A big part of becoming successful is not giving up. It's very easy to be distracted. You know, with the internet, you get that one like when you put your whole day into doing something and you just feel deterred but it's like, all those things compound and if you keep going and you stay consistent, the right person is going to see you. Also in that process, you are learning and are getting better and better and better so by the time it’s time, you’re ready. So you’ve just got to keep going.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Absolutely! Dylan Sinclair  –  who is on this EP on “Last One” and just dropped an incredible EP not too long ago called No Longer In The Suburbs – and RAAHiiM are amazing. There are a lot of artists but those two are my favourites right now.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Lucky Daye’s Candydrip, Honestly, Nevermind by Drake and Renaissance by Beyoncé – I listen to Renaissance every day.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I like movies and I only watch science fiction and fantasy movies because I don’t get to sit down and watch stuff often so anything I immerse myself in, I like to feel like it’s taking me somewhere else. My favourite is Alien, the one with Sigourney Weaver, but also right now I'm really liking the new Game of Thrones franchise House of the Dragon and I love the new Lord of the Rings one, The Rings of Power.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

Tequila, my phone (because I get ideas really fast and if the production is being made at the time, I start singing through ideas on voice notes so I don’t forget them), and throat coat tea – gotta balance out the tequila.