The Lexicon: Getting away for the weekend with SARIKA

Alexis Schlesinger Editorial Staff Mark my words, SARIKA is someone you will adore. Sarika Rao, a Boston-based pop star, embarked on her first tour - “The United States of SARIKA Northeast Tour” - from March 31 through April 4. The tour hit four cities, two of which I had the absolute pleasure of attending. This tour celebrated the release of her six-track EP “The United States of SARIKA,” released on Nov. 4. Throughout the tour, her setlist consisted of the full EP, a few older songs, and an unreleased track. I joined SARIKA to photograph her shows in Providence, Rhode Island at AS220, and Somerville at Warehouse XI. I would do anything to go “Back In Time” to attend all four shows, if I could. While I can’t speak much on the openers for the shows I didn’t attend, I can confidently say that SARIKA not only knows how to write incredible music, but knows how to recognize incredible music. From Yonks and The Olivia Dolphin Band in Providence, to Grace Lucia and Sofia Devitt in Somerville, all of these rising stars seemed to align perfectly for two nights of shining talent. Following her incredible openers, SARIKA took the stage with humor, beauty, and fantastic music. And her three white boys? Mid-set, SARIKA tells her anecdote of a fan interaction where she was asked, “Do you always play with these white boys?” The answer is yes, of course. SARIKA is joined by drummer Steven Nisotel, bassist Ben Conley, and guitarist David Batten, the perfect accompaniment for her energy, and backing vocals for her track “From Inside The House.” SARIKA uses her pop instrumentation and witty lyrics to explore themes of love, growth, and queer identity across her discography. A favorite track of mine from her recent EP has to be “Back In Time,” a song as equally humorous as it is relatable. “Back In Time” is a stabbing tribute to that ex-lover who wasted your time, but wants forgiveness despite lack of change. SARIKA sings, “Is there anything you can do?” and follows with a plethora of answers, all ultimately expressing the same sentiment. “Pay me back in time.” This upbeat “diss track” of sorts includes a rap portion amidst its pop verses that got the crowd going every night, as SARIKA turns up the heat on her antagonist. Another, more sentimental favorite of mine has to be “What I Wanted.” “What I Wanted” is a completely different take on heartbreak than “Back In Time.” Rather than looking for revenge, SARIKA urges the listener, “Don’t tell me what I wanted, cause you didn’t want to try.” Tension builds in the bridge as she finally tells us exactly what she wanted - dinner for two, real talk, and circular drives and manicured lawns - making it increasingly clear that her time has been wasted yet again. Despite her seemingly endless romantic plights, SARIKA always comes back with a sense of humor. In between every song of her set, she always had a fun story or joke to tell. Her unreleased single, “Lad Killer,” is another example of how her humor shines through in her music. While it isn’t necessarily an attack on men, it takes a critical stance on the widely shared experience women have had with men who just can’t get over their inherent need to be in charge of everything, including women. “Lad Killer” is a response to that behavior, with SARIKA stating, “I’ll do what I want” and “wear what I want,” among other statements. SARIKA’s Warehouse XI show in particular had an unforgettable ending. The largest show of the tour, with over 100 attendees, concluded with a cover of “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” by Fall Out Boy. The crowd went wild for the extra poppy version of the pop-punk song as SARIKA left the stage to enter the crowd, inviting them to join her in song. Don’t be a forever no-show to “The United States of SARIKA.” Stream her music, and hit her line.