Meet Down for the Count's musicians: Saara Kaldma
How/when did you first get involved with Down for the Count?
It was in the middle of June this year. I got involved through Katie Birtill, she was a tutor of mine in university and Down for the Count's original vocalist. Katie reached out because they needed someone to perform at a wedding, and I was very very touched that she even thought of me. So I did a little wedding gig with the Bella collective, and after that I met up with Mike and now I’m involved with the tour!
What was your first experience of jazz and swing music?
The kind of music I grew up with was all over the place, just everything! My family is quite musical, and there has always been music around the house. A lot of the music I have been exposed to has been because of my dad.
I actually grew up studying classical music, so I played the violin and the piano, and then I was always singing on the side. Choral music is a massive part of Estonian culture, so that has always had a massive part in it as well.
I was probably introduced to the jazz classics through Amy Winehouse, because my dad listened to a lot of her music. I also remember some Ella Fitzgerald records we had as well, and we also had a compilation of all the greats too that would be playing in the house. I would spend hours sitting next to our big radio, swapping over all the CDs and cassettes and vinyls.
Who are your musical influences?
I would definitely have to say Amy Winehouse, just because she was probably my first introduction into the world of R&B. Through her I discovered all of her influences too, she was a constant voice through all of my childhood.
Definitely a lot of Sade…a bunch of classical music that I grew up studying. Me and my dad would listen to a lot of Joe Cocker on our drives, as well as a bunch of Ella Fitzgerald.
All of the soul queens like Aretha Franklin as well - I think they probably make the core part of my first influences. I also love Prince.
Do you have a favourite jazz song/album/recording?
I think one of my favourite albums is the 1959 Get Happy! by Ella.
What musical projects are you involved in outside of Down for the Count?
I do a good bunch of session work. I have a backing vocals duo called Sage, and we do a fair bunch of session work. We do some backing vocals for Georgia Cécile, who is a Scottish jazz artist, and an Irish artist called Lisa Canny. We do arrangements and studio work and recordings, basically whatever comes our way.
We also write our own music. I currently have a whole bunch of things written, and I have just started working with a producer, and we are just trialling different things. Hopefully we will get into the studio soon, I am really excited to get my own music out.
What are your hobbies when you are not performing?
I do yoga, and I love being in nature. Having grown up in Estonia you are always surrounded by nature, so I have recently made a commitment to finding all the naturey bits and secret spots in London to find those moments of peace and escape.
Do you have a favourite song to perform?
I feel like I’ll have a better answer to this after the tour! But recently, my favourite song to perform has been How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore by Prince. It’s such a great blend of soul and R&B, and it’s such a blast to sing.
About the author
Ruby Willis is Down for the Count's marketing and communications officer. When she is not writing Facebook posts and making Instagram reels, she is often performing in short films or physical theatre shows.
