Pakenham singer Sasha Rechichi is celebrating the release of her debut single which she hopes will uplift those facing hardship.
The full-time singing teacher debuted her singing on 24 August with the single Hold On under her artist title Sasha Chanelle, which is available on streaming platforms, such as Spotify.
Sasha and local producer Younique came together to make the upbeat but soulful track, written solely by Sasha and performed with her expressive vocal range.
The song comes from the very heart of her love for singing which has been a central part of her life.
“I‘ve always been a singer,” Sasha said.
“I started as a singer pretty early in my life, my Mum got me doing singing lessons since I was 11.”
Her troubles growing up found relief in music and informed her passion for singing today.
“I was bullied quite a lot in my life and I turned to music to escape a lot of the things I was facing in schooling,” she said.
“When I was 17 I started a school called the Music School of Hope, I was always passionate about helping others in music.
“One of my goal was always to make my own music.”
Being a Soul/R&B singer, Sasha grew up loving some of the most iconic voices.
“I listened to a lot of Aretha Franklin, Etta James, George Michael growing up, they influenced me a lot, particularly with my vocal range,” she said.
Some of those influences couldn’t help being hereditary.
“My Dad really likes Bob Marley, so I grew up listening to him a lot as well and there is a bit that in there,” Sasha said with laugh.
“I do love Bobby a lot, I can really relate to it.”
Hold On tells a story about resolve through hardship, it aims to help those who can relate.
“My debut is about someone being Facebook stalked, which it seems everyone has one of those today,” Sasha said.
“As the title is Hold On, it’s about overcoming the negativity by holding on to the good people in your life.
“Hear songs on the radio, they give people feelings of sadness or love, if you hear mine on the radio I want it to be uplifting.”
Sasha is still teaching singing at Music School of Hope on Purton Road, between this and making music, time can be limited.
“I’m still a full-time singing teacher, it’s very time consuming combined, but I’m surrounded by music so I love it.”
Sasha Chanelle will still be in the studio, having another single dropping in the coming months.
