By: Cindy Lake
Life can be nothing short of a beautifully mesmerizing melody when seen through the eyes of the multi-talented Sage Waters. Born in a mixed household, her father hailing from Haiti and her mother having Hungarian Swedish/Welsh roots sprouting from a chicken farm in California, Sage’s upbringing was melodically diverse. This diversity was reflected in the music her home echoed with. From a tender age, her life has been intertwined with a variety of sounds, songs and rhythms leading to a deep engagement with music that has shaped her journey.
As a natural singer, Sage’s musical training began early. At just four years of age she began her foray into piano, and enriched by her mother’s professional choir singing background, Sage and her sister gleefully soaked in the sonic wisdom that came their way during their regular car journeys. Harmony and rhythm were as much a part of their education as any school subject. Their mother introduced them to the nuances of harmonizing, leading to their first ventures into three-part harmonies.
Life wasn’t all songs and smiles, though. At the age of nine, Sage found herself grappling with a deformity in her right knee, necessitating an almost continuous string of orthopedic surgeries that lasted until she hit 22. It was during this time that Sage mined her creativity, pouring her feelings into poetry. Throughout her ordeal, music was a constant companion and healing force.
In her late teens, Sage’s life took on several colors simultaneously. Not only was she a full-time Fine Arts student specializing in sculpting the human body, she also swam competitively, kickstarted her house cleaning business, and created an opportunity to intern at Tarpan Studios with Narada Michael Walden. Initially only regarded as the studio’s ‘rat’, her perseverance and talent eventually led to her first step into the recording booth and a consequent five-year journey as a professional vocalist.
Her wealth of experiences rendered Sage a versatile artist. From her first paid recording gig creating bird sounds for Wynonna Judd’s album in 2000, to working with a roster of industry heavyweights including James Brown, Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, and more, Sage’s trajectory has been anything but ordinary. Her years in the industry bestowed upon her valuable lessons about publishing, protecting her work, and the prestige of being a vocal producer.
After leaving Tarpan in 2006, Sage navigated personal and professional transitions. As a new mother and wife, she also joined her first cover band, learning to navigate the intricate dance from the isolation of the studio booth to the limelight on stage. Her determination to cover every aspect of the industry saw her poring over interviews of her favorite artists and emulating performers like Beyonce who merged fitness with vocal training.
In a noteworthy encounter, Sage became a songwriting partner for Brown Mark from Prince and The Revolution. This partnership saw her co-hosting, co-writing, and co-producing a 10-episode podcast, the BrownMarkshow. Sage also played a crucial role in planning the Reunion show at 1st Avenue in Minneapolis and the following United States tour after the passing of Prince.
Presently, Sage continues to serenade Las Vegas as a single mother, singer, songwriter, and producer. She’s a resident performer at Resorts World, delivered background vocals for the Piano Man show on the Las Vegas Strip, and is part of Vox Vegas, an acclaimed acapella group.
The fighter in Sage mirrored the life of Cody Crowley, an undefeated welterweight boxer, whose walk into the MGM Grand Garden Arena was underpinned by her song Fighter. It was a touching tribute to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention, in memory of Cody’s father.
As the Head of Artist Development and Director of A&R at Strawberry Hill Records Label, Sage directs her knowledge and experience to budding artists navigating the music industry. She stands as an inspiring figure, striving to heal, enlighten, and better the world through her music. Her Instagram, Spotify and website are portals into her melodious world, inviting one and all to join her on this beautiful journey.
https://www.instagram.com/waterthesage/
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6liJE9nsEO2SSwYQOgSvWz?si=XszvYK6mSFWLF9rg7vllhQ
Website
