Gene, or SABAI as he’s affectionately known, has embarked on a truly awe-inspiring journey that resonates with the depths of human emotion. Born in Thailand, he moved to Canada with his family in 2008 at the age of 16. When he first immigrated to Canada, he experienced a culture shock that hit him like a tidal wave – he found himself struggling against the currents of linguistic and cultural differences and often experienced solitude. During lunch breaks, he would take his lunchbox and quickly hide in practice rooms to play guitar and piano so that no one would know that he did not have friends.
His desire to be heard, to prove his existence, became the driving force behind his musical odyssey. Reflecting on those tumultuous years, Gene bares his soul and shares vulnerably about the arc of his artist journey:
Those three years in high school, I didn’t have any friends. I really felt, truly, that if I disappeared the next day other than my parents, no one would know that I was gone…because of that I wanted to become a music producer / DJ….I wanted to prove the world that I exist…but through that journey, I’ve fallen in love with the values and impact that I deliver to the world.
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Then in college, his life changed when he attended his first rave. He felt an epiphany ignited by the pulsating beats of a rave and the electrifying ambiance of Calvin Harris’s set: the energy, the love radiating from the crowd, ignited a fire within him. After feeling the energy and love of the crowd at Calvin Harris’s set, he knew with absolute certainty that he wanted to be up there. In fact, he was so certain that he took a leap of faith, dropping out of college and symbolically sealing his commitment by submitting an empty Statistics final.
Needless to say, his parents were extremely displeased but they eventually acquiesced and supported his dreams by enrolling him in an audio engineering school. It was there that he met the co-founder of Monstercat, Ari Pauonen, who he cited as his mentor and one of the first people to believe in him more than he did himself. It was during this time at Monstercat where he was able to learn the ins and outs of the music business and really push his music to the next level. Four and a half years of relentless effort, demo submissions, and unwavering persistence led to a pivotal moment – the signing of his first track with Monstercat, aptly titled “Million Days.” The release catapulted him into the spotlight, so successful that it paved the way for the “Million Days” Tour, a journey that symbolized the culmination of dreams, passion, and unyielding dedication.
“Throughout this journey I felt like I went through so many stages…I found my purpose in life…my values…it went from seeking validation, to finance, to posting on social media without taking a toll on how other people judge you. And right now, I think the next thing I’m dealing with is sleeping…while touring.”
He refers to this purpose as Ikigai – a Japanese framework for finding one’s purpose. Shortly after finding his purpose, he created a label imprint called Ikigai.
“I wanted to build a community to share the values that I have. I want to touch and build not only the artist but also the…creatives. From our art, the fans will also experience these values…I care that artists are willing to be honest and vulnerable with themselves.”
Continue watching the interview to hear more about his mental health hacks, the vulnerable story behind his song “Scared,” and more!
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Watch the interview below!
Also, after kicking off his headlining tour on January 12th and 13th at Nova SD and Pure Lounge in Sunnyvale, SABAI will be playing at Academy LA this Friday, January 26th. For more information on upcoming tour dates near you, be sure to visit: https://tourlink.to/SABAI2024
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