Diandra Interviews Saint Bodhi: The Flowerchild of South Central
For Saint Bodhi, music is a space that flows through time and vision. It is like emotional puddy in one’s hands; at times, you can mold something beautiful and, other times, you let it drip in-between your fingers to tell you what it wants to be. For Saint Bodhi, her music has become an an amalgamation of her personal vibrancy and traumas. To put it lightly, she has been through some s**t. Yet, if there is anything in this world that can get you through; it is music.
Diandra: Your music reflects the violence and love that comes with growing up in South Central. How do you find your music helps you confront the highs and lows of a troubled upbringing?
Saint Bodhi: I wasn’t really processing my childhood when I started writing in my first couple of years, and then it was kind of like my mind was like, “Hey, this trauma happened to me,” and music helped me acknowledge all that I have been through. It helps me process in a way. The kids that went through the things I went through ended up in jail or dead. So one of the reasons I did music was to tell kids, like me, ”I feel your pain and we don’t have to end up that way.”
Diandra: Is there a song, in particular, that has helpSaint Bodhi – FlowerChild (Director’s Cut) ed your process your childhood the most?
Saint Bodhi: I would say, “Flowerchild.” It helped me process that I came from a really sh*tty background and my dad was crazy.
Diandra: Writing a song like that, did you walk away feeling more respect for how strong you have been in your life?
Saint Bodhi: It comes in waves. I am a creative so I am obnoxiously emotional. Sometimes, I I am like, “Wow,I have really gone through and survived way more things than so many other people.”Sometimes, I can’t even process the many lives I have lived and music helps me see what I think.
Diandra: You have discussed how being a “chocolate girl”, and, I quote, was not loved by your community or media. How do you feel, being in the industry, you add more appreciation for black beauty?
Saint Bodhi: I feel very empowered. Of course, I do have my waves of insecurity, but when you realize that your power goes beyond your skin, you feel like you have superpowers. I have to work harder then a lot of people to get through a door that some just walk in. Yet, I love my complexion and I am amazing. Sometimes, it hits me how much harder I have to work because of my skin and I am like, “You know what? You go chocolate baby!” Pat myself on the back. “You go little, brown girl!”
Saint Bodhi – FlowerChild (Official Video)
Diandra: You should write a song about that with that lyric.
Saint Bodhi laughs: Yeah, well there are so many emotions that are going to come out with my project. I have so much to say and process.
Diandra: Are there any emotions, in particular, that you are tapping into as you write now?
Saint Bodhi: I have not really tapped into the love and nurturing part of me. Right now, it is about venting and letting out all I have been through, but I want to show people that, yeah, I can love.
Diandra: As a fan of poetry, what poem would you transfer into a song?
Saint Bodhi: Probably, a lot of Edgar Allen Poe. Although Nina Simone has this song, “Four Women;” it is about the different lives of these women she encounters, and I always wanted to sample that.
Saint Bodhi – FlowerChild (Lyric Video)
Diandra: Out of love for horror movies, what is one character you would like to transfer into a song?
Saint Bodhi: I know this is going to be terrible, but it is because it so shell-shocking. I just watched The Joker movie, and I really related to him on the fact that he went through so much sh* and everyone condemned him and no one hugged him. I cried. It was so messed up, and he was born into the worst situation ever. I want to teach people to stop manipulating and hurting people. We live in this world where people just want to get ahead and actually enjoy others’ pain. We are making monsters.
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