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NO RULES, JUST RHYTHM — INSIDE SADBOI’S EXPANDING WORLD
For Sadboi, the underground isn’t a phase — it’s a mindset. Her world is driven by energy, built on freedom, and always in motion.
WORDS DYLAN ANDREWS / PHOTOGRAPHY DIEGO BENDEZU
Toronto is a city where an endless world of different sounds come together. For Sadboi, that mix wasn’t just background noise; it shaped her from an early age. “I grew up in Toronto, raised by Caribbean parents,” she says. “A variety of diverse music was all around me my whole life and had such a big impact on my approach to music.”
That approach is less about genre and more about energy. Sadboi’s world is one where witty bars collide with sleek beats, and the vibe always comes first. “I strive to have great visuals, I’m picky with my beats, and I love to have fun, witty lyrics,” she says. “Everything I do needs to feel alive.”
Music has always been more than a pastime for her. “Since I was about 10, I fell in love with music; listening to it, performing it, creating it,” she recalls. “I never really looked at it as a hobby. This was what I wanted to do.” That early conviction still drives her. She doesn’t make songs to fit an algorithm; she makes them because she has to.
Music has always been more than a pastime for her. “Since I was about 10, I fell in love with music; listening to it, performing it, creating it,” she recalls. “I never really looked at it as a hobby. This was what I wanted to do.” That early conviction still drives her. She doesn’t make songs to fit an algorithm; she makes them because she has to.
“EVERYTHING I DO NEEDS TO FEEL ALIVE.”
When asked what she’s been listening to lately, her answer is defiant. “Anything and everything coming out of Brazil,” she says. “And of course, Dancehall. I love anything upbeat that makes me feel good.”
Growing up, she looked to the artists shaping Toronto’s sound. “I listened a lot to Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR,” she says, before enthusiastically praising the SoundCloud era. “That was my first time listening to people make music they truly identified with, less commercial sounding. That was really inspiring to me.”
Growing up, she looked to the artists shaping Toronto’s sound. “I listened a lot to Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR,” she says, before enthusiastically praising the SoundCloud era. “That was my first time listening to people make music they truly identified with, less commercial sounding. That was really inspiring to me.”
“I DON’T MAKE SONGS TO FIT AN ALGORITHM — I MAKE THEM BECAUSE I HAVE TO.”
While some artists rush to outgrow the “underground” label, Sadboi embraces it. “I wouldn’t say I’ve outgrown the underground label,” she explains. “I love the idea of being ‘underground.’ It makes me feel like I’m still true to my identity and get the opportunity to bring people into my world.”
When it comes to creating, her process is instinctual. “I always start with the beat. If that doesn’t speak to me, I can’t create,” she says. She doesn’t overthink balancing experimentation with accessibility, either. “I truly make what I like. I’ll be a little more selective about what’s a single or not, based on melodies and stuff like that, but I’ll always create what I like. Otherwise, I don’t think it would be fun for me.”
Still, she’s not slowing down anytime soon. With more music on the horizon, we can expect new directions and new versions of Sadboi. “There are so many versions the world hasn’t seen yet,” she says. “What’s next for me is more music. More fun, lit music.”
Still, she’s not slowing down anytime soon. With more music on the horizon, we can expect new directions and new versions of Sadboi. “There are so many versions the world hasn’t seen yet,” she says. “What’s next for me is more music. More fun, lit music.”
“IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER HOW PEOPLE FEEL, AS LONG AS THEY FEEL SOMETHING.”
For Sadboi, evolution doesn’t mean leaving the underground behind, it means expanding it. Her world is one where joy and experimentation coexist, and where every track is an invitation to feel something – anything. “It doesn’t really matter how people feel,” she says, “as long as they feel something.”
