Now a fixture in Quebec’s rap and media landscape, Sarahmée has carved out a prominent place for herself through hard work and resilience. Blessed with an uncommon creative force, she uses her voice to champion causes that move her, paving the way for others who find resonance in her words. We had a conversation with this committed woman who embodies self-affirmation and self-acceptance.
Hello, Sarahmée. You’re a rap artist and a host, but most of all, you’re someone who is comfortable in their own skin. This issue of the magazine explores reconnecting with who we truly are. Right off the bat, what does this idea mean to you?
“A lot of things. My ability to be true to myself is something people often point out to me, because of my music, my attitude, or the image I project. But it’s still something I'm working on, and that’s important to me, both as an artist and as a woman. Our parents guide us toward certain values, and later in life, our own values emerge. I try to sort through all of that to define who I am and what I truly want to represent.”
You began your music career in 2009. Over time, you found success, and with it, the pressure to make a name for yourself and define your place in a rap scene that is still male-dominated. What differences do you see between the Sarahmée of today and who you were back then?
“I can see how far I’ve come. There are ways of perceiving me or treating me that I would have let slide back then, but that won’t stand today. For example, when people assume that I don’t know anything about the technical side of things. Are they going to assume that I don’t know how to hold my mic or adjust my earbuds, or are they going to acknowledge that I’ve mastered those things?
I worked my way up gradually in rap, first in Quebec City, then in Montreal. I’ve worked with people who are still very active today, people I grew up with, each in our own field. In the industry, I think I’ve earned respect, in the sense that I’ve earned my place.
Nothing in life is guaranteed, but the path I’ve chosen has brought me tons of opportunities. It’s opened doors for me in music, TV, radio, acting… Those are things I’ve always wanted to do, and now they’re part of my journey.”
Have you ever felt pressured by those around you to conform to current trends? In rap, for example, have you been told “you have to go for this sound, you have to have that image?”
“Not directly from those around me. I follow what other artists are creating very closely. I see what fellow artists are doing and what’s successful here, in Europe, and in the United States. That can create a certain pressure. But if you always rely on what others are doing to inform your own choices, you’ll never get anywhere. You’ll always end up just becoming a pale imitation of another artist. That said, my music is definitely infused with various influences. When I started making Afro music in 2014–2015, I found my sound. I was happy to be able to release tracks that are catchy and that you can dance to. I felt like I’d found my balance, and that’s when success actually started to arise.”
On stage, you seem to have a natural ease that fully inhabits your body, especially when you’re dancing. Have you always enjoyed performing in this way?
“I guess you could say I’m a dancer. I don’t consider myself one, but I do know how to dance, and I want to do it more. When I first started out, whenever I would step onto a stage, I would become very shy. Then, I began dancing alongside other dancers, and that gave me confidence. When I’m on stage, it’s as if I’m stepping outside my body, as if I’m not the everyday Sarahmée. In daily life, I’m pretty solitary, I stay in my own little world, I’m reserved, but when I dance, it feels like anything is possible, and that’s where I have the most fun.”
Your songwriting is part of your identity. Your lyrics speak of strength, but on the latest album, there’s a lot of vulnerability. How did you embrace that side of yourself that’s a bit more transparent, open, and vulnerable?
“I embrace it now more than I did before. Working with my therapist, spending time with people who are very aware of their vulnerabilities—all of that opened my eyes. Actually, it’s something I’ve always found beautiful and envied in others. To me, showing vulnerability is a strength. So, there you go. I’m working on it.”
Do you feel like you’re a role model to the younger generation?
“I think people sometimes assign me that role. I go to schools and I see young people who view me as an inspiration or a source of motivation. I don’t feel like a role model, but I think I need to be responsible with what I say, because I know that many teenagers and kids are listening and watching what I do. That said, I make sure that that doesn’t stop me from doing what I love. I don’t censor myself, but it’s a fine line.”
You say you’re a modest person. How is that compatible with having a career in the media and in the public eye? How do you balance those two sides of yourself?
“It’s a contradiction. I don’t know if I’m doing myself any favours, but that’s just how I am. I think my modesty will always be there, although it’s eased over the years, and with my work as well. I don’t think we always need to pour out our lives. I see people opening up about their families. For me, I think of my family, of my mother who follows everything I do; I’m aware of the consequences of being too transparent. There are things I want to keep to myself, and that’s perfectly fine.”
How do you slow down and reconnect with yourself? Do you have your own rituals?
“I work out. I try to exercise every day or every other day. It’s good for me. I go to the gym, I do Pilates, a little yoga. I need to move, to feel my body’s limits. Right away, I feel grounded. And eating well, too. So, I eat well, I exercise, and I sleep well.”
Is that your definition of balance?
“Yes, plus having a job I love, and a loving circle of friends, family, and colleagues around me. In my music, I frequently work with my friends. I think it’s the beautiful harmony we all have—each in their own space—that allows me to feel balanced. Knowing that I’m comfortable with the people around me, in my work, in my body, that I’m healthy… All these things have become non-negotiables for me.
When it comes to relationships, nothing is ever set in stone; we evolve, and we don’t all do so at the same pace. We get to know the people around us, and I think communication is key. We don’t have to agree on everything all the time, but that doesn’t mean the end of the relationship. I think when you care deeply about the people around you, whether they’re friends or colleagues, there’s always a solution that can be found. But sometimes, they end, and everyone has to go their separate ways. People leave, people stay, and new people arrive. I try to go with the flow as it comes. That becomes a different kind of balance.”