Sarter Kit is the wonderful creation of the 25-year-old German saxophonist, Tara Sarter, who has masterfully crafted a unique musical voice, deeply influenced by live performance and humanist ideals. Growing up near the French border, Sarter’s musical journey began in her school days, where her early love for the alto saxophone paved the way for an enriching musical upbringing. By the tender age of 13, she was already captivating audiences across Europe as the youngest member of her school’s big band, experiences that nurtured her profound appreciation for collaborative artistry.
The genesis of Sarter Kit was nothing short of organic magic. It all started when pianist Elias Stemeseder, then a teacher at Sarter’s university in Weimar, extended an invitation for her to perform. What was initially a one-off concert blossomed into a grander project with the addition of drummer Lukas Akintaya, leading to a festival appearance and, ultimately, a recording offer from Squama Recordings.
Now, Sarter Kit is thrilled to announce their debut album, What I Am and What I’m Not, set to release on March 21 via Squama Recordings. This album unveils the powerful artistic vision of Tara Sarter, whose minimalist and experimental jazz approach beautifully explores the delicate balance between sound and silence, all infused with profound emotional depth. Alongside this exciting announcement, Sarter Kit has released their lead single “Time Got Relative.” The track is a testament to the beauty of restraint over excess. Akintaya’s drumming intricately dances through polyrhythms and hypnotic grooves, while Stemeseder’s piano and synthesizer work add layers of tension and release. The trio’s synergy is mesmerizing in its simplicity, with each note and silence carrying significant weight.
Reflecting on the new single, Sarter shares her insightful perspective: “In this world, it’s not about having a lot of ‘open end time’ anymore; it’s about being with the time, building a consciousness with it. We don’t appreciate the time we actually have. The world and living are so rushed, with people thinking ‘I’ll just do that very quickly’ instead of giving ourselves the time to do those things consciously and with care. Sometimes it feels so random and relative how we live, think, and decide. Do we even take the time to recognize how we interact with nature, animals, or even ourselves? Often, I think this all got so relative while time is still going on.”
Sarter Kit is Tara Sarter on alto sax Elias Stemeseder, on synths, and Lukas Akintaya, on drums.
Image credit: Luisa Pham provided by Practice Music
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