By James Cook
On a cold Fall night, Sarei Bird and her guitar accompanist, Jose Gutierrez, take the stage just as they are. In the intimate setting of a Head Room sesion, there is an evident vulnerability to their performance. Jose’s light, yet intricate, finger-picking begins alone, followed by Sarei’s smoky, expressive voice. The guitar chords are a stylish mix of latin and jazz, a compliment to Sarei’s indie songwriter forms.
Photo By Drew Carlson
Sarei’s lyrical stories and perspectives come off as familiar and insightful. Songs weave between her honest story-telling and catchy, memorable choruses. Sarei draws on the weightless highs and drowning lows of love and the pursuit of it within modern dating. I found my own experiences in the lyrics, relating to the struggles of a conflicted, wandering, yet oddly hopeful generation. Her willingness to share with such transparency brings depth and invites a real connection between audience and performer.
All the while, Jose is beside, playing an effortless nylon-string guitar. His latin style is a slight contrast to Sarei’s blues timbre voice and folk song structures. The common ground of jazz, latin, and folk, however, creates a solid foundation for Sarei’s wealth of insight. Sarei and Jose are well-practiced, unphased, and perform naturally. The words are caring and relatable, and the sound is fresh and eclectic. With lights glaring and a front row only a few feet away, you can sense the duo speaking from the heart.