Sabreen Islam Talks Self-Worth And Empowerment With Single, ‘Count Me Out’

We are joined by Auckland, New Zealand based singer/songwriter, Sabreen Islam, in the light of her single release, ‘Count Me Out’.. The final single release from her pop trilogy, containing earlier singles, ‘Glow’ and ‘like a movie’.

Inspired by the likes of Maisie Peters, Conan Gray and Dodie, Sabreen was awarded as a semi finalist for the 2020 International Songwriting Competition, with her single ‘Glow’.

Self written and produced, Sabreen Islam’s latest single, ‘Count Me Out’ oozes with messages of self-worth and empowerment, as she speaks of the emotions felt as you are stood up on a first date. The inspiration comes in reminding the listener that they deserve better.

The track is filled with a synth based pop soundscape that fuses the sound of piano, ticking clocks and harmonies that will completely draw you in to the summer vibes in the song.

You can listen to ‘Count Me Out’ below:

Would you like to start by telling us a little about your background?

Of course!

I’m a musician from Auckland, New Zealand.

I’ve been playing and making music since I was a kid, playing really badly on my little ukulele.

I’ve been in love with music my whole life and started releasing it in 2020.

I write all of my own songs and produce or co-produce all of them too.

What began your exploration of a music career?

I dreamed of it as a child, and as I got older, I thought why not give it a go?

I don’t know how far this will take me, I don’t know if I’ll ever be lucky enough to do it full time but I’m happy to just see how it goes.

Even if it’s only my family and friends listening, that’s more than enough for me.

I want to stay curious and open to all possibilities.

How would you describe the feel of your music?

I would describe it as soft and fun.

I experiment with different genres and production techniques, but at the end my songwriting really is the core of what I do.

I want to create music that makes people smile and feel heard.

You have recently released your single, ‘Count Me Out’.. what was the inspiration behind the creation of this single?

I did!

There’s a story about ‘count me out’ — someone I love was stood up on their first date with someone they really liked, and were absolutely heartbroken.

I remember being so furious on their behalf that I marched downstairs to my piano and wrote ‘count me out’.

It’s such a fun little song and it’s my message to her and anyone else that you deserve better — you deserve someone who will actually show up for you!

What does ‘Count Me Out’ mean to you?

‘count me out’ means a lot to me.

When I wrote it, I had a very specific vision in my mind about its production and aesthetic, but at that point I was unsure if I’d be able to pull it off; I couldn’t afford a producer, and I didn’t have a label or a team behind me.

I still don’t have either of those things, but since I wrote it I’ve developed my own skills as a producer and manager of my own career and I’m so proud that it sounds like something that seventeen-year-old me would be proud of.

It’s such a fun song and I have wonderful memories attached to it, so seeing it out in the world is amazing.

And the muse of the song likes it too!

What did the creative process look like for ‘Count Me Out’?

I wrote it in 2019 with the piano part, and then came back to it in 2021 to produce it. The way I produce is that I like to get the instrumental down first, and then layer the vocals on top.

I’ve learned a lot from producers I’ve been lucky enough to work with around New Zealand.

Harmonies are a really important part of my music so I tend to spend a lot of time on them to get them just right.

I also create a Pinterest board for each release, containing all the aesthetics and visuals that I associate with this song.

For ‘count me out’, I envisioned the colour green, old buildings, ticking clocks and flowers.

I incorporated these into every aspect of the release — the music video, the album art, the promo pictures.

It’s so fun to piece together a song visually, sonically and lyrically.

There’s nothing better.

Where do you find your inspiration for your music?

Everywhere!

I find inspiration all around me, in the people in my life, in movies and TV, in other musicians, in books. Musically, my number one influence has to be Taylor Swift.

She pretty much raised me and I admire her so much. Sometimes, when I’m feeling something really acute and visceral, that proves to be inspiration as well because I feel like I have to write to get it out of my head.

How has Covid-19 impacted your release?

Ah, COVID.

I started releasing music in 2020, so I haven’t really known music releases without it.

For ‘count me out’, I made the most of what I could do — I filmed the music video with my sister, we took the promo shots and album art at home, I produced and recorded the song at home as well.

It’s been ages since I’ve been in a studio, but they’re opening up again now.

I was lucky enough to play a show shortly after the release which was really fun!

I hope more live music will return soon.

It really is the lifeblood of what we do as musicians.

What would you like to see happen for you in your music from here?

I would like to see it reach more people and connect with them.

A lot of the time songwriting can be a solitary process, so seeing it resonate with others feels like magical healing.

I would also love to create more visual content and work with other musicians.

I guess I just want to make my younger self proud and have all the work I do be worth it.

What is one message you would like to share with your fans?

If you’ve listened to any of my songs, I am so eternally grateful.

I will make it my life mission to find you and hug you. It feels lonely sometimes being an indie musician so your support really means the world to me.

I wish you so much peace and strength for whatever battles you’re facing in life right now. I’m rooting for you!

Where can people find your music?

You can find me on all streaming platforms — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube, Tiktok, etc.

I hope to see you there 🙂