Nominated by The Pollies, Thad Saajid was honored at our 2024 Soul of the South Awards as our Music & Entertainment category winner.

Biography

In a place known for bringing in R&B artists to record, Muscle Shoals has a new homegrown talent in Thad Saajid—a singular talent creating a buzz for his effortless melodies, deft lyricism, and vibrant live performances.

Thad Saajid got his start playing church music, honing his abilities on organ and piano in the rich context of the Southern gospel tradition. 2019 saw the release of his first solo project, “The Anti-Social, Pt. 1.” Since then, Saajid has released several EPs and singles, most notably 2022’s “Trash Talk,” a fresh take on neo-soul and R&B which pays homage to his gospel roots. “Trash Talk” garnered widely positive reviews, including a feature on NPR Music’s “Spotlight of the Month.”

 

Soul of the South Q&A

1) What was your “aha” moment or when did you decide that this was the industry for you?

It was at St. John Primitive Baptist Church, nestled in the outskirts of the small city of Florence, Alabama. My dad, or as I call him, Day-Day, is behind the wooden Baldwin upright piano, and my mother, Diane, is standing beside me. It was my first solo in our church choir, and I was barely nine years old. I struggled to lift the corded microphone from the stand because of my stature and patiently waited for the piano introduction to conclude for my cue to begin singing.
“I can tell the world about this; I can tell the nations I’ve been blessed,” I belted. Everyone started clapping and shouting encouragement; I just knew I wanted to do it again.

2) How did your upbringing or time spent in Alabama shape your career?

There’s a subtle dose of genuineness in the roots music of Alabama, interconnected with how we play instruments and how we phrase things; it’s simplistic and raw. My foundation was built on musicality and creativity; my mother was always singing something, even if she was making it up. My father played the piano and practiced extensively, as well as forced my brother to rehearse the drums and drive us up the wall. Combined, they filled our house with a myriad of sounds, and I, being the baby of the family, consumed it all.

3) What keeps you moving forward in the industry, and do you have a quote or motto that resonates with you?

I move forward because backward isn’t a choice when it comes to something I’m passionate about. My grandmother always said, “Love is what love does,” and if I truly love music, I’ll work on being my best at it. It’s not a concept of perfection, but one of growth and coming into yourself and what individualizes a person.

4) How has your nominator made a positive impact on your idea of and/or relationship to your industry?

The Pollies are my friends. We’ve sat at bars together, performed together, and written together, and I’m inspired by not only their talent but also the camaraderie we’ve built. I’ll be a superfan always, and encourage others to listen to their masterful, genius-level work. We haven’t seen each other in a while because they’ve been on the road frequently this year, which is just encouragement to me to keep going and growing.

5) What would you consider your greatest professional accomplishment?

If I can make someone experience joy, sadness, or any other emotion while performing I consider that the biggest accomplishment I can receive. It shows that we’re all connected as one, on this small rock, in this one solar system of millions. The human connection being strengthened by auditory art is so special, there’s nothing I’d rather give the world than the service of music.

6) What would you like to see more of in Alabama as it pertains to your industry?

I would like Alabama to have more venues that can take a chance on local bands, and give them places to perfect the craft with an audience and build a base. We miss out on so much talent because of the lack of places to go and just listen to music. Let’s learn about local artists who have a fresh approach to what we’ve heard our entire lives.