In recent years, global music streaming platform TIDAL has showcased an up-and-coming artist program, TIDAL Rising, for musicians all over, elevating their talents and careers. In the final quarter of 2022, they showcased four Georgia artists with their documentary series, sitting down candidly with the artists and their journeys in music-making and creating. One of those artists is someone rising among the ranks of indie R&B artists: Sakura.
The trailer for the docuseries spotlighted four Metro Atlanta artists, mentioning the towns and communities they grew up. Sakura hails from Gwinnett County, located northeast of Atlanta, with music surrounding her because of her father, who played piano. Her full name is Nicole Sakura Watson; she went by her middle name for her stage name, translated into Japanese meaning “cherry blossom tree,” bestowed by her mother.
Sakura states in the documentary that her 2021 EP, “Don't Overthink It,” was fully produced, written, and performed by her and with help from longtime childhood friend and music producer-artist DvDx. They had rekindled their friendship as adults and began working together for the production of Sakura's music.
On the night of the TIDAL Rising Concert at Vinyl at Center Stage Theater on December 19, she was the first of the four artists to perform in the event curated by TIDAL. Under blue hues and violet lights, Sakura soothed the audience with her soul and presence as if preparing them for the rest of the waves of the different currents each musician was going to flow with that night. Performing songs from her EP, and even an unreleased song, she put out her soul to the audience through her soothing voice, especially when she performed a rendition of “Best Part” by Daniel Caesar, to which everyone in the room sang along.
