Ivana Rašić, better known by her alias Sajsi MC, is a Serbian rapper with a 15 year long career both solo and as a member and founder of rap-rock act SAJSI.
Sajsi MC | Photo: Alek Živković
The most underrated and overrated bands?
Sajsi: You’ve already started asking the hard questions. There are so many underrated bands that don’t get the respect they deserve based on the quality of their music, it’s too hard to pick just one. I’d love to mention all of them, but if it has to be one band let it be AFI. Although I’d mention a few Serbian demo punk bands that never even released an album, but I love them very much and they were a strong influence on me like Ex-Cess and Kontejner AD. As far as overrated bands are concerned, there’s no need to mention them and advertise them any further.
Which band would you like to see reunited again?
Sajsi: A lot of bands whose singers are dead, so fuck.
The band you would like to see perform live, but haven’t had a chance before?
Sajsi: There’s a lot of those bands… The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Leftover Crack, Misfits. They’ve reunited with mister Danzig, although I prefer Graves because he’s more emo, both musically and personally.
Sajsi MC live| Photo: Jovan Ristić
Your guilty pleasure? Band or an album you are embarrassed to admit you like?
Sajsi: Well fuck, I don’t have any of those. When I love something it’s the best thing in the world for me and I don’t feel ashamed. When I love I love without my brain or reason, I love with my gut and my heart.
The first album you ever bought?
Sajsi: The first cassette I bought in the fifth grade was En Vogue, “Funky Divas”. I listened to that album quietly on my cassette player while everyone else was sleeping to put myself to sleep, and two weeks later grunge happened. Then there’s the song “Regulate” by Warren G and Nate Dogg. I know I’m missing the point of the question with this, but since that wave of different genres buying cassettes became an obsession.
Ideal album to relax with on a Sunday afternoon?
Sajsi: Fuck, depends on the Saturday and if you’re hungover or not. I’d recommend anything by Goatmare & the Hellspades.
Sajsi MC | Photo: Alek Živković
The greatest album of all time?
Sajsi: Do you want me to go insane? I don’t know, sometimes it’s “Second Coming” by The Stone Roses, but then I realize I love “Black Sails on the Sunset” by AFI. I can’t answer this, you’re asking too much.
The most annoying musician?
Sajsi: Beyonce and Bono Vox.
A kid asks you what metal or rock is, you recommend them to listen to?
Sajsi: They should start with Bad Company, then Neil Young and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young before that of course, then Creedence Clearwater Revival. They can start there, and since everything is online now, they can keep on looking on their own.
