There’s been a lot of emphasis on achieving your ‘bucket list’ since the popular movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman came out in 2007. But Patricia Bahia, whose sophomore album Save Your Heart drops on October 23, was already hard at work on her list before then.
Bahia debuted her new album during a CD Release show at the Monkey House Theater in Berkeley on October 15. Los Angeles residents get their turn on October 25, when Bahia performs at the world famous Hotel Cafe’.
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003, Bahia discovered a desire to write songs during successful treatment for her disease. Although she had been around music her entire life, she had never written a song before cancer tried to cut off her life. Consequently, Bahia looked for help in fulfilling this bucket list item, and discovered Songsalive, a grass-roots songwriting organization co-founded by Australian Gilli Moon, who now lives in Los Angeles.
Bahia started her musical career as a soloist with the acclaimed Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, where she recorded with Linda Ronstadt, performed with Joan Baez and opened for Bonnie Raitt.
Bahia possesses a silky smooth voice that perfectly delivers her truth. The message of her bucket list pursuit comes through clearly in this collection of songs, providing inspiration for others to do the same. You can’t help but be uplifted and inspired by these tunes. Although every song has a unique message, this reviewer was most impressed with the title song, “The Bridge That You Don’t Burn,” and “Every Day is a Gift.” Speaking of the latter, the song was one of the winners in the 2015 Songs for Life songwriting competition and will be the opening song on the forthcoming compilation album. Songs for Life is an annual music contest that supports cancer research.
Save Your Heart was produced by Bahia and Jon Hayes, and mixed by the legendary producer/engineer Bobby Owsinski (Neil Young, Willie Nelson) and mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Erick Labson (Joni Mitchell, Ryan Adams) at Universal Mastering Studios in Hollywood, CA. The album is being released on DreamSongs Records.
Besides working on her own material, Bahia has been hard at work collaborating with other local indie artists, including Sleep Machine, MILCK and Alisha Zalkin. The resulting songs have been placed in several television shows and movies.
It is quite obvious that Bahia and her music have a mission: “The healing power of music was a large part of my recovery and music continues to save my life everyday,” says Bahia. “I want to share that experience with as many people who need and want to hear it.”
Save Your Heart opens with the upbeat pop song “Resilient,” which describes Bahia “to a T,” and closes with the hauntingly beautiful ballad “Come Back to Me.” “Resilient” was inspired by teenage Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, who survived a Taliban assassination attempt and went on to receive the Nobel peace prize. “Whether you’ve been knocked down literally or figuratively,” says Bahia, “this song is a tribute to you and your resilience.”
Bahia is a gifted songwriter with impeccable timing and amazing vocals. Her music is an inspiration for others to follow their dreams, and will stay with the listener long after the last notes have faded.
To find out more about this amazing artist, check out her website and Facebook page, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to her YouTube channel.