BY KATHRYNE RAKOWSKI
CAZENOVIA — Music is in the air once again for Cazenovia native Faith Gara.
Her upcoming single “Still Want It” is set to be released on Aug. 11 on all platforms and is currently available on pre-order through Spotify.
Gara made a name for herself in 2019 with the release of her first single “Ms. Claus,” and then again in 2020 with the release of “Heartbreak Looks Better.”
Since then, she’s continued to create music and has taken some big steps towards advancing her career.
“I know I’m meant to make music,” she said. “It has always been so clear to me, and most importantly, what makes me the most happy.”
Gara attended Cazenovia Central Schools from kindergarten through her sophomore year of high school, after which she and her family moved to New York City.
She attended Gramercy Arts High School for a year and a half before transferring back to Cazenovia to complete her final semester and graduate in June 2017.
While living in Cazenovia, Gara sang in the Syracuse Children’s Chorus for three years, performed in four Syracuse Opera shows, sang in the choirs at school, and participated in local community theater.
A self-taught guitar and piano player, the musician started voice lessons at age eight and began songwriting at age 11.
Since her last single, she released a solo track called “Blame” and a six track extended play with her songwriting group Smokelines.
After graduating from Long Island University Brooklyn in June of 2021, she moved across the country to California and is currently obtaining a master’s degree in songwriting remotely from Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
This program has given Gara the opportunity to take part in some exciting internships with record labels such as Warner Records.
“It was really amazing to work on projects for artists I love like Bebe Rexha, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nessa Barrett,” she said.
She is eagerly awaiting the release of her single “Still Want It.”
The project originated as an assignment for one of her Berklee classes.
The song reflects on some of the aspects of Gara’s own life, like her start in music while singing on the New York subway as a child, to the challenges she faced when she left her hometown as a young adult.
“I didn’t realize how hard it would be to chase my dreams alone,” she said, reminiscing about her family in Cazenovia who would always support her, the special spots familiar to her, and the closeness of her family.
The adjustment was tough.
“You don’t know how much your identity is shaped by where you’re from until you leave,” Gara said.
But while it has been a challenge, she is pushing through and feels she has grown a lot as a person since moving to California.
Gara will be graduating with her master’s degree in December, and hopes to focus on writing songs for other artists.
“I think of myself as a story articulator and lyric bedazzler for artists,” she said. “Songwriting has been a pillar of light for me and has gotten me through the hardest of times, so it is my joy to share that sunshine with other artists.”
She also loves releasing songs for herself and hopes to develop her own individual career down the line.
For the immediate, Gara hopes her new single serves as an inspiration to other young adults who are getting started in life and going after what they want, letting them know that they are not alone if they do struggle.
“I hope this song resonates with the many twenty-somethings who are chasing a dream and it hasn’t been easy,” she said. “I can’t compare my journey with anyone else’s. Letting go of that has made me really happy, and I’m enjoying the ride. Even on the hard days- I still want it.”
To learn more about Gara visit @faith_gara.
