
SAILORR Promises 'Bankroll Freak Hoe Behavior'
By Ivan Guzman
Jan 30, 2025SAILORR came out the gate with a vision. “I must admit I truly did not realize how many people would connect with how I was feeling,” she tells PAPER.
She’s talking about “POOKIE’S REQUIEM,” the viral track from the R&B songstress that lays it all out on the table. In the song, she sings, “I hope you’re happy/ Got you a mini-me/ Bet she meets ya mom/ Bet y’all get a dog and name it after me, hey, Pookie!” With only a handful of tracks out, the Vietnamese-American artist has taken the world by storm with her slithery sound and it-girl aesthetic, weaving elements of hip-hop, R&B and musical theater into her music. SAILORR’s presence is a refreshing sprout of relatable bitterness.
“Vulnerability and honesty are always what drive connection, and I like to balance that with a bit of humor and wit,” she says. In her “From the Block” performance, the Florida-raised musician sings through blackened grills while a troupe of friends in pink dresses performs a Vietnamese fan dance behind her. It’s this effortlessly cool blend of cultural swag that makes her unique and a true one-to-watch artist this year. “I didn’t know how to fully cope with getting picked apart or being perceived, but honestly, I’m just grateful that I get to wake up and do what I love and that people resonate with me,” she says.
One of those people was Summer Walker. Earlier this month, the two released an extended version: “POOKIE’S REQUIEM (feat. Summer Walker) [hehe look y’all I made it longer].” Walker and SAILORR mix well together, their therapeutic voices meshing and creating a finely-packed velvet lining. With such a quick co-sign from R&B royalty like Walker, it’s clear that SAILORR is just getting started in hitting us all in the feels. And no matter what she does next, it’s safe to say that it will probably be pink.
PAPER caught up with the Florida-raised siren to talk about her rise to fame and what’s coming next.
How did you get Summer Walker on the track? That’s a huge co-sign!
When I initially wrote this song, I must admit I truly did not realize how many people would connect with how I was feeling. I’m just so grateful that I’ve built such meaningful connections with people I love, like Summer, as well as listeners alike. This all came about when we met in a studio in LA and after some time I thought about who might be the best fit for the remix. Luckily, she knew all the words and was ready to add some of her own thoughts to the song, and voilà, we have "POOKIE’S REQUIEM" extendo.
How have you handled such fast virality with “POOKIE’S REQUIEM” within the past few months?
It was super overwhelming the first week I dropped the song. Good or bad critique alike, I couldn’t fully grasp that people were listening to my music, especially at the volume it was happening at. I must admit I didn’t know how to fully cope with getting picked apart or being perceived, but honestly I’m just grateful that I get to wake up and do what I love and that people resonate with me. I spend most of my days really focusing on what brings me the most mental balance so I can show up and be present, so if that means staying off socials, then that’s what I must do to take care of myself.
Who were some of your favorite R&B storytellers growing up that you think shaped your sound today? Or even pieces of media that really influenced you?
Erykah Badu, André 3000, Frank Ocean, HOMESHAKE, Loiter Squad any reality TV involving Tiffany Pollard, Juxtapoz Magazine, MTV when they still played music videos, Lauryn Hill, the entire Top Dawg roster, Jessica Alba in Honey, and so so so much more iconic shit.
In what way do you think you stand out amid the current crop of R&B artists?
Everyone has their own unique perspective on life and I feel as though I speak from my own experiences, which will inherently be unique from others. It may be the same feelings, but my transparency and frankness is what shines through in my writing the most. Vulnerability and honesty are always what drive connection, and I like to balance that with a bit of humor and wit.
What’s your morning routine?
Wake up, brush my teeth, eat something that will make me feel good and get to the munyun.
Is crying over a breakup in or out for 2025?
I don’t think anyone should ever get the satisfaction of fucking with your peace, but if you must let out your emotions, do it and then wash your face and remind yourself of why you wake up because I promise it’s thanks to no one but yourself.
What can your fans expect in 2025 from SAILORR?
More music, more life, more blessings and copious amounts of bankroll freak hoe behavior. Who knows, maybe I’ll drop a cookbook or something.
Photography: Akbar
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