PREMIERE | Sarah P. "Love Profusion"
Sarah P. — la matrone et le magicien du pop art; press photo by Dora Pantazopoulou.
Athens, Greece multidisciplinary pop art star Sarah P. has continuously created art that spins on a new romantic axis that turns the pages of our conversations and languages of love and care to the next mindful levels. The artist’s extensive works explores identity, mental health, our collective roles as caretakers of the universe and more; Sarah’s latest entry into the sophisti-pop canon is an endearing homage to her influential forbearer Madonna via a cover of “Love Profusion”. Originally found off the album American Life and co-written by Mirwais Ahmadzaï, Sarah enlists Berlin-based producer Minna Music (aka Bibi Vongehr), mastering by Ted Carfrae, recording her vocals at Athen’s Artracks Studios and updating the 2003 track with the sounds, syntheses and urgencies of 2021’s crucial need for a greater, amorous, benevolent, connective enlightenment for all living things. The cover casts a light on the all too prescient nature of the source material where the catastrophes, calamities, conflicts and more of the early oughts set the stage and scene for an increasingly chaotic world where the only antidote exists in the sacred and sublime bonds of a profound intimacy.
“Love Profusion” highlights Sarah P.’s melodic and impassioned vocals where breaths are delivered in time to heartbeats with harmonies that surround like sweeping air streamed patterns of floral spray bouquets soaring in the late spring breeze. Minna Music’s production applies an expressive and illustrative mélange of moods that dazzle with every neatly applied synth beat and twinkling electro-lit tone. Sarah P. recites the items of duress and confusion that are countered by the ode to the greatest loves in our lives that we have ever known. The sullen, sad and sorry state of the world is recalled with a delivery full of vulnerability and eager anxiety that kicks into full confidence and blissful assurance in the chorus recitations of I got you under my skin. This update of "Love Profusion" further drives home the truths, power and testament of a couple with a bond stronger than iron that can conquer any obstacle or the mountain high challenges of any adversarial event. The message that Sarah P. a la Madonna sends out to the world is a dedication to those certain and very special and unique somebodies out there in our worlds. Those particular individuals that make us feel good like no other. The warm and honest hearts that are here for the long haul. The ones that help us heal. That make our hearts feel full. The ones that make us whole. The intrinsically enchanted spirits that always find ways to raise us up from the abysmal spirals of negativity and masochistic doom scrolls. The kindred rays of light that offer unlimited amounts of unrelenting inspiration, affection, emotional support, respect and some kind of love that surpasses the very threshold of our own limited scope of understanding.
Sarah provided the following reflections on the contemporary relevance of Madonna’s “Love Profusion”:
Our world has been turned upside down for more than a year. Naturally, we’ve realized that we need to turn towards the more familiar, the constant forces in our lives — those who give us joy and balance in abundance through the simplest gestures. That’s why I chose this song — because it echoes more intimately at this moment in time. Plus, it happens to be one of my most favorite songs from Madonna. It’s a song I fell in love with when I first heard it and I remember singing it in school all the time.
Sarah P. on a balcony of light; photographed by Dora Pantazopoulou.
“Love Profusion” is one of Madonna’s most sentimental and romantic songs. I wanted to respect and honor the Queen of Pop, as well as the tenderness of the original song — adding a bit of my artistic touch through sparkly synths and hazy vocalisms. I kept in mind the pink flowers from the music video — I wanted my version of the song to be from their perspective, surrounding Madonna as she’s walking down that idyllic path. I produced “Love Profusion” together with Minna Music (Bibi Vongehr), and it was an exciting process. Obviously, being stuck in two different countries because of the pandemic, we had to work together from afar, sending each other new versions and additions to the song and texting each other a lot! While it felt a bit unusual to work that way, we barely felt limited by the current constraints. It was a beautiful process that brought us closer, united by our love for pop music, creativity and girl power.
Sarah P.'s cover of "Love Profusion" is available now via Amour Records.
Cover artwork courtesy of Athenian illustrator Danae Smoustopoulou.