Name: But, I'll Stay by Calida Sari
Duration: 2 min 51 s
Description: “But, I’ll Stay” is a deeply reflective track about the tension between escape and presence. It explores the urge to withdraw, whether through substances, dissociation, or other coping mechanisms when life feels overwhelming. At its core, the song is about making the conscious and often painful choice to remain present, grounded in responsibility, connection, and long-term wellbeing.

“Surviving” closes the narrative with an honest portrayal of life lived in maintenance 
mode. It explores the reality of managing chronic conditions day to day, where 
existence can feel reduced to simply getting through. Yet within that, the track holds 
onto a quiet sense of hope—the belief that survival itself is a form of resilience, and that 
each day carries the possibility of something more.

Surviving

I Survived, a powerful reflection on resilience shaped by a life-threatening medical experience. Inspired by a sudden heart attack caused by an undiagnosed condition, and the open-heart surgery that followed, I Survived captures the emotional and physical reality of confronting mortality and continuing on. Rather than focusing on trauma alone, the track reframes survival as a hard-won strength.

“My new single I Survived is about my close calls with death. It’s an uplifting song with a defiant message.” Ms Sari said. “There isn’t always a reason for what life throws our way, but there’s something powerful in recognising the strength we have to overcome life’s challenges.”

Phoenix Radio host Nikki Noo said this is a really powerful track. “While it speaks to lived experience around disability, the emotion and message reaches much further. Anyone navigating personal challenges, uncertainty, or the weight of what’s 
happening in the world right now could genuinely connect with. That kind of universality is really special.”

I Survived is the first release from her forthcoming album, Songs for the Invisible, a deeply personal collection of songs exploring living with invisible disabilities, chronic illnesses and the search for connection when socially isolated by these conditions.

I Survived

Written during months of severe illness, “Wasting Time” captures the 
suspended reality of chronic illness and disability. Recovery is rarely simple; illnesses linger and days dissolve into hours spent in bed watching life continue elsewhere. The song reflects isolation, frustration, and the unsettling feeling of time passing without you.

Wasting Time

A country-infused folk-pop anthem written in the trenches of a severe fibromyalgia flare, "Not Today, Satan" transforms a moment of chronic pain crisis into a fierce, defiant mantra of neurodivergent resilience for International Disability Pride Month.

Not Today, Satan

“But, I’ll Stay” is a deeply reflective track about the tension between escape and presence. It explores the urge to withdraw, whether through substances, dissociation, or other coping mechanisms when life feels overwhelming. At its core, the song is about making the conscious and often painful choice to remain present, grounded in responsibility, connection, and long-term wellbeing.

But, I'll Stay

Singer-songwriter Calida Sari blends Americana, Alt-Country, Folk and Pop. She grew up in Boorloo (Perth)⁠ — Whadjuk Noongar Country (Western Australia), singing along to her parent’s folk, country and pop records. She began playing guitar at 12 years old and started writing and composing songs at 13. She also gained some classical and contemporary singing training in her teens and mid-20s. 
Calida started performing her music live at 16 yrs old, as well as being included on a local compilation album, with her song, “I Need More”, the same year. That song was played on Triple J, along with an interview. Her song “Envious Eyes” was included in a compilation album called “Alternative Energies Arts Collective”, as well as “Sugar and Honey” and “Waste of Time” on “The Beige Album” compilation the following year.
At 20 yrs old, Calida moved to Melbourne to pursue music and acting, where she won the Grace Darling Hotel song competition in 2001. She briefly sang and co-wrote with Melbourne band, Pout. Autistic burnout struck 2 years later and she reluctantly decided to quit acting and moved to London for a year.  
She returned to Perth in 2005 and continued pursing music. Calida won the Step-Up song competition that same year. In 2006, her song “Lamental” was included in a local compilation album, “Rocky Blues, Vol. 3”. That same year, Autistic burn out struck again, forcing Calida to reluctantly decide to take a break from performing. 
Finding full-time work increasingly too demanding with her undiagnosed disabilities, to be able continue with creating and performing her music simultaneously, she only started writing and composing music again in 2023. Being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, autism and ADHD, and finally being given some of the correct supports, gave Calida the capacity to begin creating music again. Though her chronic pain conditions and autism prove performing live very difficult, Calida focuses on her songwriting and recording as a form of activism.

But, I'll Stay

Calida Sari

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