Bergen Teen Singer-Songwriter 'Shouts Down Drugs' In State Competition

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A local teen singer-songwriter is inspiring other teens to live a healthy substance-free lifestyle.

Hassan Oats, a Hasbrouck Heights musician who goes by the stage name "Sani", shared an original, substance use prevention song as part of a statewide competition organized by The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, the anti-drug alliance said.

Oats, a Hasbrouck Heights High School student, is one of 26 finalists and 20 soloists in the 2023 Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey music competition. He was selected for his original song "You've Had Enough", featuring messages about substance use, misuse and prevention, a release said.

"It might seem cool, to wash away with all your problems, some wine and booze. But is that really gonna solve 'em?

"When the high is too much and you can't come down, it seems you've done enough just to find a way out...

"In your body you should trust, 'cause once is one too much.

"And you've had enough."

This is the refrain of Oaks' song, which he will be performing at the virtual Prevention Concert on April 25 on ShoutDownDrugs.com, featured alongside the other finalists.

Oaks, 17, is heard singing his original piece on the NJ Shout Down Drugs website, as online voting is now open for the public to select their favorite song and musician. His music style, according to the site, ranges from hip-hop to R&B to dance.

The young musician also wrote, and completed recording a song at 14 years old that was called "Fly Away"; the audio and music video are found on YouTube.

"I want to fly away to another place where the people are new, where perils will fade, when you're not afraid, and I am with you," the chorus goes.

The winners will be announced live on air on 95.9 FM WRAT at 6:40 p.m. immediately after the Prevention Concert. The first-place winner will receive a $5,000 music contract, while the second- and third-place winners will receive $3,000 and $2,000 music contracts, respectively.

Voting closes at midnight April 24, and the vote totals will be combined with the votes of a panel of judges to determine the winners.