Beauty and the Beat

In a city where reinvention is practically part of the skyline, Shara Strand has built a career around transformation. As the founder of SHARA Makeup Studio on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Strand has spent years helping clients discover confidence through color, glamour, and self-expression. Now, she is channeling that same vibrant creative energy into music with the release of her infectious new single, “Salty Sweet.”

The upbeat pop anthem is a glossy, feel-good throwback inspired by the bold spirit of the late ‘70s and ‘80s. Packed with shimmering synths, playful attitude, and cinematic production, “Salty Sweet” feels tailor-made for summer drives, dance floors, and carefree nights out. Yet beneath the catchy hooks lies something more personal: a reflection of Strand’s own artistic philosophy and lifelong fascination with color as emotional storytelling.

For Strand, makeup and music have always been deeply connected. Both are about mood, transformation, and confidence. At SHARA Makeup Studio, located on East 65th Street, she has created a beauty destination known for polished glamour and personalized artistry. The studio specializes in makeup applications, airbrush makeup, bridal services, brow treatments, facials, and one-on-one lessons designed to empower clients through beauty education.
The chic Upper East Side space reflects Strand herself: elegant, warm, and unapologetically expressive. Her signature aesthetic embraces glowing skin, bold yet wearable color palettes, and looks that enhance individuality rather than conceal it. That same philosophy pulses through “Salty Sweet,” a song that celebrates embracing every side of yourself.

“It represents my work, my life, and my drive,” Strand shares of the single. “Leading with kindness but also having boundaries and confidence in who you are.”

That duality - sweet but strong, glamorous yet grounded - has become part of Strand’s personal brand. As an entrepreneur, artist, and mother, she embodies a modern creative woman balancing ambition with authenticity. Her journey has included years working as a celebrity makeup artist and licensed esthetician, with experience spanning television, media, bridal beauty, and luxury cosmetics brands including Estée Lauder and NARS.

Long before launching her music career, Strand studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, laying the groundwork for the artistic instincts she now brings to songwriting and performance. Even as her beauty empire grew, music remained an important creative outlet.

That passion has steadily evolved into a serious recording career. Following the release of her album Love Forever and a sold-out performance at The Green Room 42, Strand continues to carve out her place in modern pop with music that feels nostalgic while remaining contemporary.

For “Salty Sweet,” she teamed with producer Gregory “Phace” Fils-Aimé at Engine Room to craft a track inspired by the colorful sonic textures of the ‘80s. The result recalls the era’s larger-than-life pop energy while still feeling sleek and current in the vein of artists like Dua Lipa.

But Strand’s love letter to the decade goes beyond sound. The song also taps into a longing for a more connected and carefree time — before smartphones and social media dominated daily life. Instead, she celebrates the joy of hanging out at the mall, gathering with friends, and bonding over music face-to-face.

To visually capture that nostalgic spirit, Strand collaborated with New York photographer Andrew Werner on a vibrant photo shoot inspired by iconic ‘80s fashion editorials. Bright eyeshadows, fearless styling, and playful colors mirror the song’s upbeat confidence and underscore Strand’s lifelong relationship with beauty as art.

That connection between visual expression and music feels especially natural given Strand’s background. At SHARA Makeup Studio, color has always been more than cosmetic. It is emotional language. It can communicate confidence, sensuality, joy, vulnerability, or reinvention in a single brushstroke.

Now, through “Salty Sweet,” Strand is simply expanding that palette into sound.

“I hope listeners feel confident, sexy, and free when they hear this song,” she says. “It’s about stepping into your power, embracing every side of yourself, and having fun doing it.”