SASAMI - “Make It Right”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…St. Vincent, Mitski, Sleater-Kinney

While SASAMI’s sophomore record Squeeze won’t be released until the end of this week, it’s already clear from its five early singles that the LA-based artist is aiming far and wide in terms of genre and mood across the wildly diverse record. Bouncy indie pop “Make It Right” gives an air of sweetness versus the industrial and metal experimentations of “Skin A Rat” - it’s hard to imagine these songs coming from the same artist, let alone on the same record. That trend continues - “The Greatest” is a mix of Americana and Southern rock, while “Say It” is a swirl of post-punk and haunting melodies. While it could be jarring in other hands, SASAMI has enough threads between these disparate sounds to really connect - expect this album to be lauded by critics and listeners alike for its moving pop experimentalism. (Kevin McStravick)

2019 Review: Cherry Glazerr instrumentalist SASAMI is releasing her debut, self-titled record on Friday, a collection expected to an interesting sonic diversion into sounds tender, personal and hazily mysterious. In front of washed out melodies pulled from indie rock and grey, electro-pop zones, SASAMI weaves tracks that range from the experimental, R&B space jam “Jealousy” to highlight “Free”, a clear-eyed balled assisted by the delicate guitar work of Devendra Banhart. “Not The Time” is full-on garage pop balanced with new wave floater “Callous” - even though we just have four tracks thus far, the extended diversity of SASAMI should make for a full-length worth listening through end to end.