By Brandyn Huynh
Rating: 4.5/5
After spending years writing for big-name artists such as Idina Menzel, Camila Cabello, and Lany, Sasha Sloan has stepped into the spotlight, not only as a songwriter but as a brilliant artist with her debut album, “Only Child.”
On the opening track “Matter To You,” Sloan opens the album with a dismal statement and sings, “I hate New York City.” She follows this declaration by singing about love and how her lover remains the one thing that keeps her from feeling insignificant in an indifferent world.. Pulling in the audience with a gloomy tone only to let it enjoy a romantic, upbeat pop track is what sets her music apart from others — it’s intentional and calculated.
In the second track, “Only Child,” Sloan sings an emotional ballad about what could have been if she had had a sibling to grow up with during her childhood. Sloan softly sings, “She’d be my built-in best friend / Right around my age / She would know how hard it’s been / Cause we grew up the same way.” Sloan explores the character of what her sister would be like and how she would feel less lonely if she had a sibling. In this song, Sloan finds herself reminiscing over the siblings that her heart ached for when growing up as an only child.
Sloan made a creative choice to express her vulnerability on this album, and she successfully landed that mark on track 5, “Hypochondriac.” This song explores the idea of Sloan letting a lover in and letting her partner become the driving force that makes her a better person. In the first verse, Sloan explains her past tendencies of not caring for herself as much as she should have, singing, “I used to smoke like a chimney / Never took a vitamin in my life / I abused my kidneys.” Sloan follows this up as she softly sings, “Now I call my doctor every day / Since I met you something in me’s changed / Second that you called me yours / I had something worth living for,” revealing just how much her partner made an impact on her choice to be a better person.
Lastly, in my favorite track of the album, “Someone You Hate,” Sloan takes accountability for her wrongdoings in a relationship, an idea that is rarely expressed in music. She fuses elements of storytelling and imagery when she sings, “Told your mama I’d take care of you / Loaded up the car / Drove into the dark.” Diving into the next chorus , Sloan confesses to her ex-partner and sings, “I went from someone you love / To somеone you hate,” encapsulating what should be a dreadful situation, but through the delivery of a peaceful and captivating chorus. While taking ownership of her faults in past relationships, she puts together an honest song that shows how most relationships are imperfect.