Our recurring feature series Track by Track sees artists guiding readers through each song on their new release. Today, Californian genre-bender SASAMI offers insights into her third studio LP, Blood on the Silver Screen.
Poptimism is in the midst of making a full-fledged comeback, and CoSign alum SASAMI can attest to that. Three years removed from 2022’s Squeeze, which was built atop an industrial metal foundation, she has reemerged with 11 new tracks that tap more into a playful side than her last project.
“This album is all about learning and respecting the craft of pop songwriting, about relenting to illogical passion, obsession, and guiltless pleasure,” she says about Blood on the Silver Screen. “It’s about leaning into the chaos of romance and sweeping devotion — romanticism to the point of self-destruction.”
Having spent her adulthood unlearning the teachings from her formative years in the Unification Church, SASAMI has converted her reinterpretations of love, sex, and power into lighthearted tunes. At 34 years of age, the singer and multi-instrumentalist has let down her guard as she takes a simpler, more straightforward approach to understanding herself.
“I was always a weirdo outsider and I didn’t feel like pop music spoke to me,” she explains. “Being a woman of color, I’ve always felt this pressure or need to make something that’s mysterious or innovative, and always shied away from lightheartedness. I wanted to go all out with this album. I wanted to, in my tenderness and emotionality, have the bravery to undertake something as epic as making a pop record about love. I hope it makes people feel empowered and embodied, too. It’s important to not box yourself in.”
Stream Blood on the Silver Screen below, and keep scrolling to check out SASAMI’s Track by Track comments on each song.
To support the album, SASAMI has mapped out a tour of North America, the UK, and South Korea. Tickets can be purchased here.