By: Morgan Mueller
If you’re searching for a sonically compelling, genre-bending album, Sarah
Kinsley’s “Escaper” is for you. The New York-based singer-songwriter’s debut album
was released on September 6, 2024, featuring imaginative themes of life, love, and
loss. The production of “Escaper” is ambitious, multi-instrumental, and self-produced, as
Kinsley aims to change the lack of female representation in the music production world.
Her classical roots shine through the quality of her production, having studied music
theory at Columbia University and participated in youth orchestras since childhood.
Fusing classical principles and a dreamy personal sound allows her to create something
super special on “Escaper.”
Over the past few years, alternative pop/rock has become a hallmark of my
music taste, mostly because of the freedom artists seem to feel by refusing to confine
themselves to a single genre. Kinsley is no exception to this, as her voice flows over
exciting progressions and layered instrumentation. She sings of a relatable nostalgia
with the kind of synth that pulls you into a memory you’ve never experienced and
explores relationships that’ve profoundly affected her current idea of self. The album’s
relationship with the past ranges from a childlike craving to a mature reconciliation. The
vulnerability in that range sets this album apart from anything I’ve heard lately.
Although Kinsley saw viral online success with her single “The King” in 2021, I
only recently discovered her work through the first song on “Escaper,” titled “Last Time
We Never Meet Again.” This song was such a perfect introduction to her as an artist since it contained all the essential elements of Sarah Kinsley: existential lyricism, grand
production, and hauntingly beautiful vocals. She throws in lines like “I hope the universe
bends down to offer itself to you,” but if you zone out into her dreamy sound, you just
might miss it. This album proves to be a very solid debut from Kinsley, and with it, she’s
gained a listener who’s excited to see what her next moves will be.
Favorite Tracks: Escaper, Sublime, Glint, Matter
4.5/5
