SASHA SLOAN Interview by Jasmine Perrier Photos by David OD
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T WAS 9AM IN NASHVILLE WHEN SASHA SLOAN APPEARED ON ZOOM FROM HER HOME IN TENNESSE WHERE SHE HAS RECENTLY MOVED IN — SHE WAS JUST WAKING UP, AS SHE GENTLY MENTIONS IT WITH A GLASS OF COFFEE
IN HER HAND. BORN TO RUSSIAN-IRISH PARENTS IN BOSTON, THE SINGER-SONGWRITER WHO REFERS TO HERSELF AS “SAD GIRL” — WHICH INSPIRED THE NAME OF HER FIRST EP RELEASED IN 2018 — IS THE ARTIST TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR. “WE ARE GONNA TRY THIS OUT — IF IT WORKS, IT WORKS. IF IT DOESN’T BY THE TIME I’M 25, I’M COMING BACK HOME AND FINISHING COLLEGE,“ SHE TOLD HERSELF WHEN SHE GOT A PUBLISHING OFFER AT 19, DECIDED TO DROP OUT OF HER MUSIC BUSINESS STUDIES, AND MOVED TO LOS ANGELES. NOW THAT THE PIVOTAL AGE IS REACHED AND SHE CLIMBS UP CHARTS WITH HER EMOTIONAL AND HONEST SONGS, SHE CAN LOOK BACK ON HER JOURNEY WITH A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. WHEREAS THE PANDEMIC LED HER TO POSTPONE HER TOUR, WHICH INCLUDED A SHOW AT COACHELLA, SHE HAS USED HER FREE TIME TO FINISH UP HER DEBUT ALBUM ONLY CHILD — COMING OUT OCTOBER 16TH.
You started making music from a young age. How did you get bitten by the music bug? I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. My mom’s side isn’t musical in the sense of professionals, but they all love music. My grandfather plays the violin so I’ve always had singing and playing guitar around me. I grew up with a lot of pop music playing, country music. Then my mom had this piano in our apartment in South Boston — I started playing it and singing. I’m the first artist in my family so far — I’m definitely the black sheep [laughs].
You moved from Boston to Los Angeles at 19 in order to pursue music on a professional level. I assume that it was a bit overwhelming. I didn’t know anyone in LA, or anyone legit in the business. I was just like, ‘‘This is my one chance.’’ I didn’t want to be a songwriter for every people, I didn’t even know it was a job because I was always writing songs just for me. I was so excited to move in there, but it was harder than I thought it would be. I was alone and I couldn’t even buy a drink because I was 19. But it worked out so I can’t complain [laughs].
What was the scariest thing of going on your own and deciding to show your inner feelings? Everything — I’m not trying to be like a superstar. That’s actually my biggest fear because the more attention, the more anxiety I get. [...] The scariest for me was being in photographs and videos, having to really look at myself. I have avoided the camera my whole life [laughs]. These thoughts haven’t gone away — they got a little better. I got a little more confident, then I started playing shows, I gained more fans.
How did the ‘‘sad girl’’ territory come to be? Working with different artists and seeing how the system works really allowed me to be myself, and figure out who I was as an artist — helping people write songs that were full of help really made me not be scared to go fully into the ‘‘sad girl’’ territory. I don’t think the music
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