Tough times bring out Sasha Alex Sloan’s most authentic album yet

In the title track of her third and latest album, “Me Again,” Sasha Alex Sloan sings of her house plants dying, of wanting to get out of bed and brushing her hair.

At first listen, the lines may seem random or mundane. But for those struggling with their mental health, these things can be all too familiar. Seemingly small tasks become crippling.

Sasha’s songwriting captures such nuances, honestly and poignantly. It’s something she consistently does across the album’s 13 songs, which also touch on topics like loss and vulnerability.

“Me Again” is quite the departure from her previous works. While the 29-year-old musician isn’t one to shy away from her own emotional battles, she presents them in a way that is cheeky and, at times, irreverent.

But this time, Sasha—who went independent in March 2023—strips down all the frippery, resulting in her most “forthright” record yet.

Truth be told, she was anxious about putting out something so raw and personal.

“I was mostly nervous because this is my first album outside a major record label after a long time. The album is really, honest and raw. The production is quite understated. It’s a bit different from the more pop stuff I released in the past,” she told the Inquirer in a one-on-one interview arranged by Amplified Entertainment.

“This feels like the most authentic to me. I was really scared of it being my favorite thing, but people not liking it,” said Sasha, who’s behind the hits “Dancing with Your Ghost,” “Older” and “I’ll Wait.”

Debuting in 2015, Sasha established herself in the music industry as a prolific songwriter, helping churn out songs for the likes of Katy Perry, Idina Menzel, Camila Cabello, Charlie Puth, Tinashe and Kygo.

The American singer-songwriter is set to perform in the Philippines on Aug. 19 as part of her “Me Again” tour.

“I’m excited to play a show there and meet the fans, because I think it’s going to blow my mind being this far away and seeing people who know my music. I also look forward to trying new food. I know a lot of people who have been there and loved it so I’m excited,” she said.

Tell us about “Me Again.”

It’s about a two-year span in my life that was challenging in many ways, even musically, because I didn’t feel that inspired. But I decided to make the album anyway, let the songs write themselves, and be my own form of therapy.

What was the headspace you were in when you worked on the album?

I was in a pretty bad headspace. There was a lot going on, especially within my family dynamic. And I was just getting older. Things were changing in my life and I wasn’t ready. I think I was in a really emotional place and I was just going through something a lot of people in their late 20s go through, which is figuring out who you are, and being forced to sit with that and figure it out.

I liked the album’s title track, “Me Again,” especially that little detail about the plants dying.

I wrote that song a couple of years ago, during the pandemic. Basically, I was just being depressed inside and not seeing anyone. I never put it out. But a couple of years later, when I started making this album, I found it on my computer and I was like “Wait, I still relate to this and I still love this song. And I relate to it in a different way.” So it became kind of the main theme of my album.

“Oxygen Mask” is good as well … about taking care of yourself before others.

It’s about someone very close to me in my life—the nicest, most generous person in the world. Too generous and nice, in fact, that they weren’t focusing on themselves. It made my relationship with them very challenging. I was basically watching them suffer. So the song is about, “It’s OK to value yourself and put yourself first.”

Did you find it therapeutic?

Sometimes, I will listen to that song and it will make me almost cry. And some days I hear it and I’m like, “Oh, whatever, I don’t really relate to that right now.” It was really helpful writing it. And unfortunately, there will always be times in my life when I will relate to that song.

Did you feel like you’re writing for yourself again, and not for other people and their expectations?

I never like to think about who’s going to listen to the songs. I think that makes the music worse. You just need to listen to yourself and write about your own life and experiences. That creates the most relatable songs. I was really trying to put the pressure off.

What are the good things, challenges about going independent?

I really enjoy it. It’s been a lot more simple. In the past, there were so many people involved that things got overly complicated. I have such a small team now and it’s amazing. I get to call every shot. I get to decide how much money we’re spending. I get to make a record and no one can tell me not to. But the scary thing is that it’s just all me now in every decision I have to make.

Who do you turn to for outside opinion … to balance things out?

I usually ask my nonmusic friends and they’re usually a good sounding board for me in terms of, “Is this song good?”

The music industry is crazy and you forget that sometimes. I will explain a situation and my friends are like, “What, that’s crazy. Why is that happening?” Or they feel like someone in the music industry hears a song differently than someone who just listens to music for pleasure.

Do you still write songs for other artists?

Not so much anymore because being an artist and a songwriter for other people are two different full-time jobs. It’s quite hard to balance them but I want to do that more next year.

Is it a different process?

I love writing for other artists because it’s different from how I write for myself now. I recently worked with a band and shared our ideas. The best idea in the room was theirs. They were leading the way and I was just there to help connect the dots. When I’m writing for myself, it’s always my idea but when with other artists, I don’t really have a vision. I just follow what they want to do.

How do you decide which songs to keep for yourself and what to give to others?

In the past, I was a lot more precious about it. Now, it takes a really special song for me to say, “No one can have this.” Anyway, the songs that I want to keep, I don’t think other people would really want to cut anyway. It’s getting clearer and clearer what songs are meant for me, especially as I become a little less pop.

Is there anything you wish you had kept?

No, not really. But maybe “Cry About It Later,” which I wrote for Katy Perry. I just love that song.

Do you enjoy being onstage?

It’s something I had to get used to. I’m very shy. I’m just very nervous all day before a show. I can’t eat anything. I would get even more nervous as people start arriving at the venue but it has gotten better over time. It’s going to be different and the music is a little easier to perform in my opinion. INQ

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