Sasha Sloan isn’t here for filters, dramatic diatribes masquerading as captions, or any other Instagram BS, which is why we love following her. And given that the singer-songwriter (who goes by @sadgirlsloan on social media) has garnered over 202,000 followers, we’re certainly not the only ones who adore the irreverent artist.
Though she may have gotten her start penning pop songs for stars by the likes of Charlie XCX and Camila Cabello, Sloan has spent the last few years carving out a place in the spotlight for herself. With the release of her debut album and a slew of festival appearances on the horizon (including Coachella(!)), 2020 is poised to be a breakout year for the Los Angeles-based artist—and we can’t wait to see what she does next.
Below, the singer-songwriter lets us in on what it’s really like being a musician today, including where she gains her inspiration from, how she handles failure, and what motivates her on her toughest days.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: You've been called the voice of our generation, how does it feel to be given such a profound title? Why do you think your music and lyrics have resonated so much with people today? What does 2020 hold for you musically?
SASHA SLOAN: Well, it’s super flattering but also pretty scary because that means our generation has a shit load of anxiety, lol. Half-kidding. I’m just writing from the heart, so the fact that people are connecting with it is just a massive bonus. I think there’s a lot of cool music out there, but I feel like it can be hard to find a song that’s saying something. We have a bunch of sexy pop songs, but I’ve literally never felt sexy in my entire life, lol. I’ve only ever felt anxious, out of place, and extremely uncomfortable in my body, and that’s what most of my songs are about. In 2020, I’ll be playing Coachella, as well as a bunch of other festivals that aren’t announced yet, writing and releasing my debut album, and touring a lot more.
Your fan base is growing around the world, which means you're in the public eye more than ever before. How have you handled that? What advice do you have for others who are in the middle of that now? What have been some of the biggest lessons you've learned as a result?
I guess I don’t really think about it. I’ve never had a desire to be famous or idolized—I just like making music. It’s kind of weird, but the more people that listen to my music the more comfortable I feel being myself. Maybe that’s not weird. I’ve had a margarita, lol. The most important thing I’ve learned is to be real because people can tell when you’re not.
You're not afraid to share vulnerability through your lyrics and bare your soul with your voice. Where does that confidence come from? Is it therapeutic in a way for you to share your emotions through music in this way? What message do you hope to send through the music?
Honestly, I never thought vulnerability had anything to do with confidence. I thought it meant the opposite. I always thought of confidence as the girls who were in bikinis dancing on stage. My god, how I would kill to be one of them, lol! Emoting through music is extremely therapeutic. I feel like when I write an emotional song it’s my way of saying something I can’t verbalize. I have a hard time being serious and I usually hide behind humor. Writing is the only way I can really get things off my chest and not feel weird about it.
“The fear of letting my future self down is what really motivates me.”
Your “sadgirlsloan” brand continues to resonate with fans with your stories of an outsider who makes the wrong decisions but does her best to fit in. Where did this originate? How did you hope people would connect with it? Why?
Well, a lot of it stems from being a teenager. I was really overweight, and then in my sophomore year of high school, I lost 30 pounds and got my braces off. Just like that, I was homecoming queen and “in” with the popular kids. I think that really fucked with my head. I loved the attention, so I started doing things that weren’t natural to me like buying a bong and skipping school, lol. Being someone I wasn’t was incredibly stressful and ruined the relationships I actually cared about. I think there’s a part of everyone who wants to fit in with the cool kids, no matter how old you are.
You have fostered an inclusive and engaged community of fans on Instagram who you have been very open with. How do you view your influence on social media? Why do you feel compelled to be so honest and vulnerable with your fans? What message do you hope to bring to your community?
Honestly, I don’t really think about my influence on social media. I kind of view it as a necessary evil and don’t take it too seriously. I think there’s a lot of bullshit on Instagram. People are either boasting about some achievement, posting an edited selfie that took hours to perfect, or sharing some long dramatic deep saga. I feel like there can be a middle ground and that’s where I try to stay. I hope I can show people, especially young girls, it’s okay to be yourself and it’s okay to look normal.
What advice can you share for other musicians reading this who are struggling with societies and the industry's expectations or limitations on them? How can they develop the confidence to be themselves and grow their own voice?
I think it’s really important to be yourself. I know that sounds very obvious and corny as hell but it took me a long time to figure out. If you’re an artist, songwriter, or producer, you’re going to run into a bunch of people who have a million different opinions on what you should do and who you should be. Take everything with a grain of salt and, at the end of the day, listen to your gut. Make music you like. If you keep trying to make music you think people will like, you’ll never be satisfied.
How did you learn how to write music? What does your writing process look like now that you're writing for yourself instead of other singers? Where do you source inspiration? How has your music evolved?
I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, and I started taking piano lessons when I was 10. I would buy chord books from Guitar Center and I think that naturally made me curious about songwriting. My favorite books were by Queen, The Beatles, and Elton John. I always thought they had the coolest, most experimental lyrics and melodies. I just started writing like crazy. I pretty much failed the math section of my SAT because I spent every class writing lyrics. I keep a running list of titles in my phone and that’s how I usually start a song. I develop the concept and think about what I want to say and then start fleshing out melodies. For me, inspiration comes from everywhere. Since I’m so lyric-focused, I’m always picking up phrases from people talking, TV shows, and books. My music has evolved in the sense that I’m not afraid to take risks anymore. When I was first starting out, I was scared of what people would think, but now I’m listening to my gut more.
When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you #FindNewRoads + switch gears to find success?
Whenever I hit a bump in the road I usually have a mental breakdown—lol, half-kidding. Once that is over, I take a step back and look at the big picture, which always makes me feel better. If I’m having writer’s block, it usually means I’m burned out, so I’ll take a week off. Sometimes grinding too much can backfire, especially when it comes to being creative. Breaks are huge for me, and I always feel recharged after taking one.
You actually started out penning pop tunes for superstars such as Camila Cabello and Charli XCX as well as lending your vocals to EDM tracks before making the pivot to become a singer-songwriter. What was that earlier experience like? What made you pivot? Are you still writing for other musicians or just focusing on your own now?
Yeah, I started off writing songs for other artists. When I was 19, I signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell. I assumed I wasn’t supposed to be an artist because I was signed as a writer, which, at the time, I was cool with. Writing for others made me a much, much better songwriter. It was like boot camp. I was thrown in the studio with pros who really knew what they were doing. I learned a bunch of different styles, techniques, etc. Everyone has their own method to the madness. I had been writing for others for a few years, and it was great, but it wasn’t very rewarding. Creatively, it felt limiting, so that’s when I started to get the itch to put my own stuff out. I’ve always been an artist, I just needed time to find who I was and what I wanted to say. I’m still writing for other musicians, but mostly focusing on my own stuff now.
The music industry is historically male-dominated but you are part of this new wave of female artists who are killing the game and dominating the industry. How does it feel to be part of that new wave? What hopes do you have for the future? What advice can you share for other female musicians coming up behind you?
Honestly, the music industry has never felt male-dominated to me because my favorite artists have always been women. Regina Spektor, Karen Carpenter, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Eva Cassidy, etc. This new wave is awesome though. It’s shedding a light on artists that may not have been given a chance 10, 15 years ago. My advice for female musicians is: don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I’ve been put in a few situations where I didn’t want to wear a certain outfit or do something in a video and I had to get good at saying no.
“I hope I can show people, especially young girls, it’s okay to be yourself and it’s okay to look normal.”
With success comes opportunity, but it also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going even on your most challenging days?
The hardest part for me has been balancing opportunity with my anxiety. I know touring is a huge part of being an artist, but I hate traveling. Being on the road is really tough. I also tend to get really down on myself. I start to think I’m a bad writer, and then I start to spiral from there. My motto has always been: “Do things you’re scared of, otherwise you’ll regret it later.” So, I guess the fear of letting my future self down is what really motivates me.
The filtered world of social media often hides a lot of the hard work and behind-the-scenes hustle. What is the reality of being a famous musician today? What are the key traits required to be a success?
Well, I’m not famous so I wouldn’t really know, lol. But for real, there’s a ton of bullshit that goes on. A lot of negotiating and people getting ugly with each other. It is a business, after all. I think it’s important to have a good team around you. Surround yourself with people you trust and don’t be afraid to ask for what you deserve. I think creatives tend to be bad at business… at least I know I am. Just stick up for yourself. If someone isn’t willing to be fair or give you a decent deal off the bat, it probably means you shouldn’t do business with them.
You have had incredible success already, but what does success mean to you? How do you measure success? Why? What characteristics make you successful in the music industry?
When I first moved to L.A., I worked at a coffee shop and then at the front desk of a gym. I would wake up at 4 am and work until noon. Then I would have an hour for lunch and head to a session. I remember thinking how happy I would be if I didn’t have to work in the mornings anymore and I could make music my full-time gig. Eventually, it did happen, and I feel insanely lucky to be able to do what I love for a living. For me, success has nothing to do with money. It’s all about being fulfilled and working hard. There’s no better feeling than busting your ass for something and seeing it come to life. As long as I can eat and have a roof over my head, I’m killing the game, lol.
In a saturated industry, what do you think makes you and your music stand out? How can others reading this find their own unique point of view? How do you stay true to who you are and your voice?
I’m glad someone thinks my music stands out, lol. I always try to push myself to say things that haven’t been said yet. Love songs are great, but there’s so much more to life and so many different relationships and perspectives to talk about. I make music for me. If I like what I’m writing and it’s honest, I know I’m staying true to myself. The second I start making music that’s forced or I think people will like is when I’ll be going down a dark path, lol.
What is the #1 book you always recommend? Why? What is the #1 album you always recommend? Why?
Ah, it’s too hard to pick! I love to read. I guess my #1 book recommendation would be The Book Thief I read it in high school and I’ve loved it ever since. Number #1 album would have to be “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse. The raw emotion in the whole body of work gets me every time. She was just singing her life… not overthinking a word.
Photographer: David O’Donohue
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