ONLY CHILD – Sasha Sloan’s new album! (and what I think about each song)

Hi everyone! Sasha Sloan has just (last year) released her first studio album, called Only Child. Today I’m going to be going through and telling you guys my opinions and thoughts on each of the ten songs. I think this is a really great album and you should all listen to it if you have the time! I hadn’t heard a lot of Sasha’s songs before but this was on repeat forever after it dropped. If you want, click here to see Genius’ tracklist and lyrics for all of these songs. I know I’m super late, but hope you enjoy!

1. Matter To You

This is an incredibly wholesome opening track for this album, and I think we all love it! For me, this whole album was very relatable, and this song highlighted the parts of life that I wanted to relate to. Very sweet lyrics and super catchy, of course. While I related to a lot of this song, the first verse is about how she doesn’t like New York City and that’s the only part I don’t agree with because I love NYC, LOL. Also, can we talk about that part at the end where the instrumental cuts out on every other beat of the singing? Holy crap, I was so shocked at first listen! It really adds so much to the song though, and it’s DEFINITELY not boring.

I hate New York City

All the lights are way too bright

Million people on the street

They’re all living their own lives

And I’m a stranger

Sasha Sloan, Matter To You

2. Only Child

Only Child is the title track for this album, and it’s about (you guessed it) being an only child. On first listen for me, I didn’t love this song (maybe because I’m not an only child…) but I’d say this is a grower. It’s still not my favorite on the album, but you can’t deny that it’s catchy and touching. Even though I do have a sibling, this song made me appreciate that more. (Also, not specific to this song of course, but Sasha’s vocals are chef’s kiss on this album!)

When our parents fight, we’d just smile

It gets lonely being an only child

Sasha Sloan, Only Child

3. House With No Mirrors

House With No Mirrors was the second released single for this album (released before the album) and it’s a very thought-provoking song with lots of meaning behind it. The question the song is asking is, what if I lived in a house with no mirrors? Or more broadly, what if we didn’t look at our self image or body so much? You should definitely listen to it and form your own opinions on this important societal issue, but it’s also a personal issue that many of us can connect deeply with.

Maybe I’d dream a bit bigger

If there was nothin’ to see

Sasha Sloan, House With No Mirrors

4. Lie

Lie is one of my favorite songs on the whole album. The vibes are just incredible. Heartbreaking and catchy, it’s everything I would want in a Sasha Sloan song! I think the storyline and the situation of the singer is very clearly shown and imagined by the listener. Also, the chorus is such a brain worm so get ready for it to be stuck in your head forever. (Edit: after some research, I found out that this song was apparently the lead single for Only Child, which I didn’t know before, but that’s cool!)

Can we just dance ’til the skies are white?

‘Cause I really can’t get my heart broken tonight

Sasha Sloan, Lie

5. Hypochondriac

Another cute song but with a much more serious undertone. Very reminiscent of the first song on this album (Matter To You.) Listening to this song is an emotional and introspective experience. Think about this song!!

Second that you called me yours

I had something worth living for

Now I’m scared of planes and heart attacks

If I die I’ll never get you back

You made me a hypochondriac

Sasha Sloan, Hypochondriac

6. Is It Just Me?

The best way I can describe this song is: the subreddit r/unpopularopinions. Just kidding, but also not kidding. The joke is that the subreddit is known for posting lots of popular opinions labeled as unpopular opinions, which I’d say is the same for this song, but at least this one is catchy, great to listen to, hilarious, and has a remix with Charlie Puth! Let’s go through a checklist: How many of these do you agree with? (Note that there are many more opinions on the song, but these are just a few selections. Also, I love the Charlie Puth remix a lot go listen to it now.)

1. Politicians are annoying
2. Old music was better
3. The show Friends was overrated
4. Marijuana’s classy
5. People my age make me nauseous

Am I just high

Or am I kinda right?

Sasha Sloan, Is It Just Me?

7. Santa’s Real

CHILLS. This song asks hard hitting questions and makes you cry. Real-life issues layered with Sasha’s amazing delivery makes Santa’s Real UNBELIEVABLE to listen to. Listen to it!!! Keep tissues though. Also, the ethereal feeling is incredible. All around a great song.

I wanna live in a world

Where peoplе don’t get hurt

And everybody’s got еnough money

Where nobody ever gets sick

Or has to skip a meal

I wanna live in a world where Santa’s real

Sasha Sloan, Santa’s Real

8. Someone You Hate

A catchy storytelling melody about going from someone you love to someone you hate. I really enjoy this song as well; it’s one of my favorites. It truly immersed me in the story of this girl who fell out of love and had to end a relationship, even though none of that has happened to me. Definitely recommend!

We were growing, growing apart

And I knew I had to break your heart

So off I went

Haven’t seen you since

Sasha Sloan, Someone You Hate

9. Until It Happens To You

Let me tell you, I was most obsessed with this song when the album first came out. Apparently it’s one of the songs I’ve listened to the most on Spotify? From the first notes it’s already heartbreakingly sad and yet relatable from either perspective. It tells of not being able to truly understand a tragedy…until it happens to you. I hope the song will support someone going through a really tough time, thinking no one in the world understands what they’re going through, though in reality survivors and people going through the same thing might have some idea of it. You can definitely get the feeling that your friends support you and are trying to help you, but they’ve simply never gone through anything like it in their own lives. I’m not really sure why I love this song so much (I don’t really feel like I’m any of the people described) but that’s probably a testament to Sasha’s incredible voice, production, and songwriting. You will cry, you will feel the song, and then you will have it stuck in your head for the next hour. Sorry, I don’t make the rules!

Somebody loses their somebody every day

You’ll never really know what it’s like

‘Til you wake up to some real bad news

You’ll never really know how it feels

‘Til it happens to you

Sasha Sloan, Until It Happens To You

10. High School Me

The final track of this album is a nostalgic and uplifting song called High School Me. Sasha sings about her high school self seeing her now, and thinking that her high school self would be proud of the kind of person she’s become and how far she’s gone. The sound of the track is very nice to listen to, and the song will hit you in the feels right as the album ends. A great ending to a great album.

If high school me could see me now

I bet high school me would be so proud

She’d find out the cool kids, they ain’t everything

The world is so much bigger than her town

Sasha Sloan, High School Me

Thanks for reading! I would be very happy if you found a song you liked from this post, or decided to check out some of Sasha’s music for yourself. Find more music-related posts here or here. Check out my other blog for book recommendations and reviews. Cheers, and have an amazing rest of your 2021!