Spotlight on: Sarah Kinsley

If you need a new artist to listen to this year, look no further than 24-year-old American singer-songwriter Sarah Kinsley. This criminally underrated musician provides the perfect blend of poetic lyricism, haunting vocals, and addictive melodies. I first heard Kinsley’s song ‘The King’ on social media in 2021. It sounded straight out of a coming-of-age film, immediately captivating me. The EP of the same name led to an obsession with her music.

One of the main things that makes Kinsley stand out is, in my opinion, her unique sound, which has been crafted over the years and perfectly refined in her latest release, ‘Escaper’. Classical influences are found across her work, as she frequently uses grand strings or piano melodies to underpin her vocals. This reflects her classical music training, as she studied music theory at Columbia University. Her experimental music combines these orchestral sounds with electronic synth beats to create a whimsical soundscape. Her vocal range is incredibly impressive, seemingly effortlessly switching between low notes, which give great depth and warmth, and high notes to evoke emotions. She sometimes uses vocal flips, which produce a distinctive sound reminiscent of Kate Bush’s vocals. Her songwriting is incredibly evocative, making use of metaphors and clever wordplay which overall culminates in an impressive musical ability that I believe deserves more recognition.

Kinsley’s discography is a testament to her musical drive

Kinsley’s discography is a testament to her musical drive. Since 2020, she has released a number of EPs that demonstrate a commitment to artistry. Her first EP, The Fall, is full of atmospheric vocals and orchestral melodies, an example being ‘Mist’. In the Cypress EP, Kinsley’s trademark style is cemented and strengthened. In the opening track ‘Hills of Fire’, she references her previous single ‘The King’ in the line “I can’t stay the king forever”, providing a signal to the listener that her music is constantly evolving. ‘Green’ focuses on Kinsley’s frustrations in a relationship. The line “You’re not angry, so I’m angry” is repeated later on with the addition of “I’m still angry” delivered in such a way that you can hear the frustration in her voice. Her discography goes from strength to strength.

Kinsley’s debut album, Escaper, was released in 2024 and is in my opinion her strongest work to date. One of the most prominent themes of the album is friendship, which is a refreshing angle to take in an industry that focuses much attention on romantic love. This album is clearly a deeply personal venture, in which she uses music to respond to grief by reflecting on the passing of her friend in such a beautiful way. Kinsley addresses her lyrics directly to them, for instance, the chanted chorus of ‘Glint’ – “there is a glint of you in everything”. Despite the narrative of this song, Kinsley maintains an upbeat sound, making it joyous rather than melancholic as a celebration of the positive impact of this person on her life.

Sarah Kinsley has instilled herself as an important addition to the alt-pop genre

In ‘Beautiful Things’, Kinsley slows the tempo with a stripped-back acoustic piano that allows for a focus on her stunning vocal performance. The song features emotional musings on the nature of memories and how time still passes even when a person is no longer around. It exhibits some of the most emotionally charged lyrics of the album, like the line “I forgot the river of your voice”. Kinsley’s metaphorical imagery demonstrates her songwriting abilities.

‘Starling’, one of the singles from ‘Escaper’, focuses on the gravity of female friendships. It presents the power of platonic love by suggesting how lucky it is that they found each other. My favourite part of the song is the bridge, in which the build-up culminates with “If you don’t marry someone, then neither will I/Say that you’ll be mine”. This promise suggests that they have found meaningful love in each other, rather than in romantic love.

Sarah Kinsley has instilled herself as an important addition to the alt-pop genre. Her fanbase has gradually grown, and she now has over 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. The various EPs and debut album, Escaper, provide an impressive catalogue of songwriting prowess. Her originality is refreshing in such an oversaturated market, and she deserves much musical acclaim.