Sasami – The SoCal Sound Session ahead of Blood on the Silver Screen
3 song performance + interview with Julie Slater
Written by: Matt Blake
Sasami has officially released Blood on the Silver Screen, and has come by The SoCal Sound to chat with Middays host and SoCal Sound Music Director Julie Slater and perform a few songs from the album for The SoCal Sound Sessions!
NEW EXPLORATIONS IN SOUND
The new record is a continuation for Sasami’s musical journey, this time embracing a more pop-driven sound, which can be a departure from her previous influences which includes heavy influences from heavy metal. Describing the shift, Sasami shared how her background in classical music continues to shape her exploration of different genres. The freedom to experiment has allowed her to dive fully into pop songwriting, which she sees as an art form rich with emotional complexity.
Watch the full SoCal Sound Session here
Sasami performed 3 songs in The SoCal Sound Performance Room, accompanied by Juan Diego Patino Restrepo on drums. In this exclusive performance, instead of playing electric guitar, Sasami returned to her roots of classical music playing the French Horn, citing that the guitar was currently lost in transit!
“In Love with a Memory”
This standout track, featuring Clairo on the album, blends nostalgic melodies with themes of longing and emotional depth. The collaboration came naturally, as Sasami and Clairo connected online and bonded over their shared admiration for each other's craft.
“Slugger”
Embodying Sasami's exploration of simple yet powerful pop structures, "Slugger" balances a steady chord progression with rich, layered melodies. Sasami described it as her "pop songwriting dissertation," merging electronic drums, synth textures, and cultural references for a memorable hook.
“Nothing But a Sad Face On”
Sasami describes this track as “like a revisionist history reframing of Eve as a sex icon, and instead of being this evil character that ruined all of humanity… actually think of her as being this hot main character”. The song has vivid imagery of Eve driving away from the Garden of Eden, mixing melancholy with resilience.
Blood on the Silver Screen : A Cinematic Experience
The overarching theme behind the whole album is the fact that it is intended to be very cinematic, in music form. The arching story is of an alien protagonist pursuing love while exploring themes of obsession, heartbreak, and human connection. Sasami described it as “a concept record… but definitely has lore” and it feels “like your’re at a hotel, watching tv, and watching like 30 seconds of a bunch of different movies… as an alien experiencing this human experience of love and passion, and sex, and relationships, and its constantly changing.”
click here to view more images from The SoCal Sound Session with Sasami
Sasami continues to describe the visual component of the album, and her collaboration with Andrew Thomas Huang, which further emphasized “cinematic, sweeping kind of love that is almost self-destructive… unashamed about provessing that type of extreme passion.”
What’s Next for Sasami?
Following her release and her SoCal Sound Session, Sasami will be returning to Los Angeles to play the Lodge Room on April 19 as part of her “B.O.S.S.” tour (btw that is a clever not to her album initials)
You can find Blood on the Silver Screen on vinyl LP now on Domino Records and catch her at the Lodge Room April 19.
The SoCal Sound Sessions, interviews, and performances are filmed and edited by Matt Blake, recorded and mixed by Tristan Dolce.
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