TRACK REVIEW: Sarah Close – A Little Bit in Love

TRACK REVIEW:

PHOTO CREDIT: Solar Klinghofer

Sarah Close – A Little Bit in Love

9.5/10

A Little Bit in Love is available here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/6p43OI1omeOD1GXdiBSzOI?si=Ln0HMW_BS9Own5GH7Flj6g

RELEASE DATE:

28th April, 2023

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY:

Sarah Close

LABEL:

The Kokiad Club Ltd

_________

I am trying to recall…

PHOTO CREDIT: Dery

the first time I encountered the music of Sarah Close. It may have been around 2018. I was instantly struck and in awe of her! One of the reasons why I was so compelled by Close’s music was because it was accessible. Someone who always wrote and sung from the heart, you felt like you were listening to someone you knew. Maybe I could not exactly relate to what she was going through in many songs, but the honesty and power of her music, coupled to the way her lyrics and vocals draw you into the song, meant that I was an instant fan! There are a few things that I want to explore before I get to her awesome new song, A Little Bit in Love. Close’s mini-album, And Now, We’re Shining, came out in 2020. That was one of my favourite releases of the year. At a time when the pandemic was making us all scared and separate, this at least brought me closer to an artist that I had long-respected. Originally from the Isle of Wight, Sarah Close is someone who I can see touring quite extensively around the world. I know that she has fans in the U.S. Definitely one of the most distinct voices you will ever hear, go and follow this wonderful artist. Here is some background and biography about the stunning Sarah Close:

“Sarah Close is from the Isle Of Wight. When she was just 14 she started sneaking her mum’s guitar into her bedroom at night and taught herself to play Taylor Swift songs.

From there her love of songwriting began and she wrote song after song after song. At 18 she moved to London to do a songwriting degree before dropping out so that she could spend all her time focusing on her own music.

The first single Sarah released was Call Me Out followed by debut EP Caught Up – EP. She thought she had hit the jackpot when soon after she was offered and subsequently signed a record deal, but within 5 months, the new label head had dropped her.

After a while writing, she independently released a mini album called And Now, We’re Shining. It came out 3 days before the UK went into it’s first national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result of lockdown, she moved out of London and back to the island.

Sarah has set up a home studio in the room where she first started writing songs and spent the entire year working on new music for herself as well as writing for other artist artists , learning production skills, and landing”.

Before I dive into other subjects – after which I shall get into the review -, I want to bring in a couple of older interviews. We get a sense of where Close came from and how she has progressed. In 2019, GoldenPlec chatted with an artist who started out uploading covers to YouTube, signed to a label, and become independent again. Even though it was tough at times, she came out the other side as this incredible artist whose music was connecting with so many people:

“Close studied songwriting for two years before dropping out, a move which she sticks by as she thinks it was the right decision at the time. "I came to London knowing I wanted to do music but I didn’t know anyone in the city. My parents really encouraged me to enrol in some kind of course so I could have a student loan and have a bit of the student lifestyle and go out and meet friends. So I went on a songwriting course.

Close had it in mind that she wouldn't make it the whole way through the course from the outset, "I kind of made it my goal that I wouldn’t have to make it the whole way through. That I would work hard enough that halfway through my career outside of uni would be so busy that I could have the opportunity to drop out. So I worked really hard, saved money so I could quit uni and be okay.

"by the end of second year it wasn’t really giving me anything any more. I don’t think you can teach music, I think you have to have passion and drive - you can be taught to write a song but unless you’re going to go out and practice, what’s the point? So I was just like, this course isn’t doing anything for me and left."

That being said, she is still very glad she did the course as it pushed her creatively in directions she might not have gone before, "“Caught Up” for example, I wrote that on the course as a rap song. We were given the brief to write a rap song and I was like… I’m never going to write a rap song, I can’t rap, but then I wrote that song and thought it was so much fun. I think the course made me expand my creative boundaries and find out more about what I like and what I don’t like. But I think you get what you can and when something stops giving you love or teaching you anything you say “okay, you’re not for me any more, goodbye!”"

By this point her online presence had grown dramatically, and the music industry started taking notice, "I started getting interest from labels. So I decided I wanted to make an EP and get that out then I signed my record deal with Parlophone in 2017."

Adjusting to a label life was another learning curve for Close who was unsure of others taking over her previous responsibilities, "I had never had a team before - I had made everything myself. All of sudden there’s a group of people that are like “hey, you need tour posters? We’ll make them!” And it was amazing… but it was also hard for me to not have to do everything because I was so used to it”.

Part of what made her departure from the label easier to take was that she was now in control of what she could release, so what exactly does that entail? "What you see is what you get with me - I’m an idiot on Instagram stories and I post videos with no makeup on and in my pyjamas and I always want to keep things very intimate and not too polished, but I definitely want my music to go in a slightly more intimate manner. I think that my covers online were just my voice and my piano and I really enjoy the songs in my set where it’s just me and the piano, so I would love to strip things down a bit more. But then I really love the big pop songs so it’s kind of finding the space between”.

I have loved everything she has put out. At the moment, there are not a lot of videos on her official YouTube channel (or they are set to private), but there is something about her videos that draw you in and leave an impression on your mind. I will come to that soon. With a growing army of loving and loyal fans around the world, I think we are going to see a lot more gold from an artist who is among my favourites. I am not too sure whether an album is coming this year, but there would definitely be demand from fans. I want to slip back to 2018. This was quite a big year for Sarah Close. The Student Pocket Guide highlighted Close’s 2017 debut E.P., Caught Up – which just turned six in fact! Since then, Close has confirmed herself as one of our brightest artists:

“What are you biggest aspirations in life? (career and lifestyle wise)

I want to play shows around the world, there’s no better feeling than being on stage for me (apart from maybe fresh bed sheets…) and I’d love to be able to make music and keep writing my songs for years to come. I’m super interested in business too, I’d love to develop my record label The Kodiak Club and one day sign and help other artists out, especially any aspiring musicians from where I grew up- the Isle Of Wight. Whilst I love London and this city, I want to end up living back by the sea, and I also want a dog.

Have you always been passionate about music since a young age?

Yes. I recorded my first ‘album’ age 5/6 on a cassette tape of songs ‘I had written’ (I made them up on the spot), but no seriously, my parents always had music playing and are musical themselves and very early on I knew I wanted to pursue singing.

Any advice for students out there who are considering taking the musical route?

Practice and hone your skill! Go out and start gigging to get your confidence on the mic up and try meet people who are interested or could be helpful, people like aspiring managers or producers etc. I would just try to learn and get everything out from your environment that you can!Sarah Close

So you started your music career with your YouTube channel. What was this time like for you? Do you think it was difficult to move your music from YouTube to other channels such as Spotify/ITunes for your fans?

I think I’m still in the process of trying to move fans from my YouTube to other channels but I think it’s been helpful that I was really honest from the get go about wanting to pursue music with my own songs and not just stay on YouTube making covers, but I definitely get a comment every now and then from someone who wants me to stay doing that. Starting on YouTube was great though, it’s taught me so much about social media and the business behind it, as well as making me get better at my instrument.

Talk us through an average week in the life of Sarah Close…

Every morning I wake up, play piano for half an hour or so and make breakfast before I begin whatever is happening that day. I normally have 3/4 writing sessions a week, and if they’re not at someone else’s studio then I will stay in my flat and write on my piano. I’m very active and I have a lot of energy so I like to do things like rock climbing, swimming, yoga, I’m pretty much up for anything. One day of the week I spend filming or editing a video for my YouTube channel, and then maybe one day I’ll have a photoshoot or some promo things to do.

If there’s anyone you’d want to collaborate with who would it be, and why?

Shawn Mendes, because I love his voice and I think he’s so cute. Amine, I love everything about him and think he would be so fun to work with. Charli XCX, she’s a mega babe and I reckon we’d made something awesome and then finally SZA, who wouldn’t want to work with her?”.

On Thursday, Sarah Close celebrated her birthday. I forgot to wish her a happy birthday - so I hope that this counts! I think that there is this moment when Close can look forward and what comes next. The twenty-eight-year-old Close has so many successful years ahead. With every single, she reveals a new side to her personality and talent. In fact, in a tweet from 26th April, she revealed how she accidentally uploaded a demo to her public SoundCloud! A few people heard it, so I am wondering what it was and what it will lead to. It is clear that Close is in productive and inspired mode at the moment. I get a feeling we may get more new music pretty soon! I will wrap up with a couple of thoughts. I should get to the brilliant A Little Bit in Love. Grabbing the lyrics from Genius, and A Little Bit in Love has been listed as track seven as SC2* (2023). I am not sure if this is a filing system they have or whether it is another E.P. coming up. I may have missed an announcement, but a new Sarah Close E.P. or album is a very welcomed thing! A gorgeous song written and produced by Close, she says how (it is about) realising that there’s some people who, no matter how much time and space passes, you’ll always still be a little bit in love with them. I wonder what provoked this. Maybe coming back from meeting someone she used to be with, it seems some old feelings were stirred. Whether it was reignition of desires and affections, or that sense that you never really lose that love for someone that you were with, it is an interesting question. Can you ever walk away from love and completely lose those feelings?! I am not sure whether Close is in a new relationship, but there is clearly someone that has a dear and special place in her heart that has stirred up these feelings.

I love the production and sound of A Little Bit in Love. There is something about it that has this homemade feel. Rather than it being polished, the piano really does stand out. Like you are sat next to Close as she sings! That intimacy and unstripped sound makes everything sound more natural and powerful. The melody and flow of the song gives me the impression of a Burt Bacharach song. A classic love song that is rich with imagery and charm. Rather than this being too sorrowful, accusatory or heartbroken, there is this relatability. I opened by saying how Sarah Close is accessible as an artist. She puts her personal experiences on the page, and so many can identify with what she is saying and writing. A lot of bigger artists seem detached and lack that conviction and reliability, even if they are talking about love and loss. One (of the many) awe-inspiring aspects of Close’s music is her voice. It is almost hard to put into words, but the way she emotes, accentuates and delivers her words. It is almost conversational. Intimate and shy at the same time. She has such a beautiful, beautiful singing voice. There is so much nuance and personality with every word. A Little Bit in Love instantly takes your heart and stops you still. It seems that, whomever the former sweetheart is, it has caused our heroine to think about the good times. The first verse finds her offer caution alongside reminiscence: “I won’t call you up/Won’t ask to hang with you on Saturdays/I won’t write a Christmas card/To your mother at the holidays/But every now and then/I look at photographs of us, babe/And we look so happy/Where did it go wrong?”. Those piano notes are so stirring and integral. Almost like Close’s heartbeat. On a slight tangent, her production and performance reminds me of German composer and artist, Nils Frahm. The way that he plays and records the piano so that it is high in the mix and has this raw and very powerful sound. It would be easy to give A Little Bit in Love too much shine or bury the piano too low, but this is almost like a live performance. It means the song resonates instantly.

Even if Close is speaking of her regrets or questioning why something seemingly perfect went sour, you feel like she is confiding in you. An intimate talk late at night perhaps over a glass of wine. The beauty her voice possess means you come back to the song time and time again – so compelled and seduced by the tenderness. Even if there is calm and this mature acceptance, Close cannot help but wonder why that spark disappeared. Given the fact that she was inspired to write the song because she realised that she was still holding love for someone she is no longer with, did things end too soon?! I am not sure whether the relationship can be recovered and restarted, but that moving on and looking to a fresh relationship is being haunted almost by the sense that everything was clicking and simpatico – until it just ended and that was that. In the chorus, there is a real sense that there are very real and strong feelings for this person: “But it’s so hard to forget you/When a little bit of me is always gonna be/A little bit in love with you”. With yet more strong resemblances to Frahm – in the most beautiful way; I am not sure if Close knows his music even?! -, you feel and hear that piano. A very physical and soulful instrument that Close can use to find reason and express her feelings through, there is this stirring and almost sensual sound from the keys. In the second verse, Close mentions “that Kacey song”. I assume she means Musgraves, but I was wondering which of her songs that was – if I had to have a guess, I would punt at something from her 2021 album, star-crossed (and there is one particular song I listen to and associate with her). It is interesting that the Texan artist comes to mind. In the way Close describes her memories, it is almost like she is driving through America rather than England: “I’m sat there with my feet on the dashboard/Harmonizing/But now I have to skip that song/In case I end up crying/Is this the way it’s always gonna be?”. There are almost Country vibes at the heart of A Little Bit in Love (particularly in the chorus); definitely when it comes to the lyrical style and the narrative.

So many artists would add layers of strings, drums and electronic effects to try and summon up more passion or intensity. Perhaps feeling that these elements represent something akin to the emotions and weather expressed in the song, Close very wisely keeps things simple. It is much more affecting and affective with that piano-and-voice combination. Whist the lyrics are telling the story and sharing memories, the composition is almost like a conversation between her and this former lover – if that does not sound too pretentious! Whilst the reason behind the break-up is never explained – if Close even knows why things did go bad -, there is a fear that important memories will fade: “Will the day come where I forget the face/Of the first ‘I love you’ kiss/And that sweet, dumb innocence”. Close does say things are getting better and that she is moving on but, as things were good and there are still lingering feelings and an attraction, you wonder whether she can truly forget. It is clear that she does not want to let go of something and someone who was such an important part of her life. I did forget to mention that, in the chorus, there is a little bit of vocal layering. Augmenting the emotions and messages, I am reminded of artists like Kacey Musgraves (plus Taylor Swift). If the verses are more naked and stripped, there is something fuller and warmer in the chorus. What I mean is that the verses are emotive and they definitely give you an impression of someone alone in a room and looking out of the window and letting her mind wander The chorus, whilst not celebratory, do seem to have this sense things will get easier and better in time. Another magnificent song from Sarah Close, I once again wonder whether an album will come. I might have jumped the gun or missed a post where she announced it, but A Little Bit in Love seems like a perfect closing track to a future project. Close, on her latest single, shows why she is one of the most gifted and consistent songwriters, singers, musicians, and producers in music. It is clear why her fans love and respect her so much.

As a brief epilogue, I want to sum up my feelings…but I also want to offer up some other thoughts. Sarah Close’s social media channels are great. I hope that she gets a Bandcamp page too. Maybe an easy way to help monetise future work in terms of digital and vinyl/physical releases, she would definitely have a fanbase there. I am not sure whether there is a music video coming for A Little Bit in Love. I hope that there is. I have always felt that Close would make a compelling and hugely talented actor. I am not sure whether scripts have come her way, but she has this combination of the accessible and relatable (very cool but also someone who has effortless charm and some clumsiness) together with something quite otherworldly and classic (in terms of her voice and beauty). This all comes through in her music. She would make a magnetic and hugely popular screen presence. You get a feeling of that when you see her videos, so I do hope that there is one that goes alongside A Little Bit in Love. It may be the case that it will be audio-only at the moment. A song released a day after her birthday, you sense Close is clearing space and a path to a new stage of her career. The song is about looking to the past and remembering this great love, but also moving ahead and maybe taking a chance with a new love. I do feel that, very soon, Close will get gig requests around the world. Such an amazing and hugely warm human, there is no doubt that many nations will fall under her spell. I think America particularly is someone she will be very much at home. I do not know what the rest of the year holds but, as it seems from that SoundCloud slip, there might be more music in the pipeline. That will be exciting! A Little Bit in Love is genuinely one of the best things Sarah Close has released. Heartfelt, open, emotional, and yet uplifted at the same time, I have listen to the song a few times now and it always feels like you are with Close as she is singing. In her, we have…