SARAH METH - Steps / Leak Your Own Blues (Blue Vinyl)

STEPS EP is set for release 14th November 2023 via Slow Dance. It is introduced today with the EP's title
track produced alongside Louis O'Breyen, guitarist in the London band Sorry, with this his debut production
role.
STEPS is the Londoner's third EP and features six new tracks that recollect her personal, painful experiences
of sexual trauma, albeit painted and portrayed with unexpected splashes of colour, character, and Sarah's
ability to own those disturbing experiences through her own strength and power. She explains further,

"STEPS EP is about moving forward into the unknown. I never intended to create a project around sexual
trauma, but making these songs at the time played a big role in helping me process a way of accepting and
taking ownership over some things that have happened. I hope it brings a distinct vulnerability and
playfulness to the subject matter, juxtaposing these qualities with exploring the lived experience of sexual
trauma. Steps is ultimately about 'making it through' to define new versions of ourselves after such
experiences.
"I initially thought it was going to be a self-produced project but ended up taking about half of the songs to my
friend Louis [O'Breyen], who I feel very grateful for providing a space to elevate those songs in the way we
did. My production and recording style for this EP was similar to my Midnight Snacks' project of demos -
made on Logic and singing into my laptop microphone tucked up in bed. However, it felt necessary to have
some of these songs, such as 'Fucktoy' 'Sister You Said' and 'Red Hands', production elevated in a way that
made these songs feel less discreet, in a "saying them with my chest" sort of way. Me and Louis ended up
bonding over a much-loved mutual obsession with Nina Simone, yet the songs we did together ended up
being made up of more electronic influences each of us had.
"Grimes' album 'Visions' inspired me to make a project like STEPS. Both sonically and practically, being
made through playing with synth-y sounds on her laptop. I was also inspired by the way she spoke about her
song Oblivion. She went through similar assaults and said "I took a typically violent cultural situation and
made it pop and happy.' Which was the natural reaction I had too, toying with sounds and songwriting styles
that were new for me. I hope this project can make people feel seen in what they relate to from it, or in a non-
threatening way, gauge people to ask questions of themselves upon listening."
Musically, STEPS EP dips colour into the noirish, shadowy hues of her Leak Your Own Blues EP. It recalls,
in part, the instinctive rawness of early Cat Power recordings, with a loose, lo-fi charm that portrays Sarah's
words with emphasis, feeling and meaning.

Vinyl release of Sarah Meth - Steps / Leak Your Own Blues (Blue Vinyl). Released through SLOW DANCE RECORDINGS and available on 2LP.