SASAMI : Blood on the Silver Screen
Since 2019, Sasami Ashworth has released three albums as SASAMI, all of which have been vastly different. After she explored bedroom pop soaked in nostalgia on 2019’s SASAMI, and threw herself into a gnarly metal sound on 2022’s Squeeze, 2025’s Blood on the Silver Screen finds Sasami in a new light—one grounded in pop, but soaring above and beyond the conventional box of classical pop. On her third album, Ashworth hones a fresh approach to the genre, oozing with an empowering independence that shines clearly through her isolated vocals and shimmering instrumentals.
Blood on the Silver Screen opens with the electrifying “Slugger,” which is laden with washed out synths and SASAMI’s enveloping harmonies, her vocals shining in their strength and range. What’s clear from the jump is her elevated lyrics—the opening track is sprinkled with clever references to Steve Lacy and Dolly Parton, rolling by at the speed of Gilmore Girls dialogue. Following “Slugger” is the stunning “Just Be Friends,” a Mazzy Star-like anthem of catharsis, rehashing the intricacies of a relationship. SASAMI’s raw honesty cuts like a knife when she sings, “And I hate myself for loving you the way I do / know that it’s bad for my health / to try and turn this into something new.”
It’s clear that Ashworth’s background as a classical musician finds its way into her music, notably on the explosive “Love Makes You Do Crazy Things,” an expansive track that crescendos into booming bass and percussion, adding a key change, and finding SASAMI’s vocals flying above it all. While it sonically evokes an ’80s power ballad, its flourishes and ability to expand is in line with the structure of a classical composition.
SASAMI collaborating with producer Rostam on standout “In Love With a Memory (feat. Clairo)”, as well as Clairo, and both of their vocals have a velveteen tone to them supported by a charming synth melody, bringing to mind the early sounds of Phoenix and Daft Punk. There’s a warm glow surrounding the song, its subject matter pushing toward a feeling of true freedom, as SASAMI and Clairo sing, “Let me feel you one last time, before we say goodnight.”
SASAMI strikes an ideal balance between emotion and escapism—on Blood on the Silver Screen there are tracks to dance the pain away to and lose yourself in, and there are also ballads that perfectly encapsulate feelings of grief and exhaustion. On her third album, her sound has grown into an assured combination of her previous two releases’ musicality. No matter the mood, SASAMI delivers an exciting collection of pop songs that are all her own, infused with her musical experience and unique versatility.
Label: Domino
Year: 2025
Similar Albums:
SASAMI : Blood on the Silver Screen
Note: When you buy something through our affiliate links, Treble receives a commission. All albums we cover are chosen by our editors and contributors.
