Sarah Kinsley, who initially garnered fame on tik tok for her viral hit “The King,” released a new music video for her single “Oh No Darling.” Although recent waves of alt and indie-pop artists have found success through a minimalistic approach to production, partially as a counter-movement to the overproduced, generic sound of mainstream pop. Kinsley’s “meticulous” production style coalesces into a project that is simultaneously unique, complex, and accessible. Her skill is in recognizing when and where to use her unique vocal style as one of many pieces of the overall composition. In many ways, “Oh No Darling” combines the best of 80’s pop with the best of mainstream. While utilizing simple, consistent drum-lines and bass, layered with vocals and effects, and a classic guitar solo to put a bow on top.
Kinsley describes herself as being influenced by various classical musicians including Chopin, Beethoven, and Debussy, as well as a range of 70’s and 80’s pop-rock icons, but I’d describe her style as somewhere between Cyndi Lauper and Mitski - it sounds weird on paper, but the result is that Kinsley knows exactly how to use pop motifs while avoiding any and all cheesiness, no doubt as a result of her inherent talent and educational background in classical music, theory, and production.
Kinsley’s personal motivations for pursuing music come from a number of sources - in an interview with Euphoria Magazine, she described music as “inseparable” from her life, and to her music and life, “were always just one and the same.” With an inherent, omnipresent passion for music, her goals as an artist crystallized when she realized the extent of female under representation in production. After experiencing the male-dominant culture of music production (especially in academic contexts through her classes at Columbia), Kinsley has continuously emphasized the need to “recognize and amplify female producers,” per NME magazine. With no question of her talent or ability, we’re waiting in anticipation for Kinsley’s future work as an activist, producer, and musician.
Listen to Sarah Kinsley here:
And check tour dates here:
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