Sarah Kinsley speaks about debut album ‘Escaper’

By Tiara Starks

Photo by Dillon Matthew

Now, more than ever, you can never truly escape the sounds of Sarah Kinsley. The alt-pop artist’s whimsical, bold and enchanting lyrics have become synonymous with love, self-discovery and revitalization — all themes that young people can relate to. You may know her as the creator of the hit “The King,” the synth-filled single that took TikTok by storm. “Escaper,” her debut album, is a culmination of all of the time and effort she's put out for the past five years. 

Not many alt-pop artists have openly claimed Chopin, Beethoven and Debussy as their inspirations, but the Connecticut-raised Columbia University grad has been exposed to many different types of artistry over the years. In her adolescence, she performed classical music in youth orchestras. She also cites Lorde, Madonna and ABBA as influences. Kinsley has additionally posted cover performances of artists such as Julia Michaels online. Now, she can take pride in knowing that her own original songs are being covered by loving fans across the internet. 


As previously mentioned, Kinsley recalls her reaction to the virality of her hit single “The King,” which is also the title of her 2021 EP. Its pervasive presence on social media even made Kinsley think differently about how her music speaks to other people’s ears. 

“When I write initially, it’s just super reflective. It’s just me bouncing it back to me. I’m thinking purely about what the song expresses for me. The best thing is watching a song take on its own meaning with people,” the 24-year-old said in a recent press conference. “When ‘The King’ came out, that song was me trying to convince myself that getting older and moving through time was going to be OK, that I was going to have this forceful, beautiful and powerful beginning of my twenties. The song when it went insane, it became way more about romantic love and people talking about playing the song at weddings. That interpretation was so far removed from my initial reading which is purely about self-love.” 

Whether you’re an avid listener or if you happen to stumble upon her songs, expect to experience Kinsley’s long-awaited debut album “Escaper,” which follows the releases of her four EPs over the last five years: “The Fall,” “The King,” “Cypress,” and “Ascension.” “Escaper” is chocked full of songs that capture the bold storytelling that Kinsley infuses into her words. The tracklist includes “Last Time We Never Meet Again,” “There Was A Room,” and “Starling,” which Kinsley described as “a very easy song to express and get to the finish line with. I knew straight away what I wanted this song to sound like…I knew I wanted it to be a little waltz and sweet. Just a very tender song so that one was really clear.”

Kinsley is also self-aware about how people interpret her music. It shows in the care she puts into acknowledging her audience both online and in-person. For example, she is open about her love of movement not just from herself, but from her audience. Word of the wise, if you go to one of her shows, don’t expect to stand still. 

“I love when people dance at shows. My worst nightmare would be playing a show and not a single person moves,” she shared. “There’s something so spiritual and very innate when you see an entire crowd moving together no matter what kind of dance it is. I think about that a lot when I make music. I want it to be a central part of how people listen to my music as well.”

When asked which upcoming tour stop she is most looking forward to, she doesn’t immediately give a specific answer. Instead, her response truly acknowledges that, in general, touring holds a special place in her heart and she’s ready for more. 

“I’m just incredibly excited for the entire tour. I’m very much itching to get back onto the road,” Kinsley said. “I feel like I’ve had a really nice break and I miss the shows, to be honest. We are going to a lot of cities that we’ve never been to before. When I played in Germany last, the crowd really surprised me. For some reason, I just wasn’t expecting such immense energy. We’re playing three dates in Germany so I’m excited for that.” 

In addition to her music’s impact internationally, she doesn’t leave out her strong U.S. fandom.  

“I haven’t been back to L.A. in awhile. We’re playing two nights at the Troubadour, which is a dream. I’m very stoked for that,” she said. “I live in New York so Webster Hall is unbelievable and unreal.” 



She has described herself as an “overthinker” and “control freak.” Two descriptors that I would not use to speak about the soft spoken yet outspoken talent that is about to enter into a defining moment of her career and how that affects her process of moving off of making “Escaper.” 

“It’s funny to come out of the process of making an album,” Kinsley said. “I just have not written music in a while. I’ve just been taking a break. Maybe that’s something that I’ve been learning about myself too. I feel like I can’t always write. I think it is a thing for a lot of other musicians. I think about my life and my ability to create music in terms of projects and records. Once the story is complete, if I’m going to open the gates again, I’m going to indulge myself in an entirely new story.” 

Keep up with Sarah Kinsley on Instagram and Twitter, and make sure to listen to her upcoming album, “Escaper,” when it drops on Sept. 6. To purchase Kinsley’s Fall 2024 tour tickets, visit https://www.sarahkinsleymusic.com/tour/.