our attempt to sort through the cacophony of music floating in the algorithmic atmosphere by consulting the experts themselves. Our favorite musicians tell us about their favorite music—the sad, the happy, the dinner party-y, the songs they want played at their funeral. In this edition, we speak with the 25-year-old singer-songwriter Sasha Sloan, whose debut album,
NECHAMKIN: My roommate was actually watching the Brandi Carlile live stream that she does. Have you seen it? SLOAN: That’s tough just because I feel like everyone in music goes through L.A. or lives in L.A. Every genre exists there. But when I first moved there I was like, “Californication.” “Hotel California.” I was just such a tourist.SLOAN: Exactly. But now I just associate it with more pop music, because everyone writes and records there. I think of The Weeknd when I think of L.A.
NECHAMKIN: Is there a song that you find always puts you in a good mood, or that you keep returning to when you’re down? SLOAN: It’s so hard. I would probably say “Tears Dry On Their Own.” Or “Love Is A Losing Game.” “You Know I’m No Good.” Even her first album,NECHAMKIN: Are there any songs or artists that you would put on a playlist, for, say, a big house party? Even though that’s obviously not a thing anymore.
SLOAN: For breakup playlists, basically anything Sam Hunt. There’s this song he has called “Drinking Too Much,” which is an incredible breakup song. What else? Brandi Carlisle. She has this song called “That Wasn’t Me,” and I was just a total asshole to my mom when I was 17 and that song came out. I remember crying to that song because it’s just about not being a great person.