Breakout artist Sarah Kinsley shares an official music video for her latest single, « Last Time We Never Meet Again. » The song was just released last week and marks a first taste of new music from her forthcoming debut album, Escaper. The LP is set for release September 6.
Self-described as possibly her most vulnerable song on the record, the track takes inspiration from the end of a friendship. « The song is meant to be celebratory, » Sarah details, « but it’s trying to make something that is really sincerely a goodbye – the closing of all these worlds that you inhabit with the people you love. A celebratory goodbye. »
Of the video Sarah says: « We envisioned a duo whose innate bond to one another powers their ability to traverse different universes and realms. The complexities of their relationship explore power, softness, trust, defeat, and how the eventual dissolving of love means the end for all of the worlds we create and inhabit through others. »
Kinsley will embark on a headline tour across North America, the U.K. and Europe in support of the new music, kicking off September 15 and including stops at New York City’s Webster Hall, two evenings at Los Angeles’ Troubadour and more. See below for a complete list of dates.
Fascinated by the idea of alternate realities and imaginary worlds, Escaper finds Kinsley challenging the listener to find their own escape. Across the album’s 12 tracks, Kinsley explores old friendships, loss, romantic love compared to the love of close friends, and relationships fizzling that once flourished.
Kinsley collaborated with and co-produced the album alongside Grammy-award winning producer John Congleton (Angel Olsen, St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten). « One realization you have eventually as an insular, more introspective person is that there’s a world outside of yourself waiting for you to look into it. I had made every single EP from scratch, in the sweetness of my apartment… This record was meant to be grand and unstoppable. A beginning descent into freefall. Why protect that feeling in solitude? Why not invite another into that journey? » she details of working with Congleton.
Growing up in the world of classical music and coming to love pop music in her teenage years, Kinsley often marries the two on Escaper. « I’m just such a sucker for massive, grand songs, » she describes. « I think it’s the classical musician in me who loves symphonies and the magnum opus effect. »
The New York-based artist has released three EPs—The King (2021), Cypress (2022) and Ascension (2023)—to widespread critical praise. The King’s title track went viral on TikTok, accumulating 121 million global streams to date across her catalogue and climbing, and the EP was included in NME’s list of top debut projects of 2021 raving, « Her transformative songs of growing pains and discovery share a similar intimacy to the introverted, deeply human alt-pop of Maggie Rogers and Lorde. »
Ascension received praise from the likes of NPR Music, The Sunday Times, Ones to Watch and more. Kinsley has performed at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and more, as well as opened for the likes of Mitski, Sylvan Esso, Weyes Blood and Gus Dapperton.