Sabrina Monique – It’s Not Me, It’s You (2024)
Alternative pop is the new Everest of the music scene, many people try to ascend but only a special few reach its peak. With her debut album, It’s Not Me, It’s You, Sabrina Monique is looking to be one at the top and not stuck at base camp.
Hailing from New York, singer-songwriter Monique takes all her experiences to craft some powerful pop tracks, which can hold their own with some of her contemporaries such as Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter. The courage and confidence she must have to be able to move to Manhattan at the tender age of 17 and to place herself up on the global stage of American Idol is highly evident in her songwriting. Her comfort in allowing all her vulnerabilities to be exposed gives her work the edge it needs to push to the top.
Even if you only briefly take a listen to her album It’s Not Me, It’s You, it is enough to hear a real talent in exploring a multitude of narratives while still keeping on brand. A vital key in the alternative pop genre is the ability to have that beat behind you as you allow the words to shine through. This for me gives veracity to Monique’s approach to her craft which she describes perfectly with the quote, “Every song tells a story, and they all encompass my personality”.
The lead single from the album, ‘It Was Always You’, is a shining example of all this. With a pumping beat, the track has you tapping along allowing her powerful message of how a music industry that is, in parts, fundamentally broken holds onto archaic stereotypes whilst pushing an agenda steeped in sexism. In a profound theme, the song explores unrealistic ideas of what the ideal female aesthetic is, particularly if you want to make it in the music business.
If you get a chance please check out the video for ‘It Was Always You’, it’s a brilliant example of classic archetypes with glamorous shots and energetic dance routines being turned on their head, all in the name of alternative pop. A quick note though, the video does contain lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy and viewer discretion is recommended.
When reading through the press release, a certain quote by Sabrina Monique caught my interest. Talking about the album, she shares that she “…needed to write this album to move forward… I always find music that people feel they need to write is always, if nothing else, interesting and can be some of the most personal forms of art you can find.” Embracing the sweeping power and healing nature of music, Monique further reflects, “I needed to write this album to move forward. It’s been cathartic for me…”
Sincere and moving, it’s clear that Monique’s aim is not only to make good music but to make good music that inspires. She’s reaching the top of Everest and I can hardly wait for more from Sabrina Monique.
Find out more about Sabrina Monique on her official website, Instagram and Spotify.
Listen to more alternative pop music on The Other Side Reviews Alternative Pop playlist:
