Sara James’ debut is a playground for its audience: it works both as a bedroom pop for nostalgic evenings and as an electronic joyride for sing-along parties.

Sara James is a brand-new revelation: although born in 2008 (!), she recently released her debut album Playhouse (Universal Poland, 2024). Currently, it feels like James might be the only musician in the Polish entertainment industry, who is capable of having a worldwide breakthrough and getting critical acclaim. James’ accent and English songwriting are just spot-on, so her broader success is only a matter of time (and of mere luck, too). 

Most of her lyrics remind us of Olivia Rodrigo’s sheer straightforwardness. In the XXI century, there is one crucial rule for pop songwriters they should stick to no matter what: be truthful to your audience or you won’t have one. One can tell that James learned it by heart – in this massive, 18-track concept album, the musician invites us to her playhouse, which is nothing other than her very own mind. 

On PSYCHO, she confesses: “I’m fifteen and outta breath/Feels like I’m already dead/And it eats me from inside/Now I ghost my therapist/Told me I need medicine/But I’ve been like this all my life.” On ONE LAST CHANCE, she admits that “love makes her numb,” while on LIKE ME, James raps to “bring it all on me ’cause I like the trouble/ Baby, I’ma make you wipe your tears.” There’s a spirit of Rihanna’s music (especially palpable in CELLARBONE), Beyonce’s, Billie Eilish’s and others’ (Chapell Roan?), but James’ charisma whispers its way through these eclectic (and buoyant) tracks to deliver some emotional jolts. No matter the musical references, all of this is delivered in the flow of a true professional; James chants like she has been in this industry forever. 

Her debut is an exponent of the coherent record created by the beginner in the industry, who is also adding some increased vigour and joy, a component so often overlooked by other modern artists. While Playhouse often adds up to a subtle, grown-up take on adolescence, it still leaves space for fun, musical freeriding and upbeat production. After entering James’ ephemeral playhouse, you just wanna dance till the world ends. 

Her pop vision already stands out with its expansiveness, so it’s good to remember that Sara James is only 16 years old. Anyhow, she’s a voice that is here to stay, and an artist, who is in the moment of finding – and presumably shaping – herself. It’s a process that we should follow and one that we want to follow. Let’s just call it a playhouse effect.

Photo: Universal Polska, Jan Dybus

5/5 stars

Author: Jan Tracz