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SAHXL

About

Australian singer-songwriter SAHXL may only now be releasing his debut EP, COME THRU, but he has big intentions already: “I have one goal— to introduce the world to the new sounds of R&B coming out of Australia,” he says. “I’m not just doing this for myself; I’m doing this for the people around me too.” It’s safe to say he’s well on his way. The Sydney-based artist started making music as a 14-year-old as a form of emotional release, and eventually put his music on SoundCloud, catching the attention of local producers. He has released a number of singles, has been included in Apple Music’s Up Next Local series, and has been shouted out by radio personality Ebro Darden and fellow Australian musician The Kid LAROI. This year, he became the first Australian artist to sign with Def Jam.

COME THRU offers a captivating introduction to SAHXL’s sound, storytelling ability, and impressive emotional range. The project is a vivid, vulnerable collection of songs following the arc of a romantic relationship from start to finish. On the opener “REDO @ LUV,” SAHXL admits his selfishness while promising his partner that he will change and professing his deep longing for her. His vocals shimmer with yearning, while the song is propelled by a thrilling sense of potential at what the relationship might become. But by the time we reach the closing track “OVER,” SAHXL sings with a sigh, having come to terms with things ending. As he moves through the phases of love, SAHXL offers a dynamic range of moods and desires. He expresses hurt while owning up to his own mistakes, in the process painting a nuanced self-portrait of a man learning how to love.

SAHXL writes the lyrics and melodies for his songs very quickly. “When I first hear the beat, I automatically pick up on the feeling that I’m trying to portray,” he explains. “I recorded most of the songs in an hour. When [my producers] load up the loop, I pull my phone up and start singing melodies into my phone. Then I go into the booth and lay down some words on top of it. I want my music to be more stream-of-consciousness than just bars.” This approach ensures a rawness and authenticity to the project, like hearing a friend recount their deepest anxieties and favorite memories after a long night out.

The production adds a special shine to the songs. While the lyrics and melodies came quickly for SAHXL, he spent 12 hours a day for six months straight in the studio with his producer Sid Mallick and engineer Mixtri, listening to the songs and getting the instrumentation just right. “ISN’T THE SAME” relays the dizzying confusion of a relationship deteriorating due to distance, weaving a lonesome guitar line through a watery fog of synth. “COME THRU” intermingled SAHXL’s energetic, deft flow with a bubbling beat to establish a feeling of excitement.

COME THRU positions SAHXL as a wise storyteller in touch with his trickiest and most unpleasant emotions, as well as an adept producer and composer capable of wordlessly conveying yearning, remorse, and anger through his instrumental arrangements. The project is a mere sample of what he plans to offer. “It was really hard picking out just six songs,” he says. “We tried to make a story and chose songs that fit that. But I’m not dropping my best shit straight off the bat: I’m building myself up for that! We’re sitting on a lot of music that i can’t wait to share with the world”

SAHXL
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