Artist: Sarah Shafey
Album: Blackbox Universe
Release Date: September 23, 2022
Genre: Electronic
Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, and mixing engineer Sarah Shafey is ecstatic to share her highly anticipated fourth studio album, Blackbox Universe.
This genre-bending collection has garnered Shafey a Gold Award at the LIT Talent Music Awards and a 2022 Finalist position with The Artists Forum Competition.
On her fourth album, Blackbox Universe, Sarah Shafey delivers her most theatrical album to date. Filled with big, bold, heavy production, including influences of electronic, pop, and rock. Shafey brilliantly weaves themes of unveiling different versions of ourselves, her Egyptian roots, women’s empowerment, and science fiction while captivating listeners with her seamless vocals and strong production.
As an advocate for women’s empowerment, Blackbox Universe is a homage to celebrating the different facets of womanhood. Sarah is proud to have co-produced, co-engineered, and co-mixed the album with Hill Kourkoutis, the first female to win a JUNO award in the Recording Engineer of the Year category (2022). Hill has produced for and played with some of Canada’s most notable artists, including The Weeknd, July Talk, Serena Ryder, Madison Violet, SATE, Good Lovelies, Dear Rouge, Adam Cohen, and more. Mastered by Kristian Montano of Montano Mastering, the album features musicians Sekou Lumumba on drums (Big Wreck, Serena Ryder, Bedouin Soundclash, Kardinal Offishall, Thornley), cellist and Grammy-nominated songwriter Michael Peter Olsen (Drake, Funeral, K-OS) and well-known Toronto guitarist Mike Celia.
Throughout Sarah’s writing experience, she explores different versions of herself, which she has characterized through the singles being released leading up to the album and has curated a Blackbox Universe comic book. With the first single, Competitor, we saw the character Princess Layla (an Egyptian Princess) visualized through the imagery for the single as well as in Act 1 of Shafey’s comic book series. The second single, Pick Up The Phone, introduced Sarah’s audience to Suzy Q (an adoring wife) for Act 2. Shafey then revealed Act 3, Boss Babe (the brainiac and hard worker), and most recently, the final character of the comic series, Alninilaka, brings her Zen and meditative love to the storyline. Alninilaka is “the peaceful characteristics that we all want to embody in this hectic world,” explained Sarah. Read the full comic book here.
“We all have different versions of ourselves so I felt the need to explore who they were,” says Sarah. “Some of it was a shedding of skin that I don’t want anymore and other elements are more closely aligned with who I am now and want to be more like.”
Limited physical copies of the Blackbox Universe Comic can be found at The Beguiling in Toronto.
Review
The 10-song release starts with the previous single, “Competitor,” which was my introduction to Sarah Shafey. As soon as the single began, with an almost sci-fi-sounding intro, I knew I was in for a treat. Once Sarah’s rhythmic vocals were added to the mix, there was no doubt that this song would be added to my playlist. The lyrics for this track could speak to many people in various situations. “Competitor” could easily serve as an anthem to encourage strength and confidence in everyone.
The latest single, “Sticks and Stones,” follows with a pop-infused electro beat, which complements Sarah’s flowing vocals perfectly. As she chants the lyrics in an almost bouncing tone, they summon an anthemic feel. Throughout the song, Sarah’s vocal stylings continue into melodic weaving verses and powerful choruses, which will speak to listeners who have been put through physical or emotional abuse, bullying, or any other trauma that has left them feeling broken, let down, or hurt in any way. From the first verse, with lyrics, “Sticks and the stones be breaking my bones they’re always gonna hurt me,” you are placed in the shoes of someone who has suffered bullying and/ or abuse of some kind. As we reach the chorus, “Watch me come in, I’ll move like the wind they’ll never see me coming.” and “A powerful thing when I’m out to win the battle call is something,” conjures up the feeling of standing up for yourself and showing your strength.
“Pick up the Phone,” which was the second single to be released, comes next. I enjoy the beat of this track; it is reminiscent of 80s and 90s pop but with a modern twist. The lyrics speak about our phone addiction, which is all too true.
“Back to the Night” is one that resonates with me. “They all say free your mind and all the rest will follow but, I don’t like waiting. It’s up, up, up, up, up, up, up on the flipside.” sounds just like me, impatient to see change. I can’t help myself from singing along with the track, and it played on repeat in my mind for the rest of the day.
At the halfway point, we have “Queen of Oceans,” making a grand entrance with a driving beat and a somewhat eerie yet welcoming vibe. Sarah’s vocals on this track are mesmerizing at times.
“Fallen Angels” doesn’t waste any time, delivering Sarah’s emotive vocals immediately. Throughout this track, Sarah poses multiple questions, such as “So many times, I tried, so many times I wondered why we fell out from the sky. Are we really all alive, or will we ever realize the frequency of time?” It seems as though in this track, she posits many of life’s unknowns, giving the track a sense of deepness.
Yet another single, “Caught out the Door,” shows a different side of Sarah’s musical abilities. Shifting away from the electropop feel to a more alt-rock approach, and let me tell you, I’m not upset about it. The beat instantly pulls you in, and once again, Sarah’s vocals intertwine with the music perfectly. The lyrics for this track are so matter-of-fact, and I can immediately see why the persona in Act 3 of her comic is Boss Babe. A take-no-shit kind of girl!
“This Is My Throne” is an epic, anthemic song that I just can’t get enough of. “I’ll take my throne back now you’re gone, Watching and waiting for the song, This was my kingdom all along, I wanna tell you that you were always wrong,” says it all. To me, this song says, “Take your place where you are meant to be,” and that’s something that is not always easy to do, but we all deserve to take it.
“My Favourite Walk” strays from the electronic sound, incorporating multiple instruments and sweet-sounding yet melancholic vocals. I feel like there’s a deep meaning behind this track, as Sarah’s vocals are emotion-filled. The lyrics, “You go walk ahead of me, I know where my place is to be in the middle from the end, In the middle of the end,” give off a feeling of staying out of the spotlight and drama and safely staying in the middle, where you’re protected.
Closing out the epic collection of songs is the title track, “Blackbox Universe, ” which consists of a much more mellow vibe than the previous tracks. Sarah’s vocals are calm and drawn-out, but not in a negative way. Hearing this side of Sarah’s vocal talent shows that she can do it all.
The album, as a whole, has something for everyone, from upbeat, pop-infused tracks to electronic anthemic songs and everything in between. On each of those, Sarah does a flawless job.