sleep with me by Sara Devoe
“sleep with me” is Sara Devoe’s single released with Spirit Goth Records. Based in Brooklyn, NY Devoe is an amalgamation of jangle pop and indie grunge, with strong influences from dream gaze and other shoegaze-adjacent sub-genres. Some similar artists in the scene might include Hatchie and Softcult. Similar artists in the scene might include Hatchie and Softcult, while more mainstream (albeit slightly less similar) likenesses could be King Princess, Clairo, Snail Mail, or girl in red.
On “sleep with me,” Devoe blends the retro, psychedelic dream pop sound with an airy, ethereal singing style while she delivers emotionally vulnerable lyrics. This single establishes a new signature sound of Devoe as she shifts gears from her past works’ sound to explore new musical avenues.
As expected from the genre’s defining characteristics, “sleep with me” has a retro aesthetic and soft, dreamy vocals that are heavy on the effects to achieve the dream pop disassociated vocals. Additionally, the guitar tone during the verses is dreamy and characteristic of the jangle style. The structure of “sleep with me” has many seamlessly integrated highs and lows, giving the song constant momentum and making it irresistible to put on repeat.
For example, the simple and steady 4/4 drum beat recedes during the pre-chorus, which sets up for the energetic burst of noise in the chorus. The moment is filled with crashing cymbals, steady guitar strums with a more distorted grunge tone, and layered vocals with mystic melodies, which give the effect of floating in orbit. The song winds down with a fade out that introduces an acoustic guitar sound, which is a little sprinkle of new timbral interest that grabs the ear just the right amount.
Lyrically, the song is uplifting and dreamy. Lines such as “What a life I could be living if you slept right next to me” in the second pre-chorus fantasize about a future life with a lover. Other optimistic lines can be heard in the first verse, including “I want to know what’s in store” and “I’ve got something to live for.” Some lyrics in the first verse also play into the dream pop genre, as some lyrics are outright about a dream she had. The second verse consists of lines daydreaming all the “what ifs” of the couple’s future together, reinforcing the song’s optimistic dreamer mindset.
“sleep with me” is an enthralling song overall. As a single preceding her recent EP scared of the dark, which also features a single with the band Charms, it establishes a new direction for Devoe’s sound. It seems that “sleep with me” will mark a pivotal point in Sara Devoe’s journey as an artist and a key song in her discography.