Fort Wayne musician Sarah Smith recently released her second EP of 2023 as her musical project sundogsarah.
Staying busy after releasing the Yo Yume O EP in June and joining the new band The Igloos, the talented pianist returned with Home in December with a quick six-song EP that sticks with you long after the 15-minute runtime.
Opening with “Home,” Smith’s softy, airy vocals rise over piano with a chorus that takes you even more rarefied air.
Things get a bit more synthy on “Only the Best for My Baby,” where she masterfully mixes sludgy keys with more bouncy ones, then things get herky jerky before finding that rhythm again.
Things get a bit poppy on “It’s So Easy,” which is a highlight of the album for this writer, followed by the melancholy on the instrumental “Lullaby for Bb.”
A true curveball comes on “Tsukikage” where Smith shows off her Japanese over an acoustic guitar. The overdubbing of vocals is a perfect complement, as I’m not sure what she’s saying, but it’s beautiful.
Things return to where they started on “Home Outro,” leaving us longing for what this talented singer-songwriter might have in store for us down the road.