Sakai releases new EP ‘Do You Like Me Now?’

There is something quietly magnetic about Do You Like Me Now?. Rather than announcing itself with bombast, Sakai's debut EP unfolds patiently, revealing layers of emotional nuance and musical sophistication with every listen. It is a record rooted in vulnerability, but one that refuses to be confined by the conventions of indie rock. Instead, the band draw freely from soul, jazz, blues, funk and traditional Japanese music, crafting songs that feel simultaneously intimate and expansive.

That adventurous spirit is immediately evident on "Orange Tree", the EP's emotional centrepiece. Inspired by an eighth century Japanese poem and informed by Marié Sakai's experience attending a shamisen and koto recital, the song folds centuries of musical and literary history into a thoroughly contemporary framework. The use of the Hirajoshi scale gives the melody an understated elegance, while the return of Sakai's flute playing adds a delicate texture that quietly transforms the arrangement. It is a song about love's impermanence, but one that finds beauty in accepting that fleeting moments still carry lasting significance.

Elsewhere, the record embraces emotional uncertainty with striking honesty. Lead single "Out" captures the exhausting tension between wanting to embrace life and instinctively retreating from it. Its restless arrangement mirrors the spiralling questions at the heart of the lyrics, building towards moments of catharsis without ever abandoning its introspective core. "Wanted" strips things back emotionally, pairing aching lyricism with Conner Currie's shimmering guitar harmonics that linger long after the song ends.

The title track ties the EP together beautifully. Examining people pleasing and fractured identity, "Do You Like Me Now?" refuses easy answers, choosing instead to sit within discomfort. The band's chemistry shines here, with Audie Bethea's textured guitar work, Brendon Daugherty's fluid basslines, Caroline Carter's expressive drumming and Ryan DiCenzo's subtle keyboard flourishes creating a rich backdrop for Sakai's compelling vocal performance.

For a debut, Do You Like Me Now? feels remarkably self assured. It balances intricate musicianship with genuine emotional weight, never sacrificing one for the other. Sakai arrive not with a polished statement of certainty, but with something far more compelling: a collection of songs that embraces complexity, curiosity and vulnerability in equal measure.

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