At only nineteen years old, singer-songwriter Sabrina Sterling already has a repertoire of captivating singles that you just can’t get out of your head.
After blowing up on TikTok during quarantine, Sterling has proved herself a force to be reckoned with. She has all of the makings of a true musical star: a sweet and charming demeanor, an enviable girl-next-door style and stunning vocals that turn even the simplest of words into an anthem for women everywhere. Her stripped-back and organic musical style finds its roots in the singer’s own favorite artists from Lizzy McAlpine to Phoebe Bridgers and Julia Michaels and is complemented by her eloquent and passionate lyrics which take inspiration from her own real life experiences.
Sterling’s new song “Lonely in Love,” released toady, takes notes from her past hits, with a focus on navigating through the world of relationships and the love and heartbreaks that come with them. Still, the song retains its own unique voice. Acting as a sort of “diss track,” in Sterling’s words, to her past relationship, the track blends witty lyrics with the singer’s extraordinary vocals, resulting in a relatable song that evokes the intense emotions of young relationships.
“I just wrote it about my last relationship and like the title says, I felt so lonely in love. It was a feeling that never really went away.”
“I just wrote it about my last relationship and like the title says, I felt so lonely in love. It was a feeling that never really went away,” Sterling said. “It was really complicated and I just wanted it to kind of be a silly little song where I’m brushing off that insecurity and just like all the weird feelings.” While the track was created to work out Sterling’s own personal feelings on her love life, the singer’s clever lyrics feel both familiar and universal. Their sense of authenticity combined with a playful and nonchalant charm place the new song firmly at the top of any soundtrack to girlhood.
Sterling herself attests that the song is “definitely for the girls” and despite its lighthearted lyrics, the track contains an important description of a toxic relationship that is sure to resonate with women everywhere. “I hope that they listen to it, and then if they’re in that situation, they leave that situation,” Sterling said earnestly with a slight laugh. “It was like being in a marriage where you don’t even sleep in the same bed anymore. It’s like, why are you even together?”
Aside from her new release, Sterling has a host of projects currently in the works. Throughout her past songs, she has retained a signature slow and downbeat style but she’s looking to expand her range. “At first, I was having fun just kind of writing whatever came to mind, and I just like making songs that are really slow and sad,” Sterling said. “But then I went on tour for the first time and I realized people liked my set, it just could have been more upbeat. So I was like, Okay, I gotta make something more pop or upbeat, so people are able to dance or vibe to it. It can’t always be sad.”
Sterling took this lesson into her songwriting process and has been experimenting with cheerful and upbeat sounds for her upcoming tracks. “I was kind of scared at first because it’s so new and really out of my comfort zone,” Sterling said. “But I tried it…and I was dancing in my kitchen for like two hours to the same song over and over.”
“I was kind of scared at first because it’s so new and really out of my comfort zone.”
Despite their downtempo style, Sterling’s previous releases are still songs that will make you dance around your kitchen. Their youthful essence and catchy melodies feel straight out of your teenage years, playing in the background of late night study sessions and trips to the local restaurant in your mom’s minivan. This is part of what makes Sterling’s music so special: Despite her rising stardom, she’s someone any woman can see themselves in.
As she looks to her own life experiences and relationships for inspiration, her music exemplifies the true beauty of girlhood—even in its most somber and devastating moments. It is this sense of authenticity and relatability combined with Sterling’s incredible musical talent that have truly captured the hearts of her listeners, and in turn inspired a new generation of young women.
Homepage imagery courtesy of Caity Krone, inside image courtesy of Janelle Brosnan.
