Sarah Klang explores her own sense of self on ‘Beautiful Woman’

Recommended Tracks: “Go to the Sun,” “Last Forever,” “I Have Everything”
Artists You Might Like: Paloma Faith, Haley Reinhart, Andra Day

If someone were to ask me about the intricacies of womanhood, I would not really know what to say. Honestly, my mind just goes to the song “Girl, so confusing” off Charli xcx’s highly acclaimed album, brat. Being a woman is complicated, it’s confusing, and it’s something that Sarah Klang would probably be able to better explain. On her new album, Beautiful Woman, Sarah captures her journey from an impressionable teenager to the self-assured woman she is today. There were moments of desire, trauma, joy, and closure, but ultimately, they were all moments that taught her what it means to be a woman – a beautiful woman – in today’s world.

For some, it can be painful to relive those awkward adolescent years, but Sarah is not afraid to revisit them. On the opening track, which is also the title track, she recalls the extremes she would go to just to be the epitome of “beauty.” The piano brings a melancholy to the lyrics, where Sarah explains, “I bought a magazine, staring at the beautiful pictures” and “Skipped lunch and then I would run, 15 and alone in my room.” It was all she could do to become the “beautiful woman” that she always wanted to be. She continues to describe moments of yearning and desire on “All I Want,” a track that centers more on sexuality. The summery and light melodies evoke a youthful innocence and spirit, enabling listeners to think back to when they were trying to figure out love for the first time. In the end, though, Sarah just wanted to be like the other girls around her, as described on “Other Girls.” She wanted to have fun, look good, and enjoy life. More importantly, she sings how “I just wanna be like the other girls / I just wanna be liked,” capturing that frantic teenage struggle of maintaining who you are while also fitting in and being well-liked.

While Sarah may have grown up and moved on from her adolescent ways, there are still times when she needs to cope with a memory or a feeling brought on by her childhood. On “Go to the Sun,” she brings herself out of a dark place by focusing on the present. Listeners will feel immersed in the light as they take in the sunny guitar lines, which accompany Sarah. All the while, she remembers that all it takes to heal her heart is an open mic at a local bar, where she can sing until she is golden. Another track that dabbles in this idea of music as therapy is “Jackson Browne.” This track has more of a stripped-back vibe, making Sarah seem extra vulnerable. Still, she recalls a moment when she cried after learning “how to listen to Jackson Browne,” and she revisits this moment whenever she feels frightened or afraid. It reminds her to embrace new experiences. This concept is reversed on “Childhood,” however, in which Sarah tries to let go. Her vocals are sweet yet brittle as she recalls what she went through as a child. She knows that it was “such a long time ago,” yet she can still “see it when I close my eyes.” As she does her best to move forward, the music helps her get there, its warm and comforting sensibilities shining through.

Now, Sarah is at a special place in her life. She recently became a new mom, which she describes on her previous album, Mercedes. On the closing track of that album, Sarah mentioned the highs and lows that come with motherhood, from dealing with constant screaming and crying to feeling complete in life. Going back to Beautiful Woman, Sarah continues this narrative on “Happier.” Here, she imagines a tight bond with her daughter, one that consists of trust and support. The thought of having such a relationship with her daughter brings a smile to her face, and we can hear it in Sarah’s voice when she shares that she is “happier with you.” If there was any doubt in how things are going, fans just have to turn to the closing track, “I Have Everything.” At this point on the album, we know that there were times when Sarah was not at her best. There were times when she probably assumed that she would not have it all, so to learn that she is totally content on this final track is a celebratory moment. Its uninhibited sound and vivid lyrics paint a nice picture of Sarah living her best life with her daughter close by. Finally, she is “everything I want.”

When explaining Beautiful Woman, Sarah revealed, “This album doesn’t really have a lot of love songs; it’s not focused on a specific guy. This is an album about the awkwardness of being a child, a teenager, and about understanding your relationship with your body and self in a patriarchal world.” Indeed, Beautiful Woman is more about the journey of a lost child to a misguided teenager to a confident woman. Yes, there are times when she does sing about love and relationships, like on the moving duet “Last Forever,” but we realize that the relationship one has with oneself is more valuable than the one shared with someone else. With this album, Sarah encourages others to embrace the pain, heal, and flourish into someone more beautiful than they could have ever imagined.