People say that social media is a bad thing, and sometimes I can totally see their point. But other times, like when the Instagram algorithm knows exactly what artists to recommend to me, I’m so thankful for it. The other day when I was scrolling through Reels (again), a video from a small artist promoting his latest single came up on my feed. I was immediately struck by the retro-indie sound and his mellow, slightly raspy voice. I hopped on Spotify right away and looked him up, which led to my newest music obsession: the EP What Was, Not Now by Stephen Sanchez, released in October of 2021.
Since discovering the EP, I have listened to it countless times. Although it’s only six tracks long, that doesn’t stop me from listening to it on repeat for an hour or more at a time. The individual songs are addictive and the EP is very cohesive as a whole. The overall sound is very indie and acoustic, with touches of 50’s vibes woven in throughout. Sanchez’s soft, resonant voice glides over the simple accompaniment and seemingly flows from one song right into the next. The lyrics are packed full of emotion, expressing love, compassion, and yearning. Each track of the EP gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside; they are so sweet and hopeful. It’s hard for any album to be absolutely perfect, but What Was, Not Now comes pretty close.
“Hold Her While You Can”
The first track on this EP is one of my favorites. If you’ve ever heard “Mary’s Song (Oh My My My)” by Taylor Swift, this song has a very similar storyline and energy. Sanchez tells a love story, beginning with fresh, young love and ending with the couple growing old together. It’s a song about appreciating the time that you have with someone and cherishing the love that two people can share. The tune is upbeat, sickly sweet, and guaranteed to put a smile on your face. It’s truly a feel-good song that perfectly balances the sadness of the inevitability of endings with the joy of loving someone deeply. If I had to describe it in one sentence, I’d say that it makes me feel like I’m in love. The opening lines are absolutely my favorite of the entire song. I think they’re so poetic and charming — can you imagine someone writing that about you?
Favorite lyrics:
“She’s a flower among the weeds/
More beautiful than any rose/
I put the creases in her shoes/
She put the crinkle in my nose/
I’ll have wrinkles when I’m young/
From all the laughing I suppose/
And I’ll hold your heart forever/
Long after I propose, oh”
Before I begin my discussion of the next song, I want to give a trigger warning: this song discusses self-harm and suicide.
“Love Life”
This song is the least light-hearted and the saddest on the EP, however, it still demonstrates moments of hopefulness and tenderness. Overall, “Love Life” describes someone struggling with their mental health. Sanchez takes the perspective of the person who is suffering in the verses, while he sings from an outsider’s perspective during the choruses. In the verses, he expresses the pain the individual feels and discusses the struggle of deciding whether to take their own life or not. He sings of feeling alone in a room full of people, and the feeling that no one is acknowledging his cries for help. During the chorus, Sanchez communicates to the individual that he can see the person is having a hard time, and that the effort they are putting into wanting to get better is not going unnoticed. He encourages the person to continue to try to love life. This song is very sobering but carries a very meaningful message. For this reason, I do not feel it’s appropriate to select favorite lyrics for this song.
“Kayla”
Track 3 is the song I don’t like as much as the others on What Was, Not Now. Sanchez’s voice is still dulcet and captivating, and the acoustic guitar is beautiful. However, I’m a huge fan of lyrics, and knowing his potential from his other songs, this tune is lyrically sparse and contains a lot of repetition of a single line, which is one of my least favorite traits in a song. That being said, it’s a simple, sweet song that still fits the nostalgic, romantic feeling of the EP.
Favorite lyrics:
“You’ll tell me I’m wrong and that’s just because you don’t like what you see/
Just know I do and/
All of the time, you’re on my mind making me blind”
“The Pool”
“The Pool” is another one of my favorites on the EP. WALK THE MOON fans, this song reminds me of “Heights.” The song is all about feeling yourself falling hopelessly, madly in love with someone and hoping that they’re right there falling with you. It’s a song of profound emotional connection, wholehearted physical attraction, and a desire to have one’s feelings reciprocated. The romance and love radiate so strongly from this song, from the lyrics to the music and the combination of the two. It also has a tinge of uncertainty and nervousness; it’s the knowledge that there could be something great waiting on the other side but not knowing if saying something will ruin it all. This tune makes me think of new, young love and truly loving every single thing about a person.
Favorite lyrics:
“But I’m afraid, I’m scared, of those romantic words, you see?/
Ain’t it ironic how those are just the songs I sing about/
My lovely, do you rеally love me?/
When I hеar you whisper under your breath”
“I Want You”
Ah, unrequited love. “I Want You” is a drowsy, quiet song about wanting to be with someone who doesn’t feel the same and having to settle for friendship instead. The lyrics beautifully express the struggle of wanting someone to know how much you love them but still appreciating the friendship that you have with them, as well as the feeling of being ready and willing to give yourself completely to someone the instant that they say the word.
In terms of sound, this song gives me major Harry Styles vibes. It’s mostly acoustic guitar accompaniment, but there are also moments where a keyboard peeks through, as well as a few seconds with strings and some listless synth arcs dispersed throughout. Sanchez’s vocals are particularly entrancing in “I Want You,” which is fitting of the lyrical content.
Favorite lyrics:
“You’ve knocked me to the floor since the moment I saw you/
Every minute, every hour, if you’ll have me, I want you”
“Until We Meet Again”
The final track on What Was, Not Now is actually a short instrumental piece. It’s a great way to wrap up and close out the EP, and still contains so much emotion even without lyrics. It showcases piano, unlike the rest of the songs which have a heavy focus on acoustic guitar. It’s peaceful, almost reminiscent of a lullaby, and ends with a soft sigh (literally) that releases any tension and energy remaining from listening to the other songs. It’s a clear end to the EP without being too harsh, perfectly summing up the whole experience and preparing you to move on to whatever is next.
What Was, Not Now is available on all streaming platforms if you’re interested in giving it a listen! If you’d like to get to know Sanchez and his music a little bit better, check out this article by Republic Records. Also, check out his singles not on the EP, “Until I Found You” and “Lady by the Sea.”
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