Sashathem Celebrates Their Identity in Fun Track “HELLRAISER”

Sashathem brings us “HELLRAISER,” a fun, singalong track with clever and meaningful lyrics that celebrate their identity as an artist and as a queer person.

The song starts off with soft synth vibes accompanied by light mellow guitar riffs. We’re then introduced to the slow paced percussion and welcomed by Sashathem’s chill and catchy vocals. The vocal stacking adds an extra touch to building this sunny-day soundscape. The flows in the verses are fun to try and keep up with and the switch ups deliver us diversity within the track. The vocal tones throughout the entire track also prove Sashathem is a vocalist to be reckoned with!

I really love the lyrical content of the song too. Sashathem is embracing being a “Hellraiser.” With powerful lines such as “I might be a them, I might be a they” and “I don’t wanna change myself for you.” I just want to ride around in the car on a warm sunny day vibing to this song with one hand out the window and one hand on the steering wheel. It makes me feel good inside, and that’s something so valuable and hard to find in music. I really cherish this song, and I think you will too!

I got the privilege to ask Sashathem some questions about the song. Check it out below!

Describe the release in three sentences:

HELLRAISER is a song that says, “hey transphobes! go fuck yourself!” It’s a dance worthy song about self-love and self-acceptance, as told by a non-binary person during their coming out journey. Through HELLRAISER, I wanted to reclaim agency for myself.

What’s your favorite part?

My dear friend Teddy Chipouras made the video for this release, which I think was my favorite part of the whole process. He did the most wonderful job bringing the song to life and making me feel like I was raising… hell. Teddy is a wonderful soul and musician, and if folks are interested they can find his work online under his name! I can’t sing his praises enough.

What was the hardest part about making this song?

I was very honest about myself in this song, and I don’t know how some of the people in my life with respond to it. I am very proud of HELLRAISER, and I’m hopeful that it will bring friends closer together, but like.. it’s a scary thing to be vulnerable, and another thing entirely to record that vulnerability and put it out into this world.

Was this release cathartic for you?

Hell yes. Every step of the process with HELLRAISER was cathartic, from the writing to the release and everything in between. I’ve been out as non-binary for a year now, but this song feels like a declaration beyond my circle and I am so thankful and glad to have it out in the world. It’s like a weight off of my shoulders.

What keeps you motivated?

I think it’s been really hard for every artist I know to stay creative during the pandemic. For me, the most motivational thing has been watching my peers put out amazing projects over the last few months. I don’t think I could have put this release together without seeing folks like Zach Benson, Backxwash, or my dear friends in Lobby Boy put out such incredible releases in the last year.

What can we expect next from you?

I finished a record! My first album, Glass House, is coming out on March 5th. Releasing it is definitely going to be an exercise in vulnerability, as the underlying themes on the project center around introspection, coming out, and dysphoria.

Thank you so much for sharing your answers with us, Sashathem!