When you were writing Belladonna (This Is How You Die), was there a moment where you realised the song had become something much bigger or darker than you originally intended?
Yes… Initially I was a bit scared of the song. I felt like it was too big for me. It felt like we’d created this beast. I was still working myself out as an artist at the time—not that I’m not still figuring that out—but I was very new to making music and I genuinely thought, shit, this is too big. The drums kicking in with that guitar riff were terrifying! It’s not remotely subtle in the least, and that’s scary!
Low-key now, fast forward to the present day, it’s the song I absolutely can’t wait to unleash live. I love that we went there with the sound and that I did it so early on in my career as well. I feel like Lady Gaga would totally approve though, I think, and that is enough for me!
The title feels both beautiful and unsettling. What made you decide to lean into that contrast rather than play it safe?
This is something I say a lot, but honestly it’s just intuition and wherever the muse chooses to take me at the time I’m writing. I’m a vessel and whatever comes through, that’s what I do. I sometimes have an idea, or sonically something can come to mind, and I can write four other songs on top of the same production and I’ll hate all of them. Then, at the end of the day, something will come over me and it’ll all go down the way it’s meant to, and that’s what I’ll record.
With this song, it actually did occur to me that it was unsettling, and I found that exciting.
Was there a particular scene, memory, or person that stayed in your mind throughout the writing process, even if it never made it directly into the lyrics?
Oh okay, straight to the tea! I mean… yes.
This first chapter of my story as an artist really follows an old relationship. Every song, in one way or another, is about that same story. It’s a very star-crossed, huge-heartbreak, to-the-death story that I’ll probably never truly quite get over.
I think the Whiteheart line is probably a good one to point out as something specific. There’s a bar in the city that I’d always venture to with the same person. We’d start our nights there and then end up at 100 different other places. I’ve not been back there since, to be honest. I’ve been in the vicinity of it, but I’ve never gone back. Same with the other bars from that time.
Usually though, I will say that if I am dying to say something in the lyrics that is true to the story, I will move heaven and earth to get it in there. So you’ll generally know from the lyrics—I don’t shy away from it.
What part of this song do you think listeners are most likely to misunderstand on a first listen?
You know, I generally leave it up to the listener to take what they want to take from each of my songs and have it mean something to them in their own way. I try not to correct or influence them on the lyrics.
I suppose something that can be misunderstood from my personal perspective is the intention behind the lyric, “this is how you die.” I’m not, in the literal sense, saying someone is going to “die.” It is a metaphor. Death is something I talk about a lot in my songs, and sometimes it is a double entendre or a metaphor for something else.
Every release teaches an artist something. What did Belladonna (This Is How You Die) teach you about yourself as a songwriter?
To be bold, to be brave, to be myself and to speak up. Belladonna taught me I should say it with my whole chest and stand on it, consequences be damned.
I tend to internalise my emotions a lot. For someone who talks as much as I do, I don’t really get into my emotions. That’s what all my songs give me—they give me the cathartic space to be honest and the solace that comes with that.
If you could sit in a room and watch people react to one line from the song for the first time, which line would you choose and why?
Depends on the people in the room at the time…
Some people might hear the lines in the second verse about Whiteheart and think, oh, she didn’t… And that would honestly be a lot of fun for me. I’m not even going to lie.
The most memorable songs often come from taking creative risks. What was the biggest risk you took with this release?
This whole release and concept was a risk. I was very truthful and specific with the subject matter, for one.
But also, Belladonna needed to be its own thing. It’s not a conventional pop song. I lean into some pretty dark themes and dramatic imagery. My influences come from everywhere—grunge, rock, pop, film, fashion and pop culture—and Belladonna embraces all of that in one song rather than just choosing one lane.
I guess it would’ve been easier to release something “safer,” but this is who I am as an artist and I’m inviting people into my world. I didn’t dilute it to fit expectations, and I truly believe the right audience will connect with it.
How do you know when a song is emotionally honest enough to share with the world rather than just keep for yourself?
You know, that is a good question.
I always forget that I’m releasing these things into the world, so I always get this wave of anxiety before releasing, like I’m letting people into my diary or something.
But then I think, well, if I’m feeling like this, then maybe that’s something other people can see in themselves too. My experience might be personal, but the emotion is universal. I think once you have a song that can stand on its own and also invite other people into the feeling, it should be shared.
If someone discovers your music through Belladonna (This Is How You Die), what do you hope they understand about Sasha Summers before the song ends?
That I’m not really interested in following a formula and that my music is about creating a world, not just releasing songs.
That I am an artist who loves to embrace contrasts. Belladonna lives in this space of darkness and glamour, vulnerability and strength, and also grit and beauty.
So if someone finishes Belladonna and they want to step further into my world, then I’ve done my job.
What excites you most about where your music is heading right now that fans haven’t seen yet?
Sorry, firstly… “fans”? Me?! My 15-year-old self would sob hearing that, let me tell you.
I will say that I am very excited for fans to realise that these songs aren’t just isolated moments in time. With every release, people will begin to put together little connections between the songs, stories and themes.
Right now, they’re just getting to know me and seeing the beginning of the picture. I’m just so excited to invite them deeper into my world.
