Saila makes a truly infectious debut with her new hyper-pop single “So Far”

When UK-based Sara Strudwick wrote her song “So Far” four months ago, she didn’t intend to release the passion project. Shimmering with its assortment of sparkling synthesizers and vibrant lyrics, the track was intended to be nothing more than a therapeutic open letter from Strudwick to herself. "'So Far' was me having a conversation with myself earlier this year when I was really lost and unsure. I needed a reminder to be kind to myself, to recognise how far I’ve come, to be brave and keep going,” Strudwick said about the song.

Still, after months of revisiting the track in an attempt to feel uplifted by its redemptive lyrics, she eventually decided that it was something the world might need too. That’s how the unexpected creation of Salia came to be. “I didn’t write 'So Far' thinking it would be my first single, but the year went on and I found myself going back to that song for support again and again. I think a lot of people feel the way I felt, and maybe they need to hear the same words I did, so here we are!”

Influenced by the nostalgic sounds of ‘70s city pop, the introduction to Saila's vibrant hyper-pop world begins with her earnest debut single “So Far”. Self-produced by Saila, the track is made up of sweet synthesizers, rhythmic drum machines, and silky harmonies, all wrapped up in a kitschy pink bow. The track twinkles with a unique youthful exuberance, which gives it an edge like the voices of Weyes Blood or Magdalena Bay, and it is so catchy that it feels impossible to avoid at least a few back-to-back replays.

Reminiscent of acts like XG, K-pop five-piece NewJeans, and the bedroom pop foundations of PinkPantheress, Saila is proving early on in her career to be an artist to watch in the contemporary pop scene. While this is her first release as an independent artist, Saila has already made waves in the music scene as a writer, and even recently had a song commissioned for the new Marvel movie Eternals. From dream worlds to dream pop singles, Saila can do it all.