Offie Mag

Devon-born singer, songwriter and jazz pianist Saskia returns with ‘If I’m Alive’. Written during a period of creative blockage, the track leans into a moment most people recognise: saying something you don’t mean and having to sit with the fallout.

Saskia has previously described herself as a “happy girl making sad music,” and it’s a line that continues to hold. Her music feels like a private space, somewhere she can articulate the thoughts that might otherwise go unsaid.

You can hear her jazz background in the music she creates, there’s so much weight behind every chord, you can feel the emotion in it. It’s these rich chords and textured rhythmic elements that create something that feels genuinely distinct. Trying to describe her sound using typical genre stereotypes is reductive, you wouldn’t be able to get close.

I was lucky enough to catch Saskia at the Old Church in Stoke Newington, supporting Brighton's own Rian Brazil. An intimate setting, a fitting setting for music that feels this delicate. It’s nice to see how her music translates well live with just herself and her bass player, the crowd was engaged, maybe even entranced by what was being performed.

‘If I’m Alive’ feels like a natural next step for Saskia, continuing to lean into honesty without overcomplicating things. There’s a confidence in how she lets the music speak for itself, trusting the listener to meet her where she is. If this release is anything to go by, it feels like there’s a lot more still to come.

Words from Louis Rowland