Along the winding way of life, it’s always important to pause for contemplation. While Sadie Tucker, a senior at Tahoe Expedition Academy, recently completed the stressful process of college applications, she somehow found time to write and record a beautiful second album of original music.
“Reflections” captures a moment in time for the 17-year-old Truckee artist as she explores the complexity of relationships and her own coming of age. Tucker has been composing songs since sixth grade after being inspired by her elementary school music teacher, Emily Tessmer.
“Throughout the years, I’ve found that it’s really important to find a balance. I’ve had a lot of issues with being too hard on myself and taking on too much. I’ve learned to give myself space to reflect separately, so I don’t have to put it on someone else.” –Sadie Tucker
“It’s something that’s important for me because it’s a way to process emotions and situations,” she says. “I wanted to make an album to share that with other people. These songs are very personal. It’s completely me. You never know who else has had experiences like yours unless you record it and share it. Then they can take it their own way.”
Listen to “Wicked Game”
The album was recorded at Tessmer’s home studio in the tiny town of Pioneer along Route 88 in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
“She’s taught me a lot,” says Tucker of her mentor. “She is passionate about what she does. It was important for her because when she started out as a woman in the music industry, she did not have a good experience. She really didn’t want me to have that, so she offered to help and produce everything.”
In addition to engineering the album, Tessmer played keyboards and recruited a lineup of seasoned pros to join the effort including Government Mule bassist Jorgen Carlsson, guitarist Toshi Yanagi of Jimmy Kimmel’s house band, and drummer George Bernardo who played with Chuck Berry, The Drifters, The Coasters and Bo Diddly to name a few.
The result is a polished blend of new-age soft rock and folk rock confessional. It begins with “Road Not Taken” about Tucker’s journey of growing into the confident, compassionate person she is today.
“Throughout the years, I’ve found that it’s really important to find a balance,” she says. “I’ve had a lot of issues with being too hard on myself and taking on too much. I’ve learned to give myself space to reflect separately, so I don’t have to put it on someone else. I think these songs helped me to become more mature and self-aware.”
Many of the songs were inspired by Tucker dealing with the ups and downs of her closest relationships, including her parents, grandparents, boyfriend and, mostly importantly, herself. She wrote “Sweet Surrender” at a singer-songwriter camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.
“It’s about my boyfriend, but subconsciously, it’s really more about me,” she says. “It’s a message to him, but also a message to myself.”
Tucker delivers a gorgeous cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” before she explores the intricacies of love and miscommunication on “Get on Without You” and “Is It Really Over.”
“I’m a very indecisive person,” she says. “I’ve had a trouble with friends in the past and I know I deserve better than that. I used to let people constantly unload on me and get nothing in return. I’m still learning to ask for it back. I don’t need to be your therapist. I need space to figure out my own issues. I think I’ve done a better job to ask for that space and respect those boundaries I’m putting up.”
“Part of Me” was written for one of her biggest supporters: her mom.
“She and I had just gotten into a fight,” says Tucker. “She left to go to dinner with my dad. I think by then all my anger had gone. I’m leaving for college soon and that’s been really hard on both of us. It reflects on our relationship, but it’s a self-reflection, too.”
She wrote album closer “Fly” for her grandfather’s 80th birthday as a tribute to his unending devotion and support.
“He’s always been there for me, so I wanted to do something special for him,” she says.
In the end, “Reflections” provides a moody and introspective follow-up to the more straightforward emo folk of Tucker’s 2019 debut, “Off the Tracks.”
“I think my songs have grown in the style,” she says. “I strayed from my comfort zone. I played with a different feel. I think my songwriting skills have progressed. It’s not just me saying something and leaving it. I wrote it, I reflected. I took more time lyrically on this second album.”
You can listen to Sadie Tucker’s music on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms.
