5 Reasons You Should Listen to 'Do You Like Me Now?' by Sakai
- Louise Clark
- Aug 3
- 2 min read
For a debut release, Do You Like Me Now? arrives with remarkable confidence. Across just four tracks, San Francisco alt rock and indie soul outfit Sakai deliver a richly textured collection of songs that explores vulnerability, identity and emotional contradiction through ambitious songwriting and striking musicianship. Blending indie rock with soul, jazz, blues, funk and traditional Japanese influences, the EP never settles for the familiar, offering listeners an experience that rewards both immediate emotional connection and repeated listening. Here are five reasons why Do You Like Me Now? deserves your attention.
1. It refuses to be confined by genre
At its heart, Do You Like Me Now? is an alternative rock record, but its musical vocabulary stretches much further. Soulful vocal performances sit alongside jazz inspired arrangements, blues textures, funk rhythms and subtle elements of traditional Japanese music. Rather than feeling like a patchwork of influences, the EP creates a cohesive sound that feels entirely its own.
2. The songwriting is emotionally fearless
Whether confronting existential anxiety on "Out", exploring the physical weight of longing on "Wanted", or unpacking people pleasing and fractured identity on the title track, Marié Sakai writes with remarkable honesty. These songs embrace emotional complexity without offering easy resolutions, making them deeply relatable for anyone navigating uncertainty, grief or self discovery.
3. "Orange Tree" is one of the year's most distinctive songs
Inspired by an eighth century Japanese poem and shaped by a shamisen and koto recital in San Francisco, "Orange Tree" stands apart through both its concept and execution. Built around the traditional Hirajoshi scale and featuring Marié Sakai's return to the flute, the song gracefully bridges literary inspiration, cultural heritage and contemporary alternative songwriting into something quietly unforgettable.
4. Every member of the band leaves a lasting impression
Although Marié Sakai's songwriting provides the emotional foundation, this is unmistakably a collaborative record. Audie Bethea's expressive guitar work, Brendon Daugherty's fluid basslines, Caroline Carter's dynamic drumming and Ryan DiCenzo's elegant keyboard arrangements all contribute to an EP that feels rich, organic and fully realised. Every performance serves the songs without ever overshadowing them.
5. It is an exciting introduction to a band with genuine artistic ambition
Recorded at Tiny Telephone Recording in Oakland and Women's Audio Mission in San Francisco, and brought together through Danielle Goldsmith's intimate production and Amar Lal's mastering, Do You Like Me Now? is more than a promising debut. It establishes Sakai as a band unafraid to embrace vulnerability, draw from diverse musical traditions and prioritise emotional truth over convention. In an increasingly crowded alternative landscape, that willingness to take creative risks makes this a debut well worth discovering.
