Issues. Sandy

For once, I'm going to be very direct in the first sentence: no, Issues is not an earth shattering debut album. With that out of me and to prevent disappointment at the end, I urge you to read on, as Issues is worthwhile learning about. why?

Sandy (Skye Netburn) is an 18 year old singer-songwriter from somewhere on Long Island who released her debut album Issues last month. I caught on a little belatedly because of the single 'I've Got Issues' that was on my singles list to listen to, and running about a month behind. It caught my ear immediately for three reasons. Of course, the song itself struck a chord. Besides that, two names popped up: Karen Jonas and Melanie (Safka). After listening to the song I could not get 'Oklahoma Lottery' and 'Beautiful People' out of my head for days. The firmness in her voice did the rest.

These comparisons are with me again while listening to Issues. Sandy dared to release a record with just her on it. With her voice that sounds like it has been around for a few centuries instead of 18 years and her acoustic guitar. It is all that Sandy needs to make a huge impression or perhaps she is because of this setting. Just listen to that voice and you know you are encountering the real and rough deal.

Musically, you can hear her play in a style like Nancy Wilson and Richie Havens, finger picking, arpeggios and heavy chords, it is all in there on Issues. It seems a very conscious choice to release this album as just Sandy. To me it seems like a very good choice. If anything in my lifetime, Issues reminds me of another great debut album, Steve Forbert's 'Alive On Arrival'. Despite this is a full band album, the impact on me is the same. Perhaps, this is what people older than me experienced when they listened to Bob Dylan for the first time.

I will protect Sandy from calling her the new Bob Dylan. Besides, it is a remark that doesn't make sense any more in 2025. She is Sandy and fits in quite nicely in a long line of folk inspired singer-songwriters with stories to tell. Sandy is 18 but had she been 25, the impact of this album would have been the same. Issues may not be earth shattering, it is an impressive debut album.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Issues here:

https://sandyland.bandcamp.com/album/issues