Debut album from Sabrina Monique

New York City-based alternative pop artist Sabrina Monique has a story that’s as compelling as her musical output. From early days spent performing in her White Plains childhood home to becoming a rising act in New York’s music scene, Sabrina’s journey is defined by determination and an uncompromising drive for creative autonomy. Growing up with her single mother and grandparents, Sabrina became the family entertainer, using music and dance to bring light to a tense household atmosphere.

Even as a child, she sensed the power of performance, drawing joy from its ability to transform any space and in her teens, she took that passion to a larger stage, skipping school to audition in New York City. By seventeen, Sabrina made the leap to Midtown Manhattan, ready to chase her dreams amid the magic and grit of the city.

First breaking onto the scene in June 2021 with her debut single, “Monster in My Bed,” Sabrina has spent the last few years sharing her sound of alternative pop that pairs darkly reflective lyrics with catchy hooks and punchy beats. Her music has gained traction across outlets like American Songwriter Magazine, Wonderland and CLASH, among others and dhe’s also collaborated with producer Randy Merrill, known for his work with Harry Styles, Adele and Lady Gaga. Sabrina’s rise was further marked by her appearance on American Idol in 2020, where she showcased her incredible vocals and performance flair.

This year, Sabrina has been preparing for her biggest release yet; her debut album It’s Not Me It’s You. In the lead up to the album, she’s rolled out a trio of singles that offer a window into the world she’s built, each track drawing from her journey, challenges and strength. “I literally have scars from getting to where I am today,” she reveals, alluding to the obstacles she’s faced as a woman in the music industry. But those experiences have only fuelled her creative vision, “Now, I’m holding nothing back. I am naming names,” Sabrina says.

The opening song, “Me You and Your Ego” gets things started with a breezy indie pop jam where delicate acoustic guitar, softly clicking percussion and soulful vocal flows combine to deliver a smooth and instantly catchy sound. “My Drink” follows with a punchier electronic pop anthem where snapping beats and pulsing synth textures underpin her alluring vocal performance, resulting in a stunning outing brimming with infectious writing and enthralling attitude-tinged voacls.

With “Run Back,” bouncy rhythmic energy and rich vocal leads deliver the perfect dose of Sabrina’s dance-focused sound with bold bass lines and grooving beats met with R&B inflected melodic writing. Lead single “It Was Always You” delivers instantly grooving reggae style rhythms that glides through moments of dark and dreamy aesthetic before an anthemic chorus that’s danceable and memorable in equal measure.

“Rather Be Lonely” showcases Sabrina’s tender songwriting framed by the steady thump of the beat to cast a captivating dance pop cut full of silky vocal lines and shimmering instrumentation. Closing the album with “The Epilogue,” deep bass textures and the rattle of percussion is contrasted by her dazzling voice and gentle tones of guitar before the strike of drums brings in a burst of lofty alternative pop bliss to offer the perfect finale to her sensational debut record.

Listen to It’s Not Me It’s You below