Questions about "Lessons Not Learned"

I'm sure that you're all huge fans of the latest EP from SARIKA, "Lessons Not Learned". I know that I can't stop listening to it. But whenever I find music I really enjoy, I want to learn all I can about it. I can only assume that you feel that way as well. Thankfully, SARIKA was willing to answer a few questions about the EP so we could all appreciate it even more.

Here's what she had to say!

What do you want listeners to know about EP?

The EP took over a year to record fully–we started in the fall of 2023 and finished just last month. I wrote the oldest song (“Something Blue”) in 2018 and the newest (“Paper Mind”) in 2024. It’s a pop EP overall, but there’s definitely a lot of different styles in there–”From Inside The House” has a very musical theater-y sound, “Paper Mind” draws from alt/indie rock influences, and “Nightrunner” is almost country pop (controversial take given people’s strong opinions on what is and isn’t country, but I’ve heard it from enough people that I don’t think it’s entirely off base). 

How did you come up with the name for the EP?

“Lessons Not Learned” is a lyric from “Nightrunner,” the last song on the EP. I chose it because when I was looking for a common thread between all of the songs, I realized they’re all kind of about either me being foolish or someone else being foolish: “New Spring” is partially about me being emotionally clumsy in a relationship and putting my foot in my mouth; “Something Blue” is about pining over a man who has moved on with someone else; “From Inside The House” is about hypocrites who lack self awareness; “Paper Mind” is about my tendency to put others on a pedestal and base my identity on them; “Everything’s On Fire” is a critique of people who only care about their immediate bubbles in the face of climate change and global turmoil; “Nightrunner” is about getting back with an ex multiple times. 

Do you have any favorite memories of the recording process?

Five friends came into the studio with me to record the gang vocals in the bridge of “From Inside The House.” It’s a home studio on the third floor of a house, it was the middle of the summer, and the AC was making noise so we had to turn it off while recording. We all got very sweaty and very close (literally and figuratively). I remember 

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I want to thank SARIKA for taking the time to share this look at her EP with us. 

Be sure to follow her on Instagram, and Spotify to be sure you won't miss anything (including her two most recent singles)! You'll also want to check out every other time SARIKA has appeared here on Section 36 Music!

Thanks again SARIKA!