EP Review: Joshua Bassett - Sad Songs In A Hotel Room
Sad Songs In A Hotel Room: sweet, sophisticated, and definitely sad.
By Raquel Lacusky
Photo: @joshuatbassett via Instagram
Joshua Bassett was on the receiving end of a wave of hate after public relationships with pop stars Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter. Now, after the release of his third EP, Sad Songs In A Hotel Room, will he finally escape the drama and call attention to his musical talents?
Sad Songs In A Hotel Room consists of six pop ballads that are easy on the ears and appeal to a large audience. The tracks are simplistic yet intriguing. The project chronicles Bassett’s struggles through heartbreak, health struggles, and his career.
The title track, Sad Songs In A Hotel Room, perfectly encompasses the project’s entirety. Lyrically the song utilizes distinctive imagery to paint a picture of what time spent in a hotel room was like for Bassett with a past lover compared to what it feels like now that he’s alone. Sonically, the song feels like a modern pop ballad fused with a classic 50s tune. Bassett talks about “singing sad songs in a hotel room,” making the listener feel like the songs they hear on the EP are the ones he could have sang in that hotel room.
Smoke Slow, a standout from the project, perfectly showcases Bassett’s storytelling and acoustic pop style. The song’s bridge picks up in energy, adding a nice contrast to the somber feel of other tracks on the project. Similarly, Used To It brings a beat into its chorus that breathes life into the EP, adding energy to the tracklist of sad material.
In contrast to Bassett’s other work, L.A. lacks the personal touch that usually connects listeners to his songwriting. The track quickly falls into the subgenre of songs about artists growing tired of Los Angeles. A message that needs a creative touch to stand out from its competitors; a creative touch that L.A. was lacking.
Lifeline, the crowning gem of Sad Songs In A Hotel Room, is one of Bassett’s most personal works to date. The song serves as a letter of gratitude addressed to Bassett’s mother during his time in the hospital after undergoing heart failure and septic shock. The song is reminiscent of Bassett’s 2021 track Set Me Free, in which the singer holds on to hope during times of trauma.
The EP ends on a lighter note with All In Due Time, in which Bassett dreams of a future where he finds peace in his past troubles contributing to the person he’s become. This message remains at the core of Sad Songs In A Hotel Room. Bassett continues to develop his cohesive acoustic pop sound while reflecting on how his past struggles have taught him lessons and brought him a sense of hope for what’s to come.
