Laura Sawosko Releases “Not What I Do” LP

With her latest release Not What I Do, Laura Sawosko cements her place as one of Americana’s most quietly compelling voices. Produced by Vaughn Lofstead at Smokehouse Studios, this twelve-track project deftly fuses classic Americana textures with modern country influences, offering a vivid portrait of resilience, transformation, and radical self-acceptance.

URL: https://www.laurasawosko.com/

The album opens with “You Just Being You,” a warm, mid-tempo celebration of unconditional love and individuality. Sawosko’s voice—earthy, textured, and refreshingly unvarnished—sets a tone of honesty that never wavers throughout the record. It’s immediately clear that Not What I Do is less concerned with polish and more focused on authenticity, an aesthetic choice that serves her storytelling instincts beautifully.

Humor and humanity intertwine seamlessly in “Biscuits and Gravy,” a track that could easily have tipped into novelty territory but instead becomes a meditation on the comfort of life’s simple pleasures. On “Rhinestones for Pearls,” Laura offers a metaphor-rich reflection on resilience and hidden strength, evoking the lyrical precision of artists like Lori McKenna and Patty Griffin without veering into mimicry.

Two of the album’s standout tracks, “College Days” and “Take My Hand,” showcase her cinematic scope. Each is supported by carefully crafted music videos that highlight Sawosko’s innate ability to translate deeply personal experiences into universally resonant narratives. “College Days” in particular feels like a memory made flesh, filled with the bittersweet ache of growing pains and youthful mistakes.

Elsewhere, songs like “Home” and “Not Your Reason” display a raw emotionality that few artists are willing to tap into. “Home” is a gentle, aching ballad that explores the complicated, often painful notions of belonging and return. Meanwhile, “Not Your Reason,” the album’s closer, delivers a quietly devastating conclusion: a declaration of autonomy and emotional boundary-setting rendered with heartbreaking simplicity.

What elevates Not What I Do is Laura’s ability to maintain thematic cohesion without sacrificing musical variety. Each song feels distinct yet interconnected, unified by her lyrical honesty and understated instrumentation. The arrangements—anchored by acoustic guitar, soft piano, and minimalistic percussion—leave room for her vocals to breathe, highlighting the nuances of her phrasing and emotional delivery.

Sawosko’s rich artistic background also informs the album’s layered storytelling. A music composition graduate, an LGBTQ advocate, and a seasoned live performer with past appearances at events like Lilith Fair, Laura brings a wealth of life experience to the table. Her identity is woven throughout the album without ever feeling performative or forced; it simply is, much like the album itself.

The title track, “Not What I Do,” serves as the album’s thesis statement. It is a fierce, clear-eyed rejection of reductive labels and societal expectations—a message that resonates across demographics and generations.

While Not What I Do will undoubtedly draw comparisons to luminaries like Brandi Carlile and Mary Chapin Carpenter, Laura Sawosko’s distinct voice—both literal and figurative—sets her apart. This album is more than a collection of songs; it’s a courageous act of self-definition, offered with both tenderness and strength.

In a crowded musical landscape, Not What I Do stands out for its authenticity, vulnerability, and elegant craftsmanship. Laura Sawosko has not only reclaimed her narrative—she’s rewritten the rules entirely.

Michael Rand