Laura Sawosko “Not What I Do” LP

Laura Sawosko isn’t here for the smoke and mirrors. On Not What I Do, the Nashville singer-songwriter strips away any pretense, delivering a deeply personal collection of songs that feel like pages ripped straight from her diary. It’s a record rooted in Americana, but with the kind of storytelling that transcends genre—think Brandi Carlile’s raw emotional weight mixed with the sharp lyrical wit of Kacey Musgraves.

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/laura-sawosko

For Sawosko, who’s been hustling in the industry since her days playing keys for Surrender Dorothy (yeah, she was on the 1999 Lilith Fair bill!), Not What I Do feels like an arrival. It’s her sixth album, and by far her most introspective. Across twelve tracks, she unpacks love, loss, identity, and the kind of personal growth that only comes after years of hard-earned lessons. But don’t expect a collection of only moody ballads—there’s humor, warmth, and the kind of lyrical detail that turns a simple moment into something cinematic.

She kicks things off with “You Just Being You,” an easygoing, feel-good anthem about self-acceptance that lands somewhere between Sheryl Crow and Maren Morris. Then comes “Biscuits and Gravy,” a track that could have been a kitschy country cliché in someone else’s hands, but here, it’s a bittersweet meditation on nostalgia. “Rhinestones for Pearls” digs even deeper, reflecting on the trade-offs that come with growing up, while “Your Little Wings” channels the heart-wrenching beauty of a Patty Griffin acoustic set.

One of the standout moments is “College Days,” a track that perfectly captures the reckless freedom of young adulthood—imagine if Phoebe Bridgers took a detour into country-folk, and you’re close. Then there’s “Take My Hand,” a quiet yet powerful anthem about resilience, and watching a beloved parent grow old. It’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you, understated yet deeply affecting.

The title track, “Not What I Do,” is perhaps the most defining moment of the album. It’s a raw, confessional piece about breaking out of the boxes the world tries to put you in, delivered with an aching honesty that recalls the best of Lori McKenna. Sawosko’s voice—unpolished, unpretentious, and all the more powerful for it—makes every word hit a little harder.

Produced by Vaughn Loftstead at Smokehouse Studios, the album’s sound is as organic as its stories. Acoustic guitars, piano, and stripped-down arrangements let the lyrics take center stage. It’s an album that feels lived-in, like an old denim jacket that somehow fits better with time.

APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/laura-sawosko/4420275

Sawosko closes things out with “Not Your Reason,” a parting shot of self-worth and quiet defiance. It’s the kind of closing track that doesn’t just wrap things up—it lingers, echoing in your head long after the last note fades.

In a time when pop-country often leans toward overproduction and empty buzzwords, Not What I Do is a reminder of what makes the genre great: storytelling that hits you in the gut. Sawosko may not be a household name yet, but with an album like this, she damn well should be.

Mark Druery