After years of fearlessly wandering through experimental rock, jazz, and unconventional vocal music, Chicago-based singer-songwriter Sacha Mullin takes a more direct pop turn on Social Touch. Produced by William Parker Wood, his fourth solo album finds the award-winning vocalist trading in intricate musical detours for a warmer, more immediate sound without sacrificing the emotional depth and meticulous craftsmanship that have defined his career. Think art-pop sophistication with a deeply human pulse.
“Joy” makes for an inviting glimpse into Mullin’s expressive world. His tender, lush voice carries a molten emotional sensitivity, gliding over splashing cymbals and a brooding, deep bass line. There’s a beautiful tension between the softness of his delivery and the weight simmering beneath the instrumentation, giving the track a bittersweet richness that feels intimate without becoming overly sentimental. Mullin knows how to make vulnerability sound genuinely compelling.
The title track, “Social Touch,” takes a more hypnotic route. Warm, fluid layers of sound shimmer through a floating haze while Mullin’s vocals drift effortlessly above them. It’s intoxicating stuff, balancing a relaxed, almost dreamlike atmosphere with a melody catchy enough to stick around after the music fades. The song’s understated charm sneaks up on you, making its gentle groove all the more addictive.
Meanwhile, bonus track “Tall Ask” offers another showcase for Mullin’s vocal finesse. Singing with a soothing, harmonious warmth over rumbling drums, he sounds completely immersed in the emotional heart of the performance. His voice does the heavy lifting, wrapping each phrase in an almost honeyed tenderness.
Across Social Touch, Mullin demonstrates that embracing pop accessibility doesn’t mean playing it safe. Drawing on his eclectic background while keeping his songwriting front and centre, he delivers a record that’s warm, thoughtful, and quietly adventurous. It’s a welcome new chapter from an artist whose distinctive voice deserves a much bigger spotlight.
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Photo credits: Michael Izquiero, @izqueerdo
Review by: Naomi Joan