Review: "Pavement" - Sloan Treacy
- Azalea Withrow
- Jul 25
- 2 min read
Sloan Treacy states that she hadn't actually realized what "Pavement" was about until halfway through writing it. By then, she had become aware that the song serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of sacrificing one's own life for people-pleasing. The lyric, "all the streets just look the same when you're staring at the floor. I know it's hard to catch a break, always knocking on people's doors," precisely depicts someone shrinking themselves by looking down at the floor and, in turn, missing out on what's happening in front of them. Treacy's single "Pavement" off of her new EP was any of it real? begs listeners to evaluate who they are when they're not acting to please someone else.
Starting the song off is a soft, rhythmic guitar blend with a juxtaposing synth-driven instrumental, eventually transitioning to subtle backing drums, which allow Treacy's indie singing style and transporting, breathy voice to unfold. Treacy worked with producer Don Miggs and Grammy-nominated mixer Mark Needham on her second EP, further curating her sound. Her stacked vocals throughout the tune display her vocal ability and range. Treacy's authentic singing and songwriting in "Pavement" create a track evoking the sensation of running through an open field, letting yourself dance freely without care. Coming at a time when twenty-first century cringe-culture holds young people back from taking risks, Treacy is putting out original music and encouraging reflection on people pleasing.
Sloan Treacy, only sixteen, has been drawn to music since a very young age. She credits her father with teaching her how to play guitar. They sometimes work together as Sloan writes lyrics over an instrumental basis her dad comes up with on the guitar. Treacy's new EP was any of it real? was recorded in both Los Angeles and Nashville, near her home of Franklin, TN. Treacy accredits taking some of her musical inspiration from the versatile music of artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Stevie Nicks. She describes her "emotional lyrics and ... raw acoustic guitar sound" to be the "perfect backdrop for a late-night drive with the windows down."
Written By Azalea Withrow
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