There is something quietly captivating about a debut that knows exactly what it wants to say. On Do You Like Me Now?, San Francisco alternative rock and indie soul outfit Sakai deliver four songs that are emotionally rich, musically adventurous and deeply human. Blending indie rock with soul, jazz, blues, funk and traditional Japanese influences, the band’s first EP arrives as a thoughtful exploration of vulnerability, longing and identity. Today, Music Crowns is proud to premiere Do You Like Me Now?, introducing one of the most compelling new voices emerging from the Bay Area’s independent music scene.
Formed in 2025, Sakai has steadily built momentum through a growing reputation on stage, performing across both coasts before unveiling debut single “Out” earlier this year. The band, comprising songwriter and vocalist Marié Sakai, guitarist Audie Bethea, bassist Brendon Daugherty, drummer Caroline Carter and keyboardist Ryan DiCenzo, has developed a sound that refuses easy categorisation. Rather than treating their influences as separate ingredients, they weave together alternative rock, soulful melodies, jazz informed arrangements and subtle nods to Japanese musical traditions into a sound that feels remarkably cohesive.
The EP’s emotional centre arrives in the form of “Orange Tree”, inspired by an eighth century Japanese poem and Marié Sakai’s experience attending a shamisen and koto recital in San Francisco. Built around the Hirajoshi scale and featuring Marié’s return to the flute, the song reflects on the impermanence of love with striking elegance. Elsewhere, lead single “Out” captures the exhausting cycle of existential anxiety and avoidance, while “Wanted” channels emotional longing into one of the EP’s most intimate moments, elevated by Conner Currie’s beautifully restrained guitar harmonics. Closing track “Do You Like Me Now?” examines people pleasing and fractured identity, building towards a stirring piano finale that perfectly mirrors the emotional release at the heart of the record.
Recorded between Tiny Telephone Recording in Oakland and Women’s Audio Mission in San Francisco, the EP benefits from Danielle Goldsmith’s spacious engineering and mix, with mastering by Amar Lal of Macro Sound preserving both intimacy and dynamic range. Every detail feels intentional, from the layered arrangements to Colleen Phan-Eversman’s understated artwork, resulting in a debut that values emotional authenticity over polished perfection. It is a record that rewards close listening, revealing new textures and lyrical nuances with every return.
Reflecting on the release, Marié Sakai describes sharing the EP as “a vulnerable thing… It’s a delicate dance.” That sentiment echoes throughout the project. These songs never attempt to hide behind metaphor or production, instead inviting listeners into moments of uncertainty, reflection and hope with remarkable openness. The collaborative spirit is equally evident, with every member of the band leaving a distinct imprint on the music while serving the emotional core of each composition.
For fans of Florence + The Machine, Amy Winehouse, Hozier and Radiohead, Do You Like Me Now? offers something both familiar and refreshingly individual. It is a debut defined not by genre, but by sincerity, craftsmanship and fearless songwriting. As Sakai take their first major step onto the alternative music landscape, Music Crowns is delighted to premiere a release that feels destined to resonate far beyond its four tracks.
