I don’t even know how to put into words what Laura Sawosko’s new album Not What I Do means to me, but I’m going to try — because this record deserves to be shouted about from the rooftops.
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From the very first listen, it felt like Laura had somehow found a way to write songs pulled straight from my own heart. Her voice — rich, warm, and just a little bit weathered in the most beautiful way — has this honesty to it that you don’t hear very often anymore. Listening to her sing is like having your best friend sit you down, look you straight in the eyes, and say, “I see you. I get it.”
The first track, “You Just Being You,” made me tear up almost immediately. It’s a reminder that just being yourself is enough — something I think so many of us need to hear more often. And then “Biscuits and Gravy” hit, and suddenly I was laughing through my tears. Only Laura could make a song about comfort food feel like an anthem for finding joy in the little things when everything else feels overwhelming.
But it was “College Days” that completely wrecked me (in the best way). The memories it brought back — of who I used to be, the choices I made, the lessons I learned — it was like Laura had lived those moments alongside me. And when I watched the music video? Forget it. I was an absolute mess (and immediately texted it to my old college roommate like, “We NEED to listen to this together.”)
There’s something so brave about the way she writes. Songs like “Home” and “Not Your Reason” are heartbreakingly honest without ever feeling self-pitying. Instead, they feel strong — like gentle, steady hands reaching out to lift you up when you’re at your lowest.
The title track, “Not What I Do,” just wrecked me in the best way. It’s the anthem I didn’t know I needed — a firm, loving reminder that I don’t have to fit into anyone else’s box. That my mistakes don’t define me. That I get to write my own story. I’ve replayed that song so many times already, and every time, it feels like I’m hearing it for the first time.
What’s even more amazing is knowing that Laura isn’t just singing from imagination. She’s lived a life full of highs and lows, victories and heartbreaks, and she pours every ounce of it into this album. Her journey — as a musician, as an advocate, as someone who’s worked through her own struggles — gives these songs a depth that you feel even if you don’t know the full backstory.
Not What I Do isn’t just an album. It’s a companion. It’s a warm blanket for the soul. It’s a quiet revolution for anyone who’s ever felt lost and needed a light to find their way home again.
Thank you, Laura. Thank you for making music like this. I’ll be carrying these songs with me for a very long time.
Heather Savage