Sara Shafey: Route 25
Sarah Shafey Leaves the Familiar Behind on “Route 25”
by Jack Rush
There is a specific kind of freedom that comes from realizing you no longer have to stay where you are. Sarah Shafey captures that moment on “Route 25,” transforming a cross-country move into an atmospheric reflection on independence, intuition, and starting over.
The alternative-pop single draws from Sarah Shafey’s journey from Toronto to Los Angeles, but the distance between the two cities is only part of the story. “Route 25” is more interested in what happens internally when someone decides to leave familiarity behind and trust where they are headed, even without knowing exactly what waits on the other side.
The production gives that idea room to breathe. A steady late-night pulse runs beneath expansive vocal melodies, while warmer, sun-drenched elements pull the track toward the West Coast. There is something distinctly cinematic about it, but Sarah Shafey avoids making the move feel like an effortless Hollywood reinvention. The song recognizes that freedom can arrive alongside uncertainty.
That tension is where “Route 25” finds its strength. Sarah Shafey writes from the perspective of someone learning to become her own anchor rather than searching for stability in a place, person, or previous version of herself. The road becomes less about escape and more about consciously deciding what gets carried forward.
“Route 25” also opens the door to Sarah Shafey’s upcoming album, By Design, expected in 2027. Created with Grammy-winning producer Tristan Boston, the record will move through alternative rock, pop-rock, grunge, and R&B-infused rock as Sarah Shafey explores a more self-directed chapter of her artistry.
Sometimes the biggest change is simply deciding to go. On “Route 25,” Sarah Shafey sounds like she already has the keys in the ignition.
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