Colin 
Sakara steps forward with her new single ‘Sunflower’, out soon and rooted in friendship, resilience, and the uneven rhythm of your twenties. The track arrives as the second release leading toward her first EP. It follows a strong summer run that took her from Cambridge Folk Club’s annual folk day to a Glastonbury appearance on the Rumshack stage. That streak set the tone for this next phase, giving her return to recording a sense of momentum and clarity.
She first wrote ‘Sunflower’ in 2020 while sending sunflower seeds and cat photos to a friend. That small exchange sits at the heart of the song and shapes its emotional tone. You hear the warmth that comes from staying connected across distance. You also hear the tension that comes with trying to balance appreciation for your life with moments that fall short of what you hoped for. The contrast between expectation and reality sits in the foreground. Sakara’s writing tends to reflect experiences of self-worth, identity, disability, chronic illness, and relationships. These themes appear across her early work and give this new single a strong sense of continuity.
Her debut single ‘This is Reality’ introduced this perspective earlier in the year. It gained support from BBC Introducing in Cambridgeshire and Essex, Cambridge Radio, and Songs Behind the Music on Future Hits Radio. That track focused on the difference between the life you imagine and the one you build over time. ‘Sunflower’ holds that same thread but lets in more brightness. Gratitude and disappointment share the frame without competing. You follow someone trying to recognise the shape of their life while still holding space for hope.
The release of a ‘Live Version’ on YouTube opened the first window into the song. A full music video will land shortly after the track is out. This keeps the single connected to her performance energy, which grew sharply through her summer shows. It also reinforces her preference for music that feels open and personal rather than distant or polished toward perfection.
Renewal, closeness, and a gentle lift
Production comes from Francis Botcherby of Parliament of Wolves. His approach creates space for Sakara’s reflective tone, placing textured guitar layers around her voice and blending in harmonies with precision. Nothing interrupts the flow. Each choice serves the song’s emotional grounding, and every part feels intentional. This collaboration has become a strong constant in her work and continues to shape the way her releases land.
Sakara speaks openly about her connection to the song: “This song has a way of comforting me, not only as a reminder of my friend (whose cats I managed to name-drop!), but by saying there’s hope in times of loss and disappointment. At the end of that chorus I’m still dancing, still asking ‘will you shine for me’? And every year the Sunflowers come back and follow through.” That quote frames the core message. The track turns renewal into a quiet rhythm rather than a dramatic turning point.Sakara Sunflower
Based near Cambridge, she continues to shape a sound that mixes soft detail with understated confidence. This single strengthens that balance and marks meaningful growth as she moves toward her first EP.
Review
Sakara delivers a thoughtful performance on ‘Sunflower’, leaning into gentle guitar work and a vocal that stays close and steady. The harmonies rise in small waves, offering lift without weight. The song feels intimate from the first bar, and each choice keeps the focus on emotional clarity rather than scale.
The chorus leaves a strong impression. The repeated line “will you shine for me” lands with a quiet pull that fits the song’s message. Nothing feels overstated. The arrangement supports the writing without taking attention away from it. ‘Sunflower’ stands out as one of her most confident pieces so far and sets a promising direction for her upcoming EP.
You can follow Sakara over on Instagram.