Sarah Shafey Turns Grunge Into a Weapon Against Toxic Beauty Standards

Award-winning Canadian Egyptian artist and producer Sarah Shafey has kicked the door down on the tired "princess in need of rescuing" trope with her new album, The Paper Bag Princess. Drawing inspiration from Robert Munsch's groundbreaking 1980 children's book, Shafey flips the narrative, embracing grunge's raw edge to explore agency, authenticity, and rebellion against societal expectations.

"I can't stand the idea that women have to conform to certain standards to be considered attractive or feminine," Shafey says. "This album is a rebellion against those toxic messages that have been fed to us our whole lives."

Across eight tracks, Shafey brings 90s-inspired grit to modern feminist storytelling. The title track is a cathartic, politically charged anthem, layering distorted guitars and powerhouse drums beneath fearless lyrics.

Tracks like "New World Disorder" channel punk ferocity, while "The Fame Game" tucks pop hooks into grunge textures. Ballads such as "Wake Up Your Heart" and the cinematic closer "Come Over" showcase her ability to pivot from snarling commentary to poignant vulnerability without losing cohesion.

Co-written with Jess Boomen, co-produced with Kyle Ashbourne, and featuring contributions from top Canadian musicians, the album thrives on collaboration while keeping Shafey's vision front and center. The result is an immersive collection that dismantles damaging beauty standards, celebrates women's strength, and offers listeners a jolt of empowerment.

With The Paper Bag Princess, Sarah Shafey cements herself as a fearless voice in alt-rock, one unafraid to mix vulnerability with ferocity. Keep an eye on her website for upcoming LA shows and future releases.

How did The Paper Bag Princess, a children's book, influence your vision for this album?

The children's book "The Paper Bag Princess" profoundly influenced my album's vision by inspiring a lyrical journey of self-worth and autonomy, much like how the book empowers young girls to challenge traditional princess narratives. The album embraces this spirit of independence, using a seemingly simple concept to explore complex themes of reclaiming one's power and rejecting conventional fairy-tale endings.

Why did you choose grunge as the primary sound for such a personal and political record?

I chose grunge because it is the most natural form of musical expression for me, and the genre where I feel I can express myself most freely. It is my favorite style to play and sing. It also gave me the chance to challenge myself to get away from the piano and rip it on the rhythm guitar.

The title track feels particularly charged. What emotions were you channeling during its creation?

It's that moment when someone builds an entire fictional character of you based on your online presence, and then you show up in real life, not meeting their dainty, carefully curated expectations. They get mad, and you're just like, 'Yeah, no. Get outta here with that nonsense.'

How do you balance vulnerability and empowerment in your songwriting?

Balancing vulnerability and empowerment comes naturally to me, as I try to embrace both the feminine and masculine energies within myself in my day-to-day. My songwriting reflects this yin and yang, showcasing the art of being in both states and trying to see life from different perspectives.

What can fans expect from your upcoming live shows in LA?

I've been playing my new album in two different ways, and I plan on doing both for my LA shows. You can expect a whole lot of noise and fun with a high-energy rock set, and I'll also perform an alternative, stripped-down version of the album on other nights as a singer-songwriter on the piano. I can't wait for the fun to begin!