Sad13's New Mixtape '1331' Shaped by Accident and Political Commentary
Sad13, the solo project of Speedy Ortiz leader Sadie Dupuis, is set to release a new mixtape titled `1331` on July 10 via Exploding In Sound. This collection marks Dupuis' first solo release since 2020 and features 13 hypershort songs, none exceeding two minutes. The creation of the mixtape was significantly influenced by a severe biking accident Dupuis experienced in June 2024, which shattered her elbow and altered her recording timeline. Themes on the project include local politics and social justice, alongside musical inspirations.
Sad13, the solo endeavor of Speedy Ortiz leader Sadie Dupuis, will release her new mixtape, `1331`, on July 10. The project, distributed by Exploding In Sound, is the third under the Sad13 moniker and her first solo release since 2020. It comprises 13 short songs, each ranging from 57 to 107 seconds, with none exceeding two minutes. The first three tracks — "I Am Now Completely Invisible," "Art Institute," and "Watermelon Manicure" — were released recently.
The creation of `1331` was profoundly impacted by a significant biking accident Dupuis suffered on June 10, 2024. The collision resulted in a shattered elbow on her fretting arm, a head injury, and various cuts. Dupuis noted that the incident occurred on a street where a doctor was later killed by a car, which she attributed to a decision by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker regarding bike infrastructure. This event and her existing criticisms of the mayor's policies, dubbed "Philly malarkey," inspired the song "People's Loser" on the mixtape.
Initially, Dupuis planned to record the material within weeks of finishing writing in May 2024. However, the injury necessitated extensive rehabilitation, transforming her recovery into a "full-time job" due to nerve damage. This forced a delay in recording until February of the following year, extending a process initially slated for a few weeks to span most of the year. Dupuis found that mentioning her inclusion on Rolling Stone's "250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list aided her navigation of the orthopedic medical system, granting her access to a premier orthopedic surgeon and physical therapy services for professional athletes.
The delayed recording timeline also allowed for a broader range of influences to shape the final product. Lyrically, `1331` captures Dupuis' mindset from spring 2024, addressing themes like Palestinian justice and trans rights, alongside musical inspirations from artists such as Liz Phair, Guided By Voices, experimental rapper Tierra Whack, Rebecca Black, and The Hard Quartet. Dupuis was unable to tour with Speedy Ortiz until fall 2024, supporting Silversun Pickups.
According to Billboard, the mixtape is a proudly DIY collection reflecting both personal adversity and broader social commentary.
