In 2023, Sally Shapiro released a gorgeous cover of the Pet Shop Boys song “Rent.” I came across the song a few months after its release and it quickly became a favorite. It turned up in a lot of my DJ sets beginning in early ’24 and people would often ask, “Who does this cover?” I’m mentioning this now because Sally Shapiro just released their fifth full-length album, Ready to Live a Lie. Yes, “Rent” is on it, but so are ten equally compelling songs. 

Hear Sally Shapiro’s cover of the Pet Shop Boys song “Rent” on the Beatique Mix for May, 2025.

A Swedish duo consisting of the pseudonymous singer Sally Shapiro and musician Johan Agebjörn, they first cultivated a cult following in the heyday of MP3 blogs. Pitchfork loved Sally Shapiro, which actually meant something at the time, but, I think their sound was a little too sublime to really catch on in the midst of what is now known as the indie sleaze era. Theirs was, and remains, a sound that’s closer to Saint Etienne and Dot Allison— a dreamier, more pensive style of dance music that I always wished was more popular— than Princess Superstar and Uffie. Regardless, Sally Shapiro released three full-length albums between the mid-‘00s and early-‘10s (Disco Romance, My Guilty Pleasure and Somewhere Else), called it quits the year that David Bowie died and the whole world slipped into some bizarro dimension, then reconvened and released the terrific post-pandemic album, Sad Cities, on Italians Do It Better.

Five songs from Reason to Live a Lie were available prior to the album’s release, including “Purple Colored Sky,” which was featured on Italians Do It Better’s 2022 compilation, After Dark 4. On Thursday afternoon, I dropped into Sally Shapiro’s Bandcamp listening party to hear Reasons to Live a Lie in full for the first time. This was the ideal first listen because the duo were in the room sharing their insights (and favorite songs from other artists). But, also, it was very cool to see comments from other fans referencing the same artists I associate with Sally Shapiro. (I guess I’m not the only one who thinks of Clio and Saint Etienne.) Plus, others made references that hadn’t crossed my mind, but totally make sense. (Sandra!) I was already planning to buy the album, but the listening party prompted to make the purchase as soon as it was available on Bandcamp later Thursday night. 

From the get-go, Sally Shapiro has been associated with Italo disco revival, but I think it’s important to note that their sound is closer to the sad side of the genre. Think of songs like Clio “Faces,” Valerie Dore “The Night” or Savage “Don’t Cry Tonight.” It’s a very specific sound that captures a very specific mood, the one where you’re compelled to dance off your angst. I suspect that’s why their cover of “Rent” resonates with people. Pet Shop Boys were also influenced by Italo (their Back to Mine comp includes Savage, Mr. Flagio *and* Klein + M. B.O.) and their lyrics can be really dark. Sally Shapiro pulls out the complicated emotions tangled up in the song. 

But, the other thing about Sally Shapiro is that they aren’t an Italo throwback. (Read this post from Agebjörn related to their debut album for context.) Disco Romance had a strong Italo influence, but also reflected what was happening on the indie/underground side of dance music in the ’00s. Sophomore album, My Guilty Pleasure, has more of a house feel to it. And, overall, Sally Shapiro albums continue to sound contemporary.

Ultimately, Ready to Live a Lie is an indie pop album with a dance floor-friendly core. Its housiest moments, like “Hospital” and “Oh Carrie,” are still driven by solid songwriting. While there always seems to be at least a tinge of sorrow in Sally’s voice, it’s usually tempered by energetic dance beats. On some songs, like “Hard to Love” and “Purple Colored Sky,” we’re talking hands-in-the-air energy, which is a fantastic juxtaposition for the lyrics. Yet, even the album’s slow jam, the saxxy “Happier Somewhere Else,” slaps. (Sophisti-pop fans, you will love this one.) 

As for the Italo moments, those are scattered throughout the album, most prominently on “Guarding Shell,” which is accompanied by a lovely video made of footage from the anime 5 Centimeters Per Second, and “Did You Call Tonight.” 

The album’s closer, “Rain,” is a piano ballad that brings the melancholy lurking in the dance songs to the forefront. The song fades out with the patter of rain, which, frankly, is a perfectly gloomy conclusion for the album. 

Get Ready to Live a Lie by Sally Shapiro. 

Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs or listen to the latest Beatique Mix. Follow on Instagram  or Bluesky for more updates.

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