Sarah Walk- With a distinct androgynous voice and a unique rhythmic piano playing style, Sarah’s music has been said to be “cynically optimistic and in your face lyrics with rock music, every bit as raw and passionate as one could hope.”
Interview conducted July 9, 2020
By Dan Locke
“I wanted to make a point early on with this record that there is a lot that women feel and experience outside of what exists in their romantic relationships” says singer-songwriter Sarah Walk, who has just announced her stunning sophomore album, Another Me coming out August 28 on One Little Indian Records. PopMatters premiered lead single “What Do I Want?”
What is your upbringing?
I was born in Chicago and moved to Minneapolis where I grew up from the age of 8. In college I spent a year at the University of Minnesota and then transferred to the Berklee College of Music in Boston where I got my degree. It was at Berklee where I really realized and began to believe that I could make a career out of songwriting.
How did you discover music?
I was lucky enough to grow up with a piano in the house, so some of my earliest memories are sitting at the piano making up songs. My parents have home video of my brother and me putting on performances where he is following the songs we’ve been learning in piano lessons note for note with wonderful posture, and then I sit down at the piano and just start banging away at the keys singing random made up lyrics. I was always much more interested in the process of creation and personal expression, even though I admired my brothers’ posture and playing!
How did you start to write music?
I’ve been writing music as long as I can remember. I used to go to piano lessons as a kid and spend the entire lesson making up songs in front of my teachers until my parents realized they probably didn’t need to be paying for that!
It wasn’t until my first heartbreak when I was 15 that I really understood the power of songwriting. That was the first time I wrote about my own experiences and saw how much my own stories could resonate with other people. For me it was twofold; I could let go of some of my heartbreak by sharing my songs, and I was also able to see others connect with my words in a really powerful way.
Do you remember how you got your first guitar?
I only began writing on the guitar in the last 7 or 8 years – piano was the first vessel for my writing. I remember going and buying my first keyboard (which I still use today and get a lot of shit for!) a Roland RD300sx. It’s insanely heavy for a gigging keyboard and way too big but I just can’t quit it – We’ve been through it all together!
I bought my acoustic guitar through one of the most spontaneous purchases I’ve ever had – I had just won a songwriting competition in college and was awarded $500 (I had no idea there would be prizes). Right after the competition ended, I went to my friend’s house to work on a song we were writing and we realized we wanted an acoustic guitar on the track. He lived a block from a Guitar Center so I ran there and grabbed a Martin that was exactly $499.
And do you still have it?
Yes! It’s been a really great guitar for me. It’s slightly smaller than other acoustics and has a thin neck which makes it really easy to play. Probably a sign from the universe that I shouldn’t think things over so much!
How is it to tour in Europe?
It’s been amazing. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to do most of my live shows and touring in Europe. I’ve found the audiences to be much more receptive and the culture around live music is just a lot more engaging and supportive. I’ve been treated really well (particularly in Germany where I’ve done 3 tours now) and I feel like people are actively seeking out new music there. It’s also been so exciting for me to be able to see parts of the world that I otherwise probably wouldn’t be able to.
Your single “What do I want” just came out. Tell me about it?
‘What Do I Want?’ started as a love letter to my songwriting and turned into something else entirely, which happens a lot – I try to let the song lead me. It touches on my never-ending nostalgia, difficulty with decision making and paralyzing anxiety over making the wrong choice. There have been times where I’ve been so overwhelmed by what to do that, I’m unable to make a decision until someone else makes the choice for me. I think part of that comes from being a woman; we’ve been conditioned to doubt our capability, afraid of confidence coming off as arrogance. A lot of this album touches on the challenges that stem from marginalization and learning how to exist in this world without apology or guilt.
I initially had made a demo of this on the piano but when we went in to record it we knew it wouldn’t fit with the rest of the album stylistically. We decided to start from scratch, changing the key so it felt unfamiliar and starting with that pulsing synth bassline. I wanted the song to feel chaotic and distracting, like a panic attack trying to be tamed into focus.
What is different in the way you recorded your first album and your present?
It’s really fascinating to me how the approach towards making a record can shift the outcome of the sound. I really wanted to push myself towards approaching this album differently than my first one, not because I didn’t enjoy that process, but just because I wanted to see what would happen doing something new. For ‘Little Black Book’ I rehearsed the songs to perfection with my band before going in and recording our parts which led to a really ‘band’ driven sound. On this new album, I had made home demos of about 30 ideas of mine and sent them to Leo (Abrahams) and he helped curate 12 that he felt would go well together for the album, and then we kind of just went into the studio and carved out the songs there. So, it was a much different timeline of discovery.
What is your favorite track on the album?
That’s a surprisingly difficult one to answer – they all feel like children to me in some way, so it’s hard to pick a favorite! I think recording the title track ‘Another Me (Fix Myself)’ is the one that I reflect on recording most fondly. We recorded it totally live without a click track, and Leo Abe and I were all in different rooms unable to see each other. So, without seeing each other and having a metronome to guide us, we really had to just intuitively trust each other and lock into something collectively.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
Hmm… good question. To be honest, I think the answer is setting boundaries, which is a big theme of this album. It’s so easy to just eat at a petrol stop or sleep in when you can to not wake up the other person in the room – But I think it’s equally important to prioritize yourself so that you can plan ahead and eat healthy and work out. Getting enough sleep is also so important…. Melatonin and an eye mask for me is key (and not drinking too much!).
What kind of dog do you have? And how did you get your dog?
I’ll gladly talk about Louie as much as you’d like! He’s a mutt, a bunch of breeds I’d never even heard of to be honest. He’s my adopted son; my girlfriend rescued him when he was one and then we started dating when he was about four years old. I’ve never known you could love a dog as much as I love him … It’s frightening.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I think the ability for anyone to release music and gain an audience without relying on big labels anymore is super empowering – but I also find it slightly overwhelming because it’s become such a crowded space. I’m also resistant to any industry where so much power lies in so few hands. Spotify can make or break your career, which is kind of what keeps you hopeful, but also can be frustrating. I especially find it difficult to be an artist where I feel like my live show is so important to understanding the whole picture – and I also really want my album to be heard as an album. But streaming is really catered to singles, and I also think it’s a space that has been most profitable for acoustic/folk and pop artists.
Digital vs. vinyl?
I think my long-winded answer above answers this, but vinyl.
Any plans to tour?
Because of COVID, I had to cancel my Europe tour which was going to be this October. I was also just beginning to pitch for support slots on tours and putting together something in the states when the loc down happened. It’s been really unfortunate working so hard on an album and then not being able to accompany the campaign with the live element you were hoping. But I’m trying to stay positive, and fortunately, I have a really great team behind me that is doing a great job getting the new music out there in other ways. Mostly I just miss playing music with my friends and connect with an audience. There’s nothing like it for me.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
I’ve had ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ by Sam Cooke in my head a lot lately. It’s been playing at a lot of the protests I’ve been going to which is so powerful. A song that was recorded over 60 years ago of hope for change which still holds the same relevance today….
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
At first, I thought it might steer people away from going to live shows because so many people are doing at home concerts right now and even virtual shows. It’s been really amazing to see people get connected in new ways, especially towards audiences they otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach, but I really think there is something tangible at a live show that you can’t access online. I’m hoping that when COVID settles down and we are able to have live music again, people will be all the more eager to go out and see live music. I imagine the energy in rooms being really incredible and valued.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I’ve really gotten into cooking over the last few years, and being at home so much has helped me really explore that hobby more (like everyone else…). I’ve also been reading a lot, which has always been a hobby, but I’ve had a lot more time to do so lately which I’ve enjoyed.
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You are doing live performances. How are they going? How do you know if it was successful?
I’ve done a few Instagram lives and a virtual reality festival which was really ground breaking to be a part of. But like I said, for me as an artist, nothing compares to being a room with other people. It’s hard for me to look at my phone or laptop knowing that people are watching, no matter how many, and feel the same kind of human connection.
First it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
I think artists will find ways to make a living and the industry will have to adjust, but I don’t see it being as profitable as live shows in venues. I also don’t think anything can truly replicate the energy in a room at a live show between the artist and the audience (at least not for me as an artist). But until we can get back to that, having alternative outlets is really important.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of music fest for the next couple of years?
I’m probably not the best person to ask that question to – but obviously I think there Is an incredible amount of revenue around major festivals, from the artists to agencies and tourist income for cities. A lot of people rely on it, so I think they are going to make it happen as soon as it’s safe to do so.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Everything that’s been happening this year has sort of blurred out the timeline that I had imagined for this campaign, but ultimately, I just hope to be continuing to make records and playing live.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
I think it’s important to recognize the transformative time we’re living in right now with so many people taking action to change & discuss racial inequalities in the US. I’d just like to take a moment to encourage people to support black-owned businesses and restaurants and encourage white folks to educate themselves on how to be the best ally they can right now, which usually starts with really trying to understand the depth of racial oppression in a historical, societal & cultural context.
A few recommendations of mine: ‘How to Be an Anti-Racist’ by Ibrahm X Kendi, ‘White Fragility’ by Robin DiAngelo, The film ‘13th’ by Ava Duvernery (free on Netflix), The film ‘True Justice’ a documentary with Bryan Stevenson (free on Youtube), and Resmaa Menakem’s free 5 day course on Racialized Trauma which you can find here:
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