Project Description

Interview With

SARA STORER

Interviewer: Jemma Bird

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SARA STORER is one of Australia’s most-loved singer-songwriters, a multiple Golden Guitar winner whose crisp observations of the Australian landscape and its people provide the solid foundation stone for her music. She has seen all the beauty, joy and heartbreak this land can bring, living for a time in western Queensland, where she wrote her first song, and working as a schoolteacher in Katherine in the Northern Territory. SARA is amongst many amazing artists of the 2018 GYMPIE MUSIC MUSTER and took some time to chat with Amnplify interviewer Jemma Bird to talk all things music.

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Hi Sarah, how are you?

I’m good thank you Jemma, how are you?

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I’m well thank you. Firstly, before I get into your upcoming shows. I just wanted to talk a little about your background. You released your album Chasing Buffalo in 2000 and your latest album Silos in 2016. How do you feel your sound has developed over your time releasing music?

Um. Well there has been a change in producers that I’ve worked with. So that always brings something fresh to the song but as a songwriter I have become a lot better and more polished. When I listen back to the first songs I wrote, there’s a few lines that I just thought ‘she’ll be right’ because now the song is finished. Now, every line has to be spot on. I guess I want to right really good songs and not just have album fillers.

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Do you think your song writing process has changed since you’ve become a mother?

No not really. There’s definitely less time to write songs. The whole writing process has pretty much stayed the same. There are a couple of songs that mention my kids but I don’t just sing about them. I talk about them enough – I don’t need to sing about them too!

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What song would you recommend for someone who was listening to you for the first time? 

That’s a really good question because I think I have a big range in the types of songs I sing. I can go from a bush ballad to quite contemporary folk. That’s a tough question. Ummm, I would probably wouldn’t go for a song off my first album, even though a lot of people say it’s their favourite but I don’t think its my best vocal. I think a song off either my latest album or the last one. Ahhh, this is hard. Maybe ‘My Diamonds’ because it really reflects why I love writing and it’s a real story song.

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Do you have plans of releasing any new music in the near future? Another album maybe?

Umm absolutely yeah. I’ve been writing alot of late with my brother. I would love to work on an album and get it out as soon as possible.

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Do you take your live show into consideration when you’re recording your music – or just do what feels organic and figure out how to play it live later?

For me I never feel what an audience wants because then you’re not writing from your emotions! You are just writing to please other people and I think you have to please yourself first.

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You have quite an extensive list of material now, as you’ve been playing shows and releasing music for over 18 years. Does this make it difficult to decide what makes the setlist and what doesn’t?

Yeah it makes it really hard. I go through stages of really loving songs and then getting sick of songs. I have my standards though, even if they are not my favourite song to sing but I know the crowd will want to hear them. If I don’t put those ones on the setlist I get people coming up to me asking why didn’t you play ‘Buffalo Bill’. Other than those ones, I become quite selfish and choose the songs I love playing.

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Does your setlist change from when your playing a headline show compared to a festival?

Well when I’m doing my own show, it’s a lot more intimate. People are there to see me and my show, so I can talk a bit more. When people go to a Festival they are there to see such a number of people and the audience might not even be interested in my music. I don’t talk as much and try to keep things rolling along. It depends what time of the day it is too.

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In February, you went on the love and land tour with the Sunny Cowgirls. How was that?

Oh it was wonderful. I got to work with the Sunny’s a couple of years ago, we played a show together and it was great. Our music is very similar, we love our people and Aussie colours and words and characters and everything that comes with that. It’s just wonderful to perform up there with them.

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You are playing the Gympie Music Muster Festival in August, along with so many great acts. Is there anyone you’re excited to see?

I always like to see the international artists because most of the Aussie artists are our mates and we’ve seen all them!

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The Muster is a leader in showcasing females on their line-ups…Last year, 46 out of the Muster’s 100 acts were female fronted, which is a significantly higher female to male ratio than a lot of other Australian festivals. Do you think this is important and how do you find being a woman in the industry today?

Oh really? I didn’t know that little fact. I think it’s all pretty same-same and comes down to the luck of the draw and whether you’re interesting or not. I’ve never heard anyone say ‘Yeah i like them, but I’m not going to listen to them because they are female’. I think if you’re popular enough and have enough interest, you’ll get on the bill.

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Thank you so much for your time

Thank you Jemma, it was lovely to talk to you.

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Connect With SARA STORER:

Website       Facebook       Twitter

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