Singer Sarah Barrios Talks Gigging, Taylor Swift, And New Single “1H8EVERY1”

Listen to her newest music on Spotify and you will thank us later

With over 5 million streams on her music on Spotify, the music lovers in all us are starting to obsess over her incredible style and tone. Want to see her live? Well, your in luck! She can be seen performing at this year’s iconic Lollapalooza with Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Tate McRae and more.

We had the honor of talkin with Sarah on all things music, inspirations, and her biggest dreams for her career.

Q: How has your upbringing influenced your artistic style?

S: “I can’t remember a time in my life that wasn’t filled with music. Whether we were cooking dinner, going on road trips or just hanging out together, my family always kept music at it’s core. Because of that, music became my safe space, somewhere I could escape to and somewhere I could feel the most me. Paramore and Fleetwood Mac, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, all of these artists are storytellers and healers. I try to give listeners that same feeling that I felt, through my own music. A place where someone can cry, grow and feel safe.”

Q: At what moment were you certain that you wanted to pursue music as a career?

S: “I’ve wanted to be a musician since I was little, but I think the turning point came late for me. I was 19, going to school for elementary education when I had the epiphany that my life was mine. I could go anywhere, do anything if I set my mind to it and when I really thought about it, music was where I felt my strongest and most confident, so I decided to give it a try professionally, and here we are!”

Q: Did “gigging” in the New England music scene teach you any valuable lessons that have been helpful for your career?

S: 1000%. Being in crowds or on a stage can be really daunting for anyone, especially someone like myself who deals with anxiety. But I think being able to meet other artists in the area and play a bunch of shows really helped me come out of my shell and feel safe on stage. I also feel like I learned a lot about the set up and the work that goes into the behind the scenes of putting a show together. It really does take a village and it’s made me more grateful for everyone working to make it the best it can be.”

Q: How have you been staying inspired to write throughout this pandemic?

S: “At first I had a really tough time feeling inspired. My mental health was not doing well, so for the first few months, I wasn’t writing anything. But after some self reflection and journaling, I got to a place where I was ready to feel something other than negativity. I started reading more, listening to more music, getting outside, playing video games, talking with friends and eventually the floodgates opened. Changing my perspective really helped me find more things to be inspired by.”

Q: How has your TikTok presence helped you reach an audience and create a fan base?

S: “TikTok has been such a crazy journey. Everyone is so engaged and it’s really cool to meet people all over the world in an instant. My most recent single, “IH8EVERY1” was actually apart of my “you ask, I write” series on Tiktok, where fans submit ideas and then I write a short song about it. I never thought the snippet would go viral nor did I think anyone would want to hear more, but the power of the people was strong and now it’s a finished song!”

Q: Tell us about the emotional backstory of your latest EP, Conversations With Myself.

S: “Conversations With Myself was exactly that: a dialogue between me, myself and I. I was stuck in the middle of knowing I would never be who I was when I was younger, not knowing who I would be when I got older, and not enjoying my present self. I wanted to write about overthinking, confusion, fear and the want for self growth. To talk about all the things you think about at 3am and the understanding that, we never really know what life will be and who we are, but that we can only hope to be the best version of who we are and be proud of it.”

Q: What are you most looking forward to from performing at Lollapalooza this year, being part of their impressive lineup?

S: “I’m so excited to play shows this year. This is my first time playing the songs live and with a band, so I’m really looking forward to jumping around on stage and bringing the songs to life. This will also be the first time I get to meet all the lovely people who have listened to the music for the last year and I’m so stoked to finally get to connect with them and spend time with them.”

Q: Do you follow a preparation routine to ease nerves and get focused before performing?

S: “My anxiety is an all-day thing and it tends to manifest in physical ways, so I try to make sure I’m eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and breathing slowly. I also find counting, fidgeting with something, and Fleetwood Mac helps a lot. I have an incredible team that understands my anxieties and nerves, so they really help keep my mind positive and calm. Once I’m on stage, my nerves and anxiety go out the window and I’m just enjoying the music and the crowd.”

Q: Who is an artist, duo, or group that you would love to collaborate with in the future?

S: “Hayley Williams would be a peak moment for me. She’s been an inspiration of mine, both in music and in life and creating something together would be crazy.”

Q: What are additional career or life goals you have set to attain for yourself this year?

S: “I want to play as many live shows and meet as many people as I can this year. Myself and my listeners are family and I only want to see us grow. I also really want to focus on my mental health this year and getting to a place where I’m working with myself, instead of against myself.”

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