Meet Sarah J | Musician/Vocalist/Pianist/Guitarist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah J and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I moved to Nashville in 2021 in order to further pursue my musical and academic careers. Being a full-time university student and working as a musician can be a very tricky thing to balance. I was extremely fortunate to be able to find venues that were willing to work with my busy academic schedule and make sure that I had dates that would work for me. I know that is not everyone’s situation, so I try not to take anything for granted. I have learned a lot about myself and the music industry since moving to Nashville and have realized that work-life balance is extremely important for my mental and physical health. So, I really have to sit down and focus on my academics during the day, on weekdays, so that I can have the weekends open to focus on my music. It takes a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication, but I believe that academic education is a pertinent aspect of growth, for me personally. So, I have to set goals, prioritize my daily activities correctly, and avoid procrastination. This took some time to learn, but I have become fairly good at it over time! I make time for friends and family, as well, which is very important to me. It is all about how badly you want something and how much you want to succeed. Anything is possible if you have to right mindset.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of my work ethic, drive, and independence. Many people my age do not know quite yet what they want to pursue in the future, and that is absolutely okay. However, I was lucky enough to find my niche early in my life, and though it may look effortless, colorful, and energetic on the stage it takes an immense amount of hard work to make it to that stage.

The show is really just the tip of an enormous iceberg and I am very proud of myself for putting in the hard work and creating a solid ground for my career to launch off of. I do all of the promotion, management, booking, and social networking on my own and it really takes a great deal of effort, motivation, time, and maturity to do so. My mother sets a great example for me on the business aspects of things. I believe that you, as an artist, are a business first and then a creative.

Therefore, if you do not have the business skills and work ethic it is much more challenging to be a successful independent artist. I think that this is what sets me apart from others and I mean that in the most modest way possible. I admire all of the artists that I am surrounded by and am inspired every day by them, however, I do think that my dynamic communication in business and my work ethic have helped me tremendously in the success of my career.

Combining the stylings of soulful R&B, popular music, contemporary jazz, and much more, Sarah J sends a warm invitation into her world using her voice. With an elegant, yet powerful voice, she captivates listeners with her vocal delivery. She is known for her professional and energetic personality and enjoys interacting with audience members. Sarah is classically trained in voice and often uses her range developed as an opera singer in her contemporary music. Sarah accompanies herself on, both, piano and acoustic guitar. From classic rock to classic jazz, Sarah can adapt to many different atmospheres with an array of different genres. Her setlists are highly versatile and can satisfy any demographic regardless of age or gender.

Sarah J has been performing her entire life and is magnetized towards the stage. She is from Huntsville, Alabama, and gained a large following in that city after emerging into the scene in 2021 at only 18 years old. Sarah started training, vocally, for musical theatre and classical opera at the age of nine and grew up making local appearances at festivals, concerts, and live shows doing musical theatre, classical, and/or contemporary performances. After Sarah started her professional career in the contemporary scene in 2021, it quickly amplified into something much larger than she could have imagined.

Sarah started her musical journey performing in musicals as a child, progressing to classical opera performance, and then on to contemporary live shows. Named “Best Musician in Huntsville, AL” in 2021 and 2022 Sarah J captivates her audiences with a timeless, yet soulful sound. Sarah moved to Nashville in 2021 and now travels between her new home and Huntsville, AL to perform at several venues in both areas. Whether with a band or performing solo, Sarah J delivers performances that set an exceptional ambiance.

In October of 2022, Sarah performed as the opening act for artists Ingrid Andress, Priscilla Block, Tiera Kennedy, and Hailey Whitters .

Sarah is known for her professional and energetic personality and her classy, yet soulful musical style. She accompanies herself on, both, piano and acoustic guitar. While Sarah’s live show repertoire ranges all the way from country to alternative/indie music, her original music mixes the styling of soul, and pop while sometimes featuring Nashville country undertones, making her stand out from other artists. Her original work captures a wide range of audiences because of her timeless, eloquent voice and intricate instrumental composition. She has been composing music and writing lyrics since she was 12 years old. Much of Sarah’s musical compositions and vocal accents are an allusion to her classical background. Sarah released her first EP titled “Miss J” in 2021 and released a single titled “Be Okay” in 2022. Sarah has been working on some very exciting projects and has most recently released a live performance from Columbia A Studios on YouTube of the song “I Drink Wine” from Adele’s album, 30.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
What a fun question! Okay here we go:

Friday morning- brunch at Snooze in the Gulch
Friday afternoon- Shopping in 12 South/Green Hills Mall and lunch at North Italia
Friday night- The Hidden Barber

Saturday morning- Coffee/brunch at Milk and Honey (be prepared for a long wait, haha!)
Saturday afternoon- Centennial park ice skating/walking in the park/explore the West End
Saturday Dinner- Hawkers in East Nashville
Saturday night- Pushing Daisies

Sunday morning- Brunch at Pfunky Griddle
Sunday afternoon- Nashville Farmers market
Sunday dinner- Shabu Shabu hotpot

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Sambuca Nashville and the Marriott Hotel Properties have been extremely supportive and crucial for my musical landings in Nashville. I thank them as much as I can and feel as if I have formed great friendships with them in the past few years. This business is all about networking, so I try to be as approachable, professional, and flexible as possible. Sambuca has a wide variety of music on a nightly basis and I was lucky enough to start booking shows there before I even moved to Nashville full-time! I have now been there for over 3 years. Wow, how time flies! I was also able to start working for several hotels in the downtown area and am so grateful that I have found venues that support live music and new incoming artists. I think the most important thing to understand about this industry is that nothing is guaranteed. It takes grit, personality, and the ability to form personal relationships in order to facilitate success. These venues and many more in the greater Nashville area have helped me blossom into the artist I have become and I will be forever grateful for them.

Website: https://sarahjmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsarahjmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialsarahjmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6BCnQGNCUxwffp-tpSStXw