Q&A for Dedham MusicFest  /  Dedham Times

interviewer: Michelle Apuzzio

How do you describe your music to someone who has never heard you play?

A unique blend of folk and jazz, with hints of Joni Mitchell and Ella Fitzgerald, catchy songs with intelligent lyrics. Powerful emotions span quiet intimacy to fun and playful, a strong rhythmic guitar backdrop supports a voice much bigger than its hostess- or so I've been told ;)

Who are your influences?

Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, Radiohead, Feist, Yes, to name a few. 

How did you start playing live music?

With a CD in hand, I entered the All Asia Café in Cambridge, MA before they had even begun to have live music. I played there weekly to anywhere from 5-50 people. I didn’t start very smoothly, and often had panic-attacks mid-set. I was pretty self-deprecating on stage, and even toyed with an FX pedal for my vocals, which some college student told me, he didn’t much like. Boston was like my practice space, and I might have been on stage earlier than I ought to have been…but I grew, and learned and now stage feels like home. 

Have you ever gotten any strange song requests?

Well when I play the mandolin, I think people associate its uniqueness with Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow,’ so sometimes they ask for that song. And of course, always, ‘Freebird.’ 

Do you have a local connection to Dedham?

I’m the newest member of Voicewize in Dedham Center where I’ll be doing Music Therapy 1/night/week under the moniker, ‘Rumble Bee Music Therapy.’ 

What have you been working on lately (i.e. new CD, where do you play most of your gigs?)

 I am on the verge of releasing my debut full-length album, ‘The Only Way Out is Through,’ and have also been playing from VT down to NY, with plans to head out across the country later this summer. I’m really excited to share the new album with the world, as for me; its conception to completion has been a journey of fulfilling my biggest dream to date!!! 

What are you most looking forward to at MusicFest?

Hearing the other bands, hopefully having beautiful weather, and maybe meeting some really interesting people and finding out how I know their aunt’s father’s second cousin, or am related to them in some other eerie degree of separation.  

Do you have a website or a myspace page where people can hear your music?

http://www.myspace.com/sarahblacker

and my website is currently under construction, but it’s located at http://www.sarahblacker.com