Singer-songwriter Sarah Banker’s music is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, self-awareness, and human connection. From her early days writing poetry as a child to discovering her true creative voice through guitar, Sarah’s journey has been one of growth and healing. Her upcoming EP, Into the Heart, embodies her belief in the power of music to inspire and uplift. With influences ranging from jazz legends to modern indie artists, she crafts soulful and thought-provoking songs that encourage listeners to embrace life’s challenges with courage. In this interview, Sarah shares insights into her creative process, the inspiration behind her music, and her vision for the future.
HI SARAH BANKER, WELCOME TO BLACKBIRDNEWS! CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AS A SINGER-SONGWRITER?
Hi! I’ve always enjoyed singing and writing songs since I was a kiddo, just bopping around with little melodies in my head but because I didn’t know how to play an instrument, I would write them down as poetry. Growing up I mainly participated in dance and theater as my creative outlet. It wasn’t until after college that I treated myself to guitar lessons. It took a lot of time and practice but once I was able to play chords relatively in rhythm, I knew I had found my true creative expression. The first songs to come through were a cathartic release of grief and exploration of self-awareness. What a powerful healing tool. Nowadays, my songs are written to motivate, inspire, and remind us that we have control over our life experience, maybe not the specific situations that transpire but how we respond. It’s constant practice.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSICAL STYLE AND WHAT INFLUENCES IT?
As of right now, I would describe my musical style as soulful and uplifting. Philosophically, I am inspired by what I studied while earning my degree in cultural anthropology, and certification in hypnotherapy. As well as the teachings of Ken Wilber, Rutger Bregman, Dr. Bruce Lipton and Paulo Coelho. Sonically, I am influenced by Julie London, Etta James, Françoise Hardy, Gillian Hills, Lake Street Dive, Silvana Estrada and Natalia Lafourcade.
YOUR UPCOMING EP, “INTO THE HEART,” FOCUSES ON RESILIENCE. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT THEME AND HOW IT’S REFLECTED IN YOUR MUSIC?
Life, for all of us, has its challenges individually, as well as collectively. If we let it, the news will have us all believe that everyone is our enemy and we are doomed. Resilience is a strength we all have within us to continue to show up for ourselves, for our community, put in the time, do the work with faith that through love and compassion for ourselves and one another, growth and conscious evolution is inevitable. It’s a shift in our system of belief. If we believe it is possible (spoiler alert, it is) and want change for the better, we have the power to take action and make that change happen for ourselves and each other. The EP hits on each facet of our human experience individually, relationships and the collective.
THE SINGLE “FRIENDS” EXPLORES THE COMPLEXITIES OF RELATIONSHIPS. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS SONG?
I started writing this song while in the dating scene and found myself in this cycle of delusion and empty promises. I was tired of the run around and I just wanted it said to me straight. Do you want this, Yes or No? Yes, cool, let’s make this a thing and put in the energy. No, ok cool, thank you for being honest. Let’s not waste anymore of our time and move on. It takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable but doing so can save us so much time and energy. Also, I wanted to emphasize the importance of play. Life is serious enough as it is, our relationships should be a place of refuge and are an opportunity to not only grow and build but to find joy and play in our lives.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE WITH YOUR ARTISTIC CAREER?
Great question! I have been practicing setting boundaries, and keep a daily routine for my personal care and wellbeing. Of course there are random one-off situations that take me out of my routine but I mostly stick to it to ensure I keep the joy in the process. There was a time when I didn’t, the joy was sucked right out of me and I depleted myself frequently. .
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT POP CULTURE LANDSCAPE?
The current pop culture landscape intrigues me. There are positives and negatives but mainly I see this as an exciting time to be a contributor because the box is dissolving. There used to be these gatekeepers who determined the rules of success, but now that aspect is far less important than creating music that resonates with people. It’s all about bringing value, that’s my main focus.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LIFESTYLE ACTIVITIES OR HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF MUSIC?
I love walking and hiking. I would much rather walk than drive. Fortunately, where I live is very walkable so if my destination is within 1 to 2 miles and I don’t have a lot to haul to said destination, I walk. During the winter I enjoy snowboarding and once the snow melts, dirt biking is a must at least once a week. In fact, my honeymoon was a dirt bike trip across the Southwest desert. Most importantly, daily yoga practice has been a great gift to my life. I started practicing 16 years ago. Not only does my body feel strong and it keeps me in shape for all my activities but it has helped with my emotional healing as well. Highly recommend it!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING MUSICIANS?
Be open to discovery and educate yourself. Really hone in on your why, and use that as an anchor. Educate yourself about your art form and industry. The more one knows about themselves and their craft, the less likely they are to give their power away to those who project they know more or better. I have given my power away a few times in my career thinking that these individuals knew better than me. It’s true, they were highly skilled in their craft but I found although they were more skilled than myself, they still didn’t know what I needed more than I did. Now, I am so grateful to be working with collaborators who are open, encouraging and fluid in the creative process. So stay diligent in your craft so when collaborators come to join the party, you are open to feedback and learning but are confident in who you are as an artist.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU IN YOUR MUSIC CAREER?
I have a few shows in the month of February and some peppered throughout the year but most of my energy is going into writing and recording new songs for releases later this year and into 2026. I have the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented artists in the industry and can’t wait to share our creations soon!
You can connect with Sarah Banker on Instagram @sarahbankermusic
Watch the official video of FRIENDS here:
