WERS 88.9 fm Artist Interview: Sarah Blacker

By Ben Tan
4.30.10

Singer-songwriter Sarah Blacker stopped by WERS for Live Music Week to play some songs from her album The Only Way Out is Through.  With some help from virtuoso guitarist Chuck Fisher, she played "Come What May," "Shining Giant," and "Sandpaper."

"Public radio is really nice for folks like myself," Blacker said, "because you know you get an opportunity to come into a really beautiful studio and perform.  And, you know, I am independent.  And a lot of artists are.  And I think that's the wave of the future and the wave of the present.  And I think it's really wonderful that a lot of radio stations are willing to give a new artist a try. "

WERS was just one of many stops Blacker has made since the album's October release. "Since October I did about seven regional CD release parties," she said.  "I did my first Southern tour down to South Carolina and all the states in between.  And since then I've been on the road pretty frequently, which I love.  And I'm in the studio right now recording a second album, and hopefully it will be out in the fall.  So my plans are to just keep touring."

She, Chuck, and her other band mates aren't slowing down. "We'll be at Toad every Tuesday," she said, "the early set in June.  So Tuesdays at seven, my band All Kinds of Sugar will be there, with special guests."

Blacker also discussed how she uses music to help the disabled. "I went to school for music therapy, and I was doing music therapy full time," she said.  "And then, it was kind of strange…but once I finished recording my album all the funding for my different music therapy jobs ran out.  So currently I do about two and a half hours of music therapy each week.  I work with kids with autism, primarily.  And the rest of the time, I'm touring and performing."

No matter what form it takes, Blacker's passion for music has accomplished great things, and she and her top-notch band still have big plans.