Meet Sarah Carrino | Singer/Songwriter (Folk, roots, blues, old time, bluegrass)

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

Hi Sarah, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

When I was a little girl, I remember getting very upset with the idea of growing up. My folks didn’t have an easy life and our home life was rough at times so naturally, as a child I wanted to avoid becoming an adult. I figured, if I never grew up then I wouldn’t have to deal with all the heartache and stress they faced. However, as I got older, I knew growing up was inevitable so I made a point to surround myself with things that made me feel young at heart. One way to do that was to be curious, playful, and artistic.

Music had always been apart of me, I had a strong fasicnation and attraction to it because of the way it made me feel. I had been singing songs and writing as long as I could remember. It was a way to escape the troubles of the world and just be happy or feel understood. I was instinctively drawn to it and as I got older, I quickly realized making music and listening to music was a way I could tap into those playful curious, artistic feelings the rest of my life. No matter my age, I would be like Peter Pan’s lost boys, never having to really grow up. It was a way for me to keep my heart open so even when things did get tough, they wouldn’t be so bad because I had that creative outlet to channel those emotions through. Music gave my world color at my lowest of lows and highest of highs so I knew it was something I wanted to keep around, forever. As we get older, we often let the creative sides of ourselves fall to the waste side because we become consumed with the daily grind of our jobs or the demands of family and other responsibilities. I decided to pursue music as a career to ensure it was stitched closely, into the fabric of my soul, on a daily basis. It kept me accountable because I always had that goal to work towards.

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’m a singer/songwriter in Denton, Texas by way of St. Louis, Missouri. I’ve tried to create my own brand of female powered roots music using a spirited blend of gritty blues inspired vocals and old time melodies, all cast upon the slinky bygone western sounds of traditional bluegrass and country. I like to think of myself as an old-fashioned storyteller, weaving some of life’s most genuine moments around an unabashed imagination. That’s the aim anyways.

It’s never been easy to keep it going. Most musicians I know have other jobs to pay the bills so you are always putting in overtime to keep your dream alive. As a result, you get tired, you get burnt out. I try to approach my music from the idea that I get to do it and even if I’m tired, I get to sing, play, and write. It’s not a chore, it’s a choice and it makes me happy so it’s worth the extra work most of us put in to keep it up.

I think the biggest challenge I had to overcome was doubting myself and learning to be fearless. If I didn’t believe in me, how could I expect others to believe in me?

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?

I don’t leave Denton often unless it’s for work. This town has got it all! Great folks, excellent music, close sense of community, art, and imagination. To that end, we’d probably never leave Denton, if someone did come to visit.

We’d definitely make our way to Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton for some stellar live music. It’s a staple in this town and a place that means a lot to me. There’s always something fun happening there, even if music isn’t going down.

Next we’d walk around the square, hitting up some of my favorite spots around downtown Denton like Harvest House, East Side, Oak Street, Pascal’s, and the Vinyl lounge.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother and father deserve the largest amount of credit. My mom made sure to expose me to the arts at a very young age. From the symphony to poetry, she made sure I grew up with a strong appreciation for it all. She was also the one that insisted we all play an instrument as a kid. While my dad on the other hand, he was the rocker type so he exposed me to all the best bands and artists of the 60’s and 70’s.

Another strong group that was critical in my musical life was a rag tag group of bluegrass musicians, from Stillwater, Oklahoma. I fell in with this wonderful group of wildly talented musicians freshman year. In the years that followed, I was exposed to a whole world of folk, old time, and bluegrass that I never knew existed. It was that period in my life that had the most profound impact on my music, defining my voice and identity as a songwriter.

Website: https://sarahcarrino.com/home

Instagram: @Sarah_carrino

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcvvDKZpJFPN1-gw4w4B7zQ

Image Credits
Courts Griner Photography