Talk with....Sarah Smith

photo by: Tilynn Bauck

rockfrank.com met the Canadian singer and songwriter Sarah Smith on her album release tour for her new record “So Brand New” in Frankfurt and talked with her about current topics and everyday life.

rockfrank: Sarah, it is a great pleasure for me to welcome you once again for a short interview after our conversation in 2021. Last year, you released „Shine Bright – A Decade of Sarah Smith“, a best-of album that brings together your most important songs. How significant was it for you personally and artistically to realize this project?

Sarah Smith: When I changed my label (now Gunner Records) they came up with the idea of making a best-of album. It actually never crossed my mind, that I would have that kind of (song) material for such an album. A project like this – that is what other - bigger, more famous - artists are doing, I never really considered this an option for me. Obviously, I did feel excited about the suggestion and somewhat proud. I did feel appreciated from my artistic perspective.

rockfrank: Canada has produced legendary artists — Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Bryan Adams, to name a few. When you write songs amongst such musical icons, do you feel pressure, or do you just say, ‘I’m doing my own thing’?

Sarah Smith: You know, I don’ t really think a lot when writing music – I simply feel. So, I do not let myself get influenced or intimidated by big names or other artists. But of course, musicians from my country did influence me and my music – because there is this shared connection. But in the end, I follow my heart and feelings and make my music just the way it feels right to me. I do have great respect for the local heroes and do know about their importance in the musical world. I just don’t compare myself to them, simply doing it my way.

rockfrank: Last year, you recorded a Phil Collins cover of „In the Air Tonight“. What was your inspiration behind it, and with how much regard for another artist’s work— or even a sense of awe — do you approach such a project?

Sarah Smith: During the pandemic there was this project with about 30 different artists, who recorded different Songs, all covers, from different artists. At some point the producer approached me, because he thought that this Phil Collins song would be good fit for me. I actually heard the song maybe two or three times before, but though – sure, let’s try it. It was a great experience by and large and we had a lot of fun with the project.

rockfrank: Were you ever able to share it with Phil Collins himself, and has he heard it?

Sarah Smith: No, I don’t think so. 

photo by: Viktoriya Bankova

rockfrank: A few years ago, you turned your back on city life and moved with your wife to a small island group off the coast of Canada. Was that a deliberate decision - to be closer to nature, perhaps also as a source of inspiration for new songs?

Sarah Smith: Definitly. I´ve always wanted to move to the countryside. Perhaps after retirement, when i´m no longer making music or at least retire from touring. But during the pandemic, all my gigs gradually dried up, and i had a lot of time on my hands. So, my wife and i decided to move right there an then. I already knew the area and always liked it, so it just kind of fell into place. And yes, nature has be always been a inspirarion for me, an therefore for my music as well.

rockfrank: Are you currently working on any new musical projects - perhaps a new album?

Sarah Smith: Yes, we´ve just finished a new album, "So Brand New", and are currently on release tour with it throughout Europe. Overseas, the release will be a little bit later. It contains 13 new songs, 2 remixes from my older songs and one cover song. Right now, we´re tourung in the Netherlands and Germany an heaving a lot of fun!

rockfrank: A karma question: name three things that spontaneously come to mind when you think of Germany.

Sarah Smith: I do like the contrasts here in this country. On one hand such an amount of history (there are no ‘old’ cities in Canada), on the other hand so modern and always up to date.

And the bread! It is so much better with all the different kinds and that fantastic crust, I love it. So much better than bread in Canada or the US.

And I love the vibe in this country, its’ atmosphere. When you meet someone new, talk to them a little bit, it’s like friends for life, part of the family already. That openness is what I like.

photo by: Dani Smile

To finish, a quick round of questions:

Early bird or night owl?

Definitely early bird; but I do aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep.

Big city or countryside?

Countryside

Taylor Swift or Bryan Adams?

Bryan Adams. Don’t get me wrong: Taylor is great, but if I have to choose, it’s Bryan.

If your life were a song, what would it be called, and what kind of music would it be?

I think it would be „You are my sunshine“: I love it. Performed bei Kurt Cobain. The mix of this Grunge/Alternative sound in combination with the ease of „You are my sunshine“ sounds exciting to me.

If you could ask Phil Collins one question, what would it be?

I would want to know whether he prefers the drums or singing.

If you were ever to act in a movie, which character would you prefer to play — what kind of role would it be?

I really would like to play Elvis, to tap into that very rock-driven side of character, this male rock’n roll.

I’d like to thank you for the interview and I’m looking forward to the new record. All the best to you.

photo by: Conny Kiefer

rockfrank

Translation and kind support by Sandra B.