Country music star Sarah Darling reveals pain behind songs before Manchester gig

ONE of country music’s brightest rising stars, Sarah Darling, will be appearing live at Night & Day Café Manchester on Tuesday 20 March, as part of her biggest ever UK headline tour.

Sarah, from Iowa, USA, was a top-three finalist on E! entertainment television’s reality show The Entertainer, hosted by Wayne Newton.

She then went to Nashville to pursue a career in country music and has since toured with Ward Thomas, sold out UK shows and was nominated for best ‘International Touring Artist of the Year’ by the BCMA Awards.

Her live shows have garnered five-star reviews and she has been writing new music with chart toppers Ward Thomas, set to be released in 2018.

Hi Sarah, how excited are you to be returning to the UK this year?

I’m absolutely over the moon about coming back over! Especially with a full band headlining tour ahead. This will be the first time for UK fans to hear Dream Country songs with bigger instrumentation as well as brand new tunes! I feel so much love every time I come over, and also touring places I’ve never played yet which is very exciting.

What can fans expect from your upcoming shows?

Fans can expect to hear some of my older tunes as well as brand new music. I will even be sprinkling in songs from way back when. There’s a great story to tell throughout the evolution of my music to where I am now. I’m also excited about are some of the venues the fans will get to experience my music in. I think of shows as a place to get lost in the music completely and beautiful places really do that for my songs.

You’ve announced that your brand new single will be coming out on March 2^nd. Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

What’s amazing about this future new release is the fact that it’s been a song that’s been around awhile. It’s called Wasted and deals with the emotional distress addiction causes for everyone.

Especially the ones we love the most. I wrote the track years ago with Josh Osborne and Marc Beeson after a late night call with a family member in tears about the destruction of their marriage.

It just really hit me personally because of how invisible and lost the feeling can be for someone.

Most of all I hope this song is healing for people. I have fans come up all the time after shows telling me how much the song meant to them. They are the reason I really wanted to release it. It feels real and shares a story that might help others in a time when I think the world is struggling with pain.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to share something close to my heart, and I hope it shows that we aren’t really that different all of us. We all share the same struggles and pain.

How did it feel to be nominated for International Touring Artist of the year 2017 at the BCMA Awards?

I’m so honoured to have been nominated for International Touring Artist of the year by the BCMA. I never dreamed in a thousand years that I’d be hopping across the pond sharing my music and story like I have the last few years. It’s truly amazing the journey like brings. It can be completely unexpected and beautiful.

Clearly you’ve been adopted by Britain’s thriving country scene. Why do you think that is – and is there anything about Britain you particularly enjoy?

I am starting to feel like Britain has adopted me as one of their own! It’s exciting to be part of this country music movement happening at the moment. I’m grateful for people like Bob Harris and Chris Country, who are great champions for Country music.

I also feel like C2C as well as getting in the car on the wrong side of the road traveling all across the UK has been a big part of that.

I’ve played shows in the bigger cities as well as the small which makes it special. To me that’s how you build a true relationship with a fan. I also simply love the Brits and their cute accents and love for afternoon tea!

Truthfully, the feeling I get after a show in Britain is like no other I’ve experienced and I’m grateful for the love. It feels like my home away from home.

You’ve been recording with Mark Bright recently? How did that partnership come about and what songs have come out of those sessions?

I’m a person who believes in meant to be and just the right time. I’m so excited about the opportunity of working with Mark Bright. I’ve been admiring his work with Carrie Underwood for years and thought maybe one day I could work with someone like him. Now that dream has come true!

I think Dream Country laid out the foundation for this partnership because that album is truly me. The lesson I’ve learned over the years, is always be yourself and it will lead to great places.

We have recorded a few tracks that are the next phase of me and go a little deeper. It’s a project all about transformation. I use the visual of a cocoon to a butterfly. It’s how I feel in my story at the moment. There’s been struggle, there’s been light and now I feel I’m right where I should be.

What sort of music have you been listening to recently?

I listen to a mixture everything! My favourite new discovery lately is Delta Rae. Always a listener to Coldplay, Kacey Musgraves & Alison Krauss!

Your last album was released on your own record label Be Darling Records. What benefits come from releasing music on your own independent label?

The benefits of releasing an album yourself is creative control. The timing is yours and you can make it look and sound the way you want it to. The downside is that I have to wear many hats, but I’ve learned so much about all sides of the music industry. I’m always open to a label partners if it’s the right fit. I’m loving the process so far.

With that being said – what advice would you give to someone trying to break into the industry?

Best advice is don’t try and be someone you’re not. I see that so often in the music industry. If  something is popular, people try to create a carbon copy of it. It’s you that shines through. Also don’t ever let anyone bring you down. Don’t let one person dictate your story.

Finally – you’ll be touring in March – during Lent. What’s one thing you’ll be giving up?

I have an addiction to a shop called & other stories and they are all over England. I will give that up but it will be hard!

Sarah Darling will be playing live at Night & Day Café Manchester on Tuesday 20 March. To buy tickets visit: nightnday.org. For more details on Sarah visit her website here.