Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Barnhill.
Sarah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started singing at the age of three. I have always loved music and grew up listening to artists like Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston. At the age of nine, my youth pastor asked my parents if I could start singing with the teen praise team. At the time, I was into acting as well. I was a part of an audition and planned to sing but was told to just do the acting portion as it was stronger than my dining. I was around 10 and it pushed me to start taking singing seriously. This is when my parents started me with vocal lessons. Since taking lessons, I continued to sing as part of my church’s youth praise team in addition to singing at school, open mics and local programs. Over the years, I have been influenced by Lalah Hathaway, Jonathan McReynolds, Tori Kelly, and Abbey Smith. I perform under the name Sarai which is a variation of my given name.
At the age of 15, I participated in the live recording for Fresh Start Worship. I contributed background vocals for the recording and lead vocals for the song “Have It All”, the song, “Mention” has reached #2 on the charts. Now at 17, I am about to enter my senior year in high school. My dream school to attend after high school is Berklee College of Music in Boston. I love learning about music and improving my skill set.
My ultimate goal is to continue to create music. I am also excited to learn about the music business so in the future, I can help young people with a passion for music achieve their goals.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I often battle with staying motivated because a music career is really tough to pursue. As a teenager, it is also tough putting in the work when I have responsibilities at school.
It is also tough when I want to hang out with my friends but I have an engagement to sing. So, I feel like I do miss out on some fun things.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a singer and currently learning to write songs. Even though I love all types of music my foundation has been in Praise and Worship.
It’s really hard to say what I am known for but I really want to be authentic in the music I do. Music is such an emotional art form and I feel I am at my best when I am emotionally connected to what I sing.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe that openness has been important to my success. As a singer, being critiqued is a way of life. Early on it was difficult but now it is easier to take in the criticism and adjust when necessary. I have learned the importance of being pushed outside of my comfort zone. I am open to learning more about music, my voice, and this business.
Contact Info:
- Email: honestlysarai.sings@gmail.com
- Instagram: @honestlysarai
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honestlysarai
Image Credit:
323 Creative Designs
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