INTERVIEW WITH SARAH KINSLEY

by Hattie Rogovin

Life as a student at Columbia University is already incredibly challenging––and often difficult to juggle––in numerous ways, but imagine being an up-and-coming musical artist, while simultaneously balancing the flourishing academic and social life of a college student.

I had the pleasure of talking to Sarah Kinsley, a senior at Columbia University and musical artist, and asking her a few questions about her music, the balance between school and her career, COVID-19, TikTok, as well as her future plans. Her music perfectly encapsulates the quintessential experience of trying to find yourself, stay connected to what you deem most important, while also growing as a person, and just how hard this can be. My personal favorite song of her’s is “The King,” and if you need some new music to scream the lyrics to while (potentially) crying tears of joy or sorrow, I’ve found you your next artist to listen to. I hope you enjoy reading my interview with Sarah as much as I enjoyed speaking to her!

What are you studying at Columbia?

“I’m studying music.”

Who is your favorite artist or your musical inspiration?

“Right now I love...Arlo Parks, Fleetwood Mac...I’ve been listening to a lot of Weyes Blood, Sylvan Esso, there’s so much but I’ll leave it at that. And maybe like Beach House, that’s about it.”

When did you start writing music, making music, and singing?

“I started making music when I was 17 or 18, but I’ve been playing music since I was really really young––probably since I was 4 or 5.”

What is your inspiration and who do you think you inspire?

“What is my inspiration? Definitely experiences that I have, or specific stories wanting to be told. I’m not really sure who I inspire...I think ideally it would be other people who want to make music or just...other people going through the same experiences.”

Do you ever get stage fright performing live and what has that experience been like?

“Yeah I definitely get nervous playing live...I haven’t played live in a really long time. But it’s been really fun, the experience being back. I feel like maybe for a few songs I’ll be nervous, and then after a few it kind of completely goes away, which is exciting. But that’s definitely a new feeling, being back.”

Can you describe your experience being a woman and a woman of color in the music industry?

“I think there’s definitely a bit of a balance in wanting to be recognized for my work, and for things that I can control and the creative output that I make. I feel like a lot of women in production or music in general have many experiences with difficult things and...getting a lot of pushback. That can be hard to deal with, but for the most part I think pop music, or maybe rock as a whole, is changing a bit now. It’s not so much about needing to find a sort of tokenizing representation, but more so just really digging into good music, and wanting to showcase that and bring that to the forefront, as opposed to how it’s usually been.”

How did COVID affect your music writing process…

“COVID was definitely really difficult because I write a lot based on my own experiences, so being at home constantly, isolated, was incredibly difficult as I’m sure it was for many musicians. But I was also really lucky at the same time to be able to have a space where I [could] still make music, and be writing safely. There’s a very weird give and take, but for the most part I think [quarantine] gave me a lot of time to rethink what I actually wanted to do in music, and to reevaluate what it was that I wanted to be making and creating.”

Describe your song writing process, and the steps you take to make a song

“It definitely varies each time. I’ve started writing and journaling, and trying to write poetry or short stories. Otherwise sometimes I’ll just write down things and try to let them converge into a song. Sometimes, more recently, I’ll just be walking around or be having very odd dreams where I’ll have a melody appear when I’m in a state of not really thinking. But most of the time it’s one or the other that begins, whether it’s an experience I want to talk about, or something musically that I feel an urge to write.”

What is it like making music in a college environment, while you are a full time student?

“It’s definitely hard, I’m still trying to figure out the balance. I feel like creatively with anything it’s been very difficult. Also being back, I’m constantly wanting to see people, and making music in a home studio is really difficult because it just requires you to be completely isolated and to sit down for really long periods of time and just create things. So I’m still figuring that out, but for the most part it is such a blessing. I love having my own space, my own production equipment, and time to do all these things. There is so much room for so much growth when you’re on your own making music, instead of...you know...I guess it’s just different working with people versus getting to be in a space alone.”

What do you think about songs going viral, and trends, and on the flip side, hate. What are the ups and downs of social media, specifically TikTok when it comes to your music?

“I think it’s kind of insane now how much the algorithm or social media can change––or has changed––music and peoples’ lives––mine included––through TikTok. It just feels very odd that that’s something that we can use now, as musicians, to share music and to release things into the world. I think it’s really cool that we have that capability, but who knows how far that’s going to go. I don’t think anyone really knows how powerful the algorithm is, and if it’s under anyone’s control or if it just exists on it’s own.”

What keeps you motivated when you’re feeling down, or don’t feel like you have a lot of creative inspiration?

“I think more specifically with music...if I have writer’s block, or any sort of difficulty in trying to make something that I’m proud of...more recently it’s been very reassuring to remember that the music is going somewhere, and it’s not just for me anymore. That is the thing that kind of keeps me going, and keeps me very optimistic.”

What are some of the coolest opportunities you have had in relation to your music? 

“I’m going to be playing South by Southwest in Austin, which will probably be the craziest thing. I have a show in December at the Mercury Lounge, which I’m also really excited about. These are all...firsts for me in music, so those are definitely some of the coolest things I have yet to experience.”

What has the transition from making music for yourself as a hobby into entering the professional world been like?

“I think it definitely makes me question, just a little bit more, certain decisions I might make in production or in music. I’ve been trying really hard to keep the core part of why I make music in general...consistent. I think with anything, when more people are involved and engaged in what you do, it’s such a blessing, but also a curse. There’s so many more eyes and ears paying attention and being there for you, which is the amazing part of it but also slightly daunting. I think it’s just changed the process, and made me a bit more aware and conscious of what I’m doing, but it’s such a good reminder to have. I think before when I was just making music for fun, I was just sort of creating and going through it, whereas now, there is so much more consciousness involved, and so much more of that decision making, which is really fun, so I’m grateful for it.” 

What are your goals after college in terms of what you’re studying, what you are making, and what you are doing?

“I definitely want to keep releasing music, I’m just not sure which kinds just yet. I would love to tour, I would love to keep making music, I’d love to make a full album...I’d love to write film music...there’s so much stuff that I feel like I’ve been slowly piling up on my new bucket list. I’d love to be able to do all those things once I graduate.”

Anything else to add?

“Hopefully the music speaks for itself.”