We recently connected with Sara Jade and have shared our conversation below.
Sara Jade, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?
I believe whole-heartedly that all of my experiences shaped me into the artist I am today. Although part of me wishes I had possessed the confidence and self-belief sooner to “just go for it”, I would not change my past experiences. My story is deeply weaved into the music I create and I would not trade that for the world.
I started writing and singing at an early age, began performing professionally in 2010, but it was not until 2019 that music became a full-time career. Like many people do, I struggled with self-doubt and self-judgment when it came to my passions. Although I loved performing, I convinced myself that I had to have a “real” career first. So I pursued my interest in psychology, got my Masters in School Counseling and became an advisor.
In 2018, it was clear that life had different plans for me. I developed chronic daily migraines that got so severe I had to go on medical leave and eventually resign my position in 2019. That was my defining moment. The small death of that career breathed life into my music, where I sought healing. I reimagined my future and banished the option for self-doubt in my mind. It was time to get creative, quite literally, and I went all in on music and pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter.
Sara Jade, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a singer, songwriter, and keytarist. I create dynamic Americana and Alt-pop Rock music. My songs feature powerful vocals, captivating stories, melodic leads, and driving rhythms. I write music that uplifts and empowers the listener, and my performance style is fun-loving. At my shows, I’m all about engaging the audience and having a great time together.
I am incredibly proud of what my music and my band, The Jade Theory, has accomplished only in the last year. I released my first studio single “Jacoma” in September 2021. The song was nominated for Best Pop Song at the 2022 San Diego Music Awards and a semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition in 2021. I met a fantastic community of musicians in the San Diego open mic circuit last year and formed my full band, The Jade Theory, in December. This year we have been hired to play some amazing shows at venues all over San Diego.
Currently, I am recording new music, playing shows, and growing a fun community of fans. My story has only just begun, so I invite you to stay tuned. It’s guaranteed to be entertaining!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
In 2019, my music career was off to a smooth start, but life is full of twists. I was a finalist in the 2019 singer songwriter competition at the San Diego County Fair and I started playing breweries and wineries with my husband. In early 2020, I was offered my first “big gig” – two weekend shows at the fair. I was in the process of putting together a band when the pandemic hit, everything shut down, and all shows were canceled. Like so many at the time, I felt I had only just begun and suddenly everything came to a screeching halt.
Fortunately, unexpected events have taught me to be adaptable. I took it as an opportunity to prepare, learn, and hone my skills. I wrote new material, gave myself a crash course on audio engineering and I pivoted to live streaming music on Twitch until live music returned. I released my first self-produced single in April 2020, “Wait Destiny”. Written years earlier but eerily poignant for the time, the song is about putting your dreams on hold and asking destiny to wait a little longer for you to catch up. It seems that destiny got my message because the last year has been an incredible restart to my career as a musical artist.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I saw Amy Grant speak at the ASCAP I Create Music Expo back in 2014. She said that our duty as songwriters is to share our music so that at least one person in the world knows that they are not alone in the human experience. I remember writing notes during the seminar and suddenly stopping at these words. It washed over me, sunk into my soul and I felt like I was meant to hear it. She changed my life for the better and gave me a beautifully articulated purpose as a creator.
For the same reason I was drawn to counseling, I am also drawn to music. We are here to serve our communities, to empower and make a positive impact in someone else’s life. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” My mission as a songwriter is to connect with people and build positive community through magnetic music. My greatest success will be when my music can pay forward the impact Amy Grant had on me and bring that validation and inspiration to my listeners.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarajademusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarajademusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarajademusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-jade-99b291221
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarajademusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/sarajademusic
- Other: https://songwhip.com/sarajade
Image Credits
Tristan Faulk-Webster Matt Kreuder Jeff Ousley