Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Besand. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

The route I took to unintentionally become a hip-hop flutist is a wild one–but also a story I am incredibly proud of. I first picked up the flute at the young age of 10 years old my school’s concert band. I was fascinated by my very first flute. To me, the flute represented femininity and grace, and I was instantly convinced it would be my instrument. I was determined. I practiced as much as I could after school, and my band director noticed my natural ability and work ethic quickly. He then referred my parents to a flute teacher at Belmont University, and she has been my teacher for the past 14 years.

As I progressed through school, my determination stayed consistent in the classical realm. I was soon progressing to all-state bands and playing in pre-college orchestras. My practice time ticked up, and it soon encompassed all of my time in a rather unhealthy way.

Between the ages of 15-18, a few pivotal moments happened in my life that changed my music trajectory. I fell in love with hip-hop at orchestra camp because my friend wouldn’t stop playing Drake. I had to figure out how to improvise in a church band. I started taking jazz lessons. And–I quit the flute altogether.

I am incredibly grateful for my classical training but also hated to see what that hyper-focus did to my joy. I became overwhelmed, and I threw away my plans to graduate at 17 and attend a conservatory I was accepted to. I simply couldn’t do it.

After many years of silence, one day, I felt deeply that I missed the flute and I wondered if I could still play like I used to. I pleasantly surprised myself, and the magic had returned. For the next 6 months, I played for fun–classical duets and songs on the radio by ear. I manifested playing with others again but didn’t know where to begin. Luckily, I didn’t have to.

Some sort of bravery took me by storm, and I started posting videos of me playing to recently released hip-hop songs that had a flute in the songs or similar sounds. These small steps paved the way for many connections in the worldwide music community, as well as in my own neighborhood. The next thing I knew, I had artists around town reaching out and asking me to play with them on their shows. These shows became such a beautiful way to use my creativity, and I have made so many great friends through playing together.

What I love most about my story is how small steps, “missteps”, and unintentional actions have paved the way to bringing so much joy back into music for me. And each step–I am incredibly grateful for.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Although I am mainly a hip-hop flutist, I am a creative through and through. I am obsessed with the beginner’s mindset. I love trying new hobbies and skills. I am a visionary, and very sensitive. Although these qualities don’t seem necessarily related, they truly are. Over the years, I have built my confidence through being a beginner and being “bad” at something new. This has included going to dance classes, learning to longboard, practicing yoga balancing poses, etc. It has been in the container of learning new skills that I always find more and more beauty in my music. I also believe that my creative vision is something that has helped me get to where I am today. My ability to imagine how I want my life to feel and what I want it to look like has helped me bring my hip-hop flute dreams to life. These practices build my confidence to be on stage, help me memorize music better, and make me more gentle with myself. My mindset, my practices, and my vision are what have shaped that.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

One resource that I wish I knew about earlier in my creative journey is the gift of listening inward. I spent so much of my younger years pushing myself to the limits to become “the best,” and this was the same behavior that caused my ultimate burnout in the classical realm. As I relate to music now, I am all about longevity. It is a powerful outlet for me, and one that I feel protective of. Listening inward to my body and what she needs is critical to keeping the magic of music alive for me. This looks like breaks when I need it, following my musical energy when it’s there, and saying no at times.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission related to my music is following my natural creative urges. Rick Rubin talks a lot about artists having heightened sensitivity receptors to life, and I have always felt this. I feel life very deeply–nature, my relationships, my environment, music, art, everything. Sometimes it can almost feel like too much, but music and art have always been there for me to use this gift. My mission related to my music is to always be tuned into these receptors, this intuition. I believe every creative has so much to offer from their own worldview and sensitivity, and my goal is to tune into my own receptors and creative urges and to share them with the world.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sarahbesand
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.besand.3/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-besand-ba6394239/

Image Credits
LaidMadeIt Koncept Hollon Beasley