We recently connected with Sarah Lightman and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’ve taken a lot of risks in my life. I decided to pursue the career I wanted, and then changed careers twice to return to my true love of music. When I graduated college I blindly moved to Los Angeles to find myself, my people, my career, and make decisions that I wasn’t prepared to make. I was scared, but I did it anyway. Just when I thought Los Angeles would be home for good life challenged me to think a lot bigger than I had before. When the pandemic hit, I had vocal surgery, took a leap to work really hard on myself, and left an unhealthy serious relationship. I felt stunted and needed a fresh start after I grieved a bunch, healed a bunch, and left all of that behind. It was on my list to originally visit Nashville with my former partner, and I already had the tickets booked to see it, so I decided to see it anyway. I felt really good about the community and had 4 months to find money to move and choose whether to stay in LA or not. After 8 years of living there, just after one week in Nashville, my heart felt so full, and the community felt genuinely kind and alive. I sat on the decision for a week and then I decided to take a leap of faith pack up the cats and start over there. Anytime there’s a choice of fear and bravery, I tend to lean towards choosing to bare the unknown and instead of sitting in my comfort zone still wondering why I didn’t do something. Even when I do it, whatever I’m doing I’m terrified, but the thrill and adventure is worth pushing through the emotions and rollercoaster to get to it. I’ve been in Nashville now a little over a year and so far it’s serving me really well. The friends that I have made so far, and relationships with industry folk and beyond have been worth all of that struggle to make it to this moment. I’m excited to see what the rest of the year brings!

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

Hi I’m Sarah Lightman and I have lived in 4 different states, but I’m originally from New Jersey. I did music back throughout most of my life, but it took a minute to find my path as a recording artist. It wasn’t till after college when I street performed in Los Angeles, CA that I realized my true passion and purpose was to advocate for mental health sharing my journey through the medium of music. I consider myself a soulful pop artist and singer-songwriter. That means I write my own songs in the commercial realm and do my best to organically bare my voice to the world.

The thing that makes me stand out professionally is my integrity to be 100% in everything I put my heart into and I have a rather uniquely identifiable clear, soulful voice. For example If we’re working in the studio, I’m not going to be the artist that is 2 hours late or unprepared to record. I’m going to be on time, know my part, and give it my all until we I leave for the day. I also set the expectations for my team to be a human, but also follow the schedule and vision, have everything in writing, and follow through on deadlines. Quality over quantity is my jam and making sure everyone involved knows they’re part of the team is really important to me. It take a village to bring a music career to life, let alone get it off the ground.

The other thing that makes me stand out is that for 7 years now, I’ve been writing mental health related songs way before it became a trend. I consider myself a tastefully open book. I have nothing to hide. While there must be filters for sake of privacy and branding, I feel like if I overcame something that was hard and I gained something from it, I want to timestamp it with a song for myself, but also share it with others. I want to help them feel a sense of authenticity, belonging, and to feel the fight in them to keep going. They are a reflection of me the way that I see it. I would want them to know they have it inside of them to be their own light for themselves and others too!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect some would say having a special talent, or maybe the power to set my schedule as apposed to a 9 to 5 job. I’d say thought that the best part for me is I get to be myself, and others get to benefit from it. Sure there is an “on” or an action button when creating art, doing an interview such as this that is curated if you will. As a creative I get to have fun being my authentic self through art, and people benefit from it. I’m able to communicate my story in a way, and my life in the lens that others can’t, but wish they could. Sometimes people need to express a feeling, or let go of something but they need some help with the words with getting it out. I think of that quote of “Where words fail, music speaks,” coming into play (HCA).

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I feel like I’ve unlearn sooo many things, probably like five on the daily hehe! If I had to choose one that’s the most relevant in this moment I would go with unlearning to set expectations to a rigid timeline. The definition of taking one’s time for me has been a huge learning curve. Being an ex-people pleaser and ex-perfectionist, I used to bend to the conveniences and schedules of others before thinking of my own. I let people walk all over me time and time again when my gut knew the answer. After being misadvised, I almost signed the master away for 3 of my songs. I used to shove down my needs and emotions thinking that was the way to live my best life, and I was mistaken. I was not in alignment with my truth. After learning the hard way time and time again to outgrow that habit, I don’t do that anymore. I live a different life and choose to be better than that and be kinder to myself now. Sure, there are still some things I’m unlearning and I’m taking even more time to take a breath and remove pressures from myself, but the playing field is different.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Sarah-Lightman.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/SarahLightman
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SarahLightmanSings
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-lightman-44420653/
• Twitter: www.Twitter.com/SarahLightman
• Youtube: www.Youtube.com/@SarahLightman
• Other: TikTok, track my shows, where to find my music, Twitch, Patreon, Join my mailing list, Discord etc: https://linktr.ee/sarahlightman

Image Credits
Mellie J Photography