Sara Haze: Rising Above It All On The LadderWhen I first listened to Sara Haze's CD The Ladder, I was immediately struck by the depth of the lyrics on each song and Sara's soulful voice. She is certainly a talented young contender in an industry that has come to rely on over production and glitz. Tours for The Ladder have kept Sara busy performing at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, POPKOMM Fest in Berlin, as well as gigs in New York, Nashville, Los Angeles and San Francisco. My dialogue with Sara for Indie Mosaic Music.
(Indie Mosaic Music): The Ladder is a somewhat stripped down musical journal of raw emotions. What was your inspiration for this CD?
(Sara Haze): From the time I was about 14 to 17 years old, living in Orange County, I witnessed a lot of really bad things happen to friends and some to my family. I even lost one of my good friends due to an overdose. I steered clear of all of this by coming home at night and writing down my thoughts. I also went through the ordeal of getting my heart broken repeatedly by the same idiot. All of those stories I wrote in my journal became the inspiration on my album. The Ladder was a lyrical ascension out of these issues and out of my life. It was how I got away from everything. Now that the record is out, a lot of my fans write to me. Whether they're 15 or 40, they have all found comfort in knowing that they are not alone in these situations and they can really relate to this record.
(IMM): As a songwriter, what do you find most satisfying AND most challenging about the process?
(Sara Haze): The most satisfying part of this process is knowing that I have reached people and made them take a look at themselves and their own lives. The most challenging part about songwriting is learning how to dig deeper, write outside of my comfort zone, and grow as a writer.
(IMM): On The Ladder you offer listeners a level of maturity as a songwriter and vocalist that transcends your age of 18. What do you attribute that to?
(Sara Haze): At a young age, I was exposed to a lot. Rather then being involved, I chose to help others, and help myself by writing about it. My mom introduced me to singing when I was very young. She was singing in rock bands and was a vocal coach. I wanted to be just like my mom when I was little so I began vocal training when I was four and was singing in church by the time I was five.
(IMM): Who are your current musical influences? And why?
(Sara Haze): Vocally, I love Christina Aguilera. That girl can sing and she really inspired me when I was a young girl. She just touched me in a way that I can't describe. All I know is that her voice still moves me, I'm a huge fan. I love John Mayer's songwriting and his voice is amazing. His entire vibe is just so cool and he's great live. I also really love Sara Bareilles. She is so real and honest in her lyrics and her songs are so catchy, and just brilliant. I love so many artists, but those are the ones that really stick out to me.
(IMM): What's your favorite song on The Ladder? And what's the back story for the song?
(Sara Haze): My Addiction is my favorite. That song just means so much to me. The lyrics are raw and honest. The first time I performed it in public, I just broke down because the story is so real to me. I wrote that song about my first love. He had an addiction problem, but then I realized that I did too. I was addicted to him and it was just so unhealthy that I had to get out of it.
(IMM): How would you describe your music to the uninitiated?
(Sara Haze): It's pop singer/songwriter but the songs are based on true life stories. Lyrically, I'm a story teller. My music in sincere and soulful.
(IMM): What instruments do you play on the CD?
(Sara Haze): I played the keys, the bass trombone and I can play a mean triangle. Just kidding, I just played the piano...
(Sara Haze): From the time I was about 14 to 17 years old, living in Orange County, I witnessed a lot of really bad things happen to friends and some to my family. I even lost one of my good friends due to an overdose. I steered clear of all of this by coming home at night and writing down my thoughts. I also went through the ordeal of getting my heart broken repeatedly by the same idiot. All of those stories I wrote in my journal became the inspiration on my album. The Ladder was a lyrical ascension out of these issues and out of my life. It was how I got away from everything. Now that the record is out, a lot of my fans write to me. Whether they're 15 or 40, they have all found comfort in knowing that they are not alone in these situations and they can really relate to this record.
(IMM): As a songwriter, what do you find most satisfying AND most challenging about the process?
(Sara Haze): The most satisfying part of this process is knowing that I have reached people and made them take a look at themselves and their own lives. The most challenging part about songwriting is learning how to dig deeper, write outside of my comfort zone, and grow as a writer.
(IMM): On The Ladder you offer listeners a level of maturity as a songwriter and vocalist that transcends your age of 18. What do you attribute that to?
(Sara Haze): At a young age, I was exposed to a lot. Rather then being involved, I chose to help others, and help myself by writing about it. My mom introduced me to singing when I was very young. She was singing in rock bands and was a vocal coach. I wanted to be just like my mom when I was little so I began vocal training when I was four and was singing in church by the time I was five.
(IMM): Who are your current musical influences? And why?
(Sara Haze): Vocally, I love Christina Aguilera. That girl can sing and she really inspired me when I was a young girl. She just touched me in a way that I can't describe. All I know is that her voice still moves me, I'm a huge fan. I love John Mayer's songwriting and his voice is amazing. His entire vibe is just so cool and he's great live. I also really love Sara Bareilles. She is so real and honest in her lyrics and her songs are so catchy, and just brilliant. I love so many artists, but those are the ones that really stick out to me.
(IMM): What's your favorite song on The Ladder? And what's the back story for the song?
(Sara Haze): My Addiction is my favorite. That song just means so much to me. The lyrics are raw and honest. The first time I performed it in public, I just broke down because the story is so real to me. I wrote that song about my first love. He had an addiction problem, but then I realized that I did too. I was addicted to him and it was just so unhealthy that I had to get out of it.
(IMM): How would you describe your music to the uninitiated?
(Sara Haze): It's pop singer/songwriter but the songs are based on true life stories. Lyrically, I'm a story teller. My music in sincere and soulful.
(IMM): What instruments do you play on the CD?
(Sara Haze): I played the keys, the bass trombone and I can play a mean triangle. Just kidding, I just played the piano...
(IMM): What's next for you musically?
(Sara Haze): I'm traveling to new cities to work with various songwriters and producers. The new cities and writers are bringing out a different side of me and I'm having so much fun writing new material and expanding myself as an artist. I have started traveling to Nashville and New York to work with some new writers and producers. Nashville songwriters are amazing. I am so glad that I got hooked up in that town. New York moves at such a fast pace. Just being in a different place and writing with people I don't know brings out different ideas. We have lots of new material and I can't wait for the world to hear it.
(IMM): I like to include a non-music related question as a part of the interview: What's an ideal vacation locale for you?
(Sara Haze): I'm traveling to new cities to work with various songwriters and producers. The new cities and writers are bringing out a different side of me and I'm having so much fun writing new material and expanding myself as an artist. I have started traveling to Nashville and New York to work with some new writers and producers. Nashville songwriters are amazing. I am so glad that I got hooked up in that town. New York moves at such a fast pace. Just being in a different place and writing with people I don't know brings out different ideas. We have lots of new material and I can't wait for the world to hear it.
(IMM): I like to include a non-music related question as a part of the interview: What's an ideal vacation locale for you?
(Sara Haze): I'm from Orange County, so I'm a beach girl. Laguna Beach is beautiful and it's my favorite place to go when I need to unwind and the sunsets are just gorgeous. I'm so lucky to have grown up there.
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