Pop music star and Broadway composer Sara Bareilles shares her journey from chart-topping hits to the theater stage. She opens up about the pressures of fame and aging, noting how the competitive nature of the music industry doesn’t resonate with her. In contrast, she finds joy in theater, where everyone celebrates shared experiences. Bareilles reflects on the emotional depth of her songwriting, the importance of authenticity amidst commercial pressures, and the collaborative spirit that theater fosters.
Sara Bareilles emphasizes the importance of maintaining artistic integrity and authenticity in a competitive industry that pressures artists to conform.
She highlights her deep-rooted love for theater as a collaborative space that fosters gratitude and connection, contrasting it with the music industry's competitiveness.
Deep dives
The Evolving Art of Songwriting
Writing music requires a disciplined routine that inspires creativity, as explained by the artist. The songwriter emphasizes that her creative process evolves with time and is influenced by personal experiences, particularly as she navigates her 40s. She recalls past challenges, such as the pressure from music executives to collaborate with other songwriters, which often felt inauthentic and stifling. Through these struggles, she learned the significance of maintaining her unique voice and the sacred intimacy of songwriting as an expression of her spiritual relationship.
The Return to Theater
The artist discusses her deep-rooted love for theater, stemming from her childhood experiences watching her mother perform. Although initially drawn to a career in music, she found herself yearning for the collaborative nature of theatrical productions. After taking a hiatus from touring, she rediscovered this passion through her work on the musical 'Waitress,' where she transitioned from performer to songwriter. This journey highlighted her realization that theater created an environment of gratitude and collaboration, contrasting with the more competitive nature of the music industry.
Navigating Vulnerability in Art
The artist reflects on the challenges young musicians face in a fast-paced industry that can lead to anxiety and burnout. She believes that while art itself is not vulnerable, artists often feel the pressure to conform to commercial demands. Emphasizing the importance of authenticity, she encourages new artists to focus on their artistic intentions rather than external validation or success. Her insights advocate for a deeper understanding of art as a sacred act and express the importance of maintaining artistic integrity amidst industry pressures.
Sara Bareilles broke out as a pop-music star in the late two-thousands. But she’s gone on to have a very different kind of career, writing music for Broadway and eventually performing as an actor on stage and on television. At the New Yorker Festival, in 2024, she played her early hit “Gravity,” and spoke with staff writer Rachel Syme about the pressures of fame, aging, and why she prefers working in theatre. “There’s so much competition in the music industry. I’m not a competitive person; I don’t understand it. It’s not that theatre isn’t competitive, but there’s this feeling—everybody’s so happy to be there. Like, ‘We got a show, guys, and we don’t know how long it’s going to last!’ ”
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode