The New Yorker Radio Hour cover image

The New Yorker Radio Hour

Sara Bareilles Talks with Rachel Syme

Jan 7, 2025
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.
18:45

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • 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.

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