The Songs That Shaped Me: Sara Grace
Interview with Jay Lowe (Guest contributor)
The Songs That Shaped Me delves into the tracks that mean the most to Sara Grace and why they are most important to her. She is a Scottish pop/soul singer whose latest EP, Fearless, was released last month.
The first song I remember being in love with
Sara: ‘Without You’ by Mariah Carey. My mum’s friend gave me a Mariah Carey tape for Christmas when I was about eight or nine, and I was completely obsessed. I’d sit in my room for hours with my little cassette player, with it on repeat. I didn’t understand heartbreak at that age, but I could feel it. That was probably the first time I realised how powerful a song and a voice could be.
The song that gets me up on the dancefloor
Sara: ‘Rasputin’ by Boney M. My daughter and I both love this one. The minute it comes on, we’re up dancing and doing our best backing singer moves. It’s pure joy, silly, fun and full of energy. It’s the kind of song that reminds me music doesn’t always have to be deep or serious, sometimes it’s just about having a laugh and moving your body.
The song that reminds me of a special someone
Sara: ‘Silver Springs’ by Fleetwood Mac. There’s something about this song that always takes me somewhere else. It’s full of emotion and unspoken things, and it hits differently depending on where you are in life. For me, it’s so raw and emotive, you can hear that in her voice.
The first single I ever bought
Sara: ‘Killing Me Softly’ by Fugees. I remember buying this in Woolworths. I thought I was so cool. Lauryn Hill’s voice completely blew me away; it was soulful and effortless. I must have played it non-stop. It’s still one of my favourite covers ever.
My favourite song to perform
Sara: There are so many songs that I love to perform, but there’s nothing quite like performing your own songs. I really enjoy performing ‘Fearless’, it always feels great live, it’s the one that really seems to connect with people.
The song I’m loving right now
Sara: ‘Out My Mind’ by Hen Hoose Collective. I met Shears recently and heard this track she worked on with the Hen Hoose Collective, and I just loved it straight away. It’s got so much energy and attitude, and I really love that it’s bringing women together to collaborate and create powerful music. It feels exciting and fresh.
The song that takes me back to school
Sara: ‘Everybody’ (Backstreet’s Back)´ by Backstreet Boys. This was absolutely massive when I was at school; everyone loved it, especially the boys (in the band). It’s one of those songs that instantly takes me back to that time.
A song that reminds me of a crush
Sara: ‘Plug in Baby’ by Muse. This takes me back to my teenage years. It reminds me of those intense crushes where everything felt so big and dramatic. Muse had this dark, powerful sound that completely enthralled me.
The song I wish I’d recorded
Sara: ‘Lost on You’ by LP. I remember hearing this on holiday for the first time and just being floored by it. The emotion, the honesty, the melody, everything about it feels raw and true. LP’s delivery is incredible, and it’s one of those songs that makes you stop what you’re doing and just listen. I’d love to have written something that real.
Thank you, Sara Grace, for speaking to The Other Side Reviews. Learn more about her on Instagram, Facebook and Spotify
