Last week, the wonderful folks at the Saskatoon Star Phoenix ran a wonderful story about the new album on the front page of their Arts section. It’s a really interesting and lovely thing to read about your own journey through someone else’s eyes. Thank you Stephanie McKay for a fun visit, and for sharing your fantastic story-telling talents!
You can read the article at The Star Phoenix website (or click the picture above)!
–SFar
!
Allow me to introduce my friend Vero. She’s been staying at my house for the past few days, and I’m all nostalgic about one autumn three years ago when our friendship was cemented.
Vero and I took a two-week tour through Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario in November of 2012. We learned each others’ songs and did a set of duets every night. We saw some beautiful autumn vistas in the Canadian Shield. We ate life-changing Italian food in Toronto, and equally amazing paninis in Yorkton. I learned that French Canadian people, if Vero’s family is any indication, are some of the warmest people in this country (and some of the funniest).
I almost didn’t go on that tour. I almost said “No” because I was scared that we would lose money, that we’d get caught in a blizzard, that no one would come to our shows, or that my new super-rad gal pal would get sick of me after being together 24/7 for two weeks.
Some of those things did happen. We made a little money, but not a ton. We had some sketchy weather (and super sketchy accommodations), but we made it. We had a few small-turnout shows, but those were the most fun. We needed a few breaks from each other, but our friendship was cemented to that semi-permanent, sibling-like status where you won’t ever lose touch completely. Everything worked out—mostly because of Vero’s sense of humour and problem-solving skills. I am grateful that Vero nudged me to take a leap of faith, and that she continues to inspire me to bravery.
I’m also grateful that Vero makes time to jam and play shows with me. She is a musical swiss army knife, playing keys, violin & guitar, and singing and writing better than most people. Her time and talent is in demand because she always knows what is needed to bring a song to life. Vero had a big hand in helping my new record turn out as well as it did.
Finally, I am grateful to have such a charming, warm, hilarious, deep-thinking and crazy-creative gal pal in my life. I am pumped that she’ll be playing at my album release show Friday Oct 23rd I can’t wait to share our fun with everyone.
Love your gutz Vero!
#heartbeats #gratituesday #whenyouranswercomes
Today, I am thankful for my friend Fionncara (Cara).
Cara and I cemented our friendship when we were roomies on the Grade 12 band trip. I was competing in a scholarship competition at the music festival and kept waking both of us up with stress nightmares. She was super cool about it, and we bonded over our mutual fascination with dream interpretation and Catholic spirituality. Since then, we’ve shared innumerable pots of tea, lamented about the necessary poverty of an artistic life, road tripped together at least once yearly, and regularly dressed up to dance to a buttload of cheesy 80’s music in our apartments.
Cara is an incredibly talented poet. She has a mysterious and secret relationship with words that makes you wonder if she was raised by them in the wild. She can get them to reveal things, paint pictures and show themselves in ways I never could. They will paint heartbreaking, hilarious and eloquent pictures for her. It’s sometimes spooky and always inspiring.
Cara understands the neurotic artist part of me that sometimes panics, gets discouraged and wants to quit. She’s gone through this too, but luckily we have rarely been in that headspace at the same time. I can rely on her to kick my butt back into action. From Cara, I have learned to allow myself to be human & that I’ll laugh at my foibles later on. I have learned how to listen on the wind and read the lines on people’s faces. Art is prayer. If I’m always praying, then I’ll always have the inspiration I need for the next project. I won’t get stuck in self-oriented neurotic ruts. The words will eventually learn to dance for me too.
I’m still a clunky amateur, but maybe one day I’ll get there.
Love you gurlll,
and thank you.
(And Happy Birthday-week! Wooooo!!!)
#GratitTuesday #heartbeats #whenyouranswercomes
It’s Gratituesday again! As I mentioned on FB last week Tuesdays are now the day when I will post a little bit of appreciation for someone who has made a positive impact on my journey—whether they know it or not.#gratituesday #heartbeats
This week’s Tuesday shout-out goes to Geordie Gescha Trifa.
Occasionally, you meet someone whose creative process is a friggin’ force of nature. Witnessing the other person in action, you’re awed beyond any precedent you’ve experienced, while at the same time feeling utterly destroyed in any lofty estimation of your own talents. You end up torn between a newly energized sense of inspiration and also a feeling of “why do I even try?” because your own work comes nowhere close. This is what collaborating with Geordie is like (and the trick, by the way, is to stay on the inspired side of the coin and work your butt off).
Geordie has a formidable artistic talent which does not appear to slow down when he switches media. He is a great songwriter, a stellar performer, and an insightful filmmaker. I have had the privilege of collaborating with Geordie for years on music and it has made a huge impact on my creative life. Geordie is the best kind of friend a creative person can have because he’ll remember the inspired, expansive version of your idea, keep it crystallized in his pocket, and be ready to hand it back to you when self-doubt has starved your version into a tiny morsel of its former self. From Geordie, I have learned to keep moving forward, keep inspired, and that the expansive version of the dream is the truest and most trustworthy version.
This spring Geordie and Rob (with the aid of some funding from Creative Saskatchewan!), made a music video for my song ‘Ghost.’ You’ll be able to see this talent at work tomorrow, when I release it. Stay tuned,
and thank you Geordie.
Friends! I am thrilled to announce that my new album When Your Answer Comes will be released on Friday October 23rd!!! Here is the cover art for the album!
In the next few weeks, I will be releasing the first single off this album, along with a music video and pre-order details!
My Saskatoon release show will be held at The Bassment as part of their Roots Series (sponsored by CFCR 90.5 FM – Saskatoon Community Radio). Tickets are available at:
https://www.showclix.com/event/sarahfarthingcdrelease
More details soon!!! Spread the word!
Production was made possible with support from Creative Saskatchewan's Market & Export Development Program.
