Sara Rae: From Soulful Beginnings to Alt-Rock Evolution

Rising Scottish songwriter Sara Rae isn’t just wearing her heart on her sleeve; she’s tattooed her journey into every note she sings. Hailing from Glasgow, Sara first made waves in 2023 with her debut singles, heartfelt tributes to the love of her life. Now, as she prepares to drop her debut EP later this year, she’s taking a bold step towards a new sound influenced by the alt-rock anthems of the 90s and 00s. With her upcoming single "Wish You Well" set to release on June 28th, Sara Rae is ready to showcase her dynamic range and emotional depth like never before.

1. Sara, your first two singles in 2023 were heartfelt tributes to your wife. How did your personal experiences shape these songs, and how do they compare to the tracks on your upcoming EP, especially with its 90s/00s alt-rock influence?

"October" and "Catriohna" are songs for and about my now wife. They are the most personal songs i could ever have written. Catriohna and I met in the month of October five years ago and not long after we met I had written "October".  We met at a time where both of us had a lot going on both in life and mentally. On our first date we stood in the kitchen of her flat and hugged for twenty minutes straight. It was just an incredible connection that neither of us could really explain. "Catriohna" was written not long after we got engaged. I didn't set out to write it but I was messing around with some chords and lyrics and it just came out. After becoming a solo artist I wanted my releases to be undoubtedly me.

These were the most honest songs I had written and so I decided to release them. At the time I wanted to reinvent myself in the industry and was trying desperately to figure out what genre I wanted to fall into. I felt like since I'd released these two songs I had to stay within the Indie/folk bracket. But after realising how freeing it can be to showcase the vulnerable side of me, a lot of the songs I performed were equally as honest but showed a darker side of my life. I started to delve back into the suppressed feelings and stories I had throughout my life and I soon realised it wasn't all love songs and perfect endings. This then sparked the songs that would create my debut EP. These songs, similar to my first two tracks, explored the honest reactions to past and present events.

It was a really emotive experience and though the sound is different, they are just as honest as the 2023 releases. I think that in finding the emotional stability in my life and being able to write such honest (soppy) love songs I then had the freedom to explore the angrier counterparts of vulnerability, almost like going back to my teenage angst years were the 90's/00's is what i wanted to listen to when I was feeling angry or confused. It's exactly what the EP showcases and it's been incredibly freeing.

2. You describe your new single, "Wish You Well," as a “firecracker” and a shift from your previous folky releases. Can you delve into the story behind this song and how it transformed from a slow lofi pop track to an indie rocker?

The song isn't just about one event but an accumulation of different times. It's a song about people who left basically. I would always take massive offense to when people would disappear from my life. I now know that that is just a part of growing up. "Wish You Well" really came out of nowhere. I was having the worst song drought of my life. I work 40-50 hour weeks and am always so exhausted that finding the time to rehearse, create content, write songs, see family or even keep my plants alive gets really tricky. I was feeling a little bit alone and kind of spiralling about how stressful the last few weeks have been and all of these feelings started circling. All the relationships I wanted back and the impact they had on my life and what my life would be like if they were still there or never left. I was looking at some dying, some thriving plants and imagined a seed being dropped in what was inhabitable soil and finding a way to grow.

Because at that time I sort of felt like I was walking on uneven ground and was trying to find my feet.  And then I started looking at my flat and this little life I had built for myself and the unwavering support I had around me and any angry feelings I had about past relationships just disappeared into genuinely hoping they're doing good. The change in the song was interesting. I write my songs on either piano or acoustic guitar and then transfer it over to the laptop to record for the band members to learn. I would spend a bit of time just messing around with what the track could possibly sound like so I was throwing some soft synths over it and playing around with echo and reverb for the vocals. But when we got into the rehearsal room the first playthrough with the live drums and bass just created this angst and passion driven song that the more grit we added to it the more we felt connected to the song, so I left the lofi mix and just let myself get lost in this new direction the song was going in and honestly it is the best song i've ever recorded and it took a lot of my close friends by surprise. Releasing this track first represents my "I'm back and you're gonna want to listen to what i have to say".

3. Your childhood was filled with country music influences and a passion for performing. How did these early experiences and musical exposures shape your journey as an artist, and how do they continue to influence your music today?

I was really lucky that when I was growing up, different people in my life introduced me to different genres of music. My mum would listen to Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers. My Granda was a big fan of Johnny Cash. I even inherited my big brother's old MP3 player that still had all his music on it so he introduced me to Razorlight and Arctic Monkeys. Once I had heard of an artist and the style of music that they did, I always made a point to delve deeper into that genre of music and how it's made. I didn't learn guitar until I was 16 and whilst studying acting in college my lecturer saw my interest in music and gave me a CD of his favourite female singer-songwriters which helped me discover Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell and loads more. So my taste in music was heavily influenced by those around me. They helped open my eyes out of my comfort zone and I continue to use that influence in every song that I write. I was always a very performative person. I wanted to be involved in anything that had a stage. I was eventually given permission to join GAA (Glasgow Acting Academy) theatre group. I was part of the musical theatre and acting group and being a part of that really helped open up my stage performance and how stage presence is so vital in a show to make the audience feel comfortable.

4. You've mentioned discovering many of your musical influences through video games like Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row. Can you share more about how these unique sources of inspiration have impacted your musical style and creative process?

I have 3 big brothers. So, growing up I wanted to mimik everything that they were doing. The most time we spent together was playing football and rounders in the street and then teaching me how to play computer games. I know full well they only wanted to play me at Fifa so they could beat me 26-0 but I had a lot of fun hanging out with them. They would let me play GTA and Saints Row 2 while they were away telling me "Don't do any missions" cause they didn't want me to ruin their progress. So before I learned how to actually play the game and its missions I would just use their accounts giving new makeovers to their characters and driving around in the cars. You can change the radio stations to different genres of music and for a long time I didn't know these songs and bands were real until I really started to love them. Songs like "Face Down" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and it was the first time I heard "Misery Business" by Paramore.

Looking back on it now I find it crazy that I hadn't heard of Paramore before. They're such a mainstream band and I had just become a recluse with my comfort music. Not long after that I was obsessed and was given the "Riot - Live" CD for a secret santa. I was pretty insufferable once I had discovered them. But yeah, I think it's mad that you could find your next favourite bands from playing a computer game.

5. As someone who started with a love for Guitar Hero and then transitioned to playing a real guitar and joining a band, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting out and trying to find their own sound?

I played Guitar Hero so much that I genuinely believed I was a rockstar. It was embarrassing. My mum had bought me this old electric guitar and I looked over to it and said to myself "I gotta really learn how to play". I had no idea what I was doing. I didn't know how to change the strings so I ended up unscrewing the back of the guitar and all its components only to realise it was definitely not from inside the guitar. So I had to screw it all together again and just practice. I learned like 4 chords and then decided to join a band as a rhythm guitarist and basically learned along the way. I became the lead vocalist of that band not long after but continued to write and practice on the guitar. 

The only advice that I can give is keep going. Draw your influences from those around you. Don't stay in your comfort zone and push your boundaries every now and then. Cause you might feel like your feet are barely touching the ground but that might just be the best music you've ever performed. Writing about your hardest personal battles will never be comfortable but getting lost in the creation of it is something so special.

Before going into the studio to record "Wish You Well" I realised I couldn't actually afford to do it without ending up in some debt. So I said to myself that this is the last song and if it doesn't perform the way you want it, take a break and get yourself in the place where you can release music again. After the mix of "Wish You Well" came back I was ecstatic and cried after listening to the production of it. I was then approached by Extreme Music (formerly KPM) about any songs I had. I sent "Wish You Well" and they signed me on for an EP deal. I am now working with a label where I have the creative freedom to move at my own pace and can see some benefits in it. So yeah, trust the process, don't give up and keep your head up cause it's not an easy industry but with the right support system you can achieve incredible things.

6. With your debut EP set to drop later this year and upcoming performances at Heartlands Festival and King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, what are you most excited about in this next chapter of your career, and what can fans expect from your live shows?

I am just incredibly excited to play in front of new people. While on stage I like to make the audience feel comfortable and connected to the songs and journey I took to write them. I work with an incredibly talented bunch who are extremely supportive and any time we take to the stage together it's an incredible experience. I'm looking forward to "Meet Me There" (EP track number 2) to come out two days before our headline Glasgow show and really excited to see how the EP performs. If you come and see me live, It's no gimmicks, it's me on stage telling you my stories, making jokes and having a boogie along with everyone there. The happiest you will ever see me is on a stage and yeah I can't wait for the upcoming shows.