Meet Sara Van Hecke | Singer-Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Van Hecke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think about risk taking as a necessity in my life and career. From the time I showed my best friend my first song I ever wrote, to now making my first studio full length album – risk taking has launched me forward time and time again. If you told that nervous 13-year-old me who could only fathom showing her song to a single person, that one day and a hundred songs later I’d be playing on stages, in bars, and recording my original music to share with so many… I would have passed out! Risk taking has been an integral part of my growth. Without it, one cannot truly flourish or reach their highest potential. I do not think of growth as linear however. I see it as more of an abstract process, a swirl of sorts, sometimes messy, strange, and hard to understand. But it’s important for me to keep putting myself out there – especially as a musician. If I keep putting my authentic self and energy into the world I can hope that sharing my story helps someone else share themselves fully. I always remind myself that “if it scares you a little, you are doing it right”. A little bit of fear in the next step only means you care and are invested in what you’re doing. Risk taking will continue to be part of my journey as an artist and I look forward to all the bumps along the way!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My music and songs are the closest thing to me. If you want to look right into my soul, you can through my songs. They are my closest thoughts, stories, dreams, and inspirations. If anything were to set me apart, I think it is this vulnerability or intimacy that I share through my music. I am fully aware however that this phenomena is not unique to me. Songwriters have been sharing themselves in this way for centuries. But I believe now, more than ever, we need storytellers to empower and connect people as we become more individualized and isolated from community life. We need so much collective healing and my hope is that my music plays a small part in that.

Right now, what I am most proud of and excited for is my upcoming debut full length album titled “Sun Soul”. I am hoping to release the album this summer 2022. I am working with producer Richard Raymond II in Colorado Springs, CO and I could not be more excited for people to hear what we have been creating. This album takes my music to places it has never been before. Although my roots are in folk and jazz, I love so many different types of music. I didn’t want to be confined to a style or genre for this album. We have intentionally let each song soar into a unique mix of style and instrumentation. I hope there is a song for everyone to enjoy and connect with!

It has not been an easy road to becoming a full-time singer-songwriter. Since graduating college, I have been in and out of full time and part time jobs in social services, nonprofits, and the service industry. Looking back, I was lost. Music has often taken the back seat in the grind to survive. It is a challenge to make a living as an independent singer-songwriter and for me has required a lot of patience and dedication. I can’t say I’ve overcome this challenge yet, it is still balance I am striving for. I still have to constantly remind myself to believe in myself and what I am doing and that sometimes it takes a long while to see the fruits of your labor. I look at some of my favorite bands/artists and they have written five or even ten albums sometimes before “making it”. Currently, I am grateful to be striking a beautiful balance between working as a part-time teacher at the Colorado Springs School of Music and working on my personal music goals. Music has always been a part of my life but it’s just been in the past year that I’ve fully committed to a life of music. I’ve never been so happy or fulfilled than I am now. There always comes a point as an artist where you just can’t stand anymore not doing what you love. It took me a long time to realize that doing what you love isn’t selfish, it’s selfish not to do what you love.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my high school music teacher Matt Doherty. After hearing my first song I had written, he pulled me aside after class and told me so seriously I need to keep writing music. Hearing this really scared me at the time, but it was a reassurance that I found what I am suppose to do.

Because of him, I felt a hunger to keep going despite the fear it gave me. To this day I attribute so much of my ear training, creativity, and drive to his mentorship and teachings.

I want to shoutout my family for coming to every show, busting their butts to sell tickets, and for sharing my music with literally anyone who will listen.

And finally a huge shoutout to my partner Eddy for being my number one support, believing in me, and dealing with the worst of my nerves before shows!

Website: saravanhecke.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatthehecke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saravanheckemusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZOfXdTteWZbHDPGxeHgQ7w

Other: spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5guiFqt07QDCRAhoZB7P8d?si=2e5pYuuRQPelosgP_d_zGw bandcamp: https://saravanhecke.bandcamp.com/