Meet Sarah Banker | Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Banker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

Risk-taking is absolutely necessary for success, no matter what our goals, personal or professional. Of course, risk is best applied in a healthy, balanced approach. When I left my hometown, everyone in my life (except my dad) warned me that I was making a huge mistake. They didn’t understand, I had it all, a loving family, a good job and great friends but I was miserable and bewildered. Living day in and day out with a dull ache that wouldn’t subside no matter how much I meditated, practiced yoga, read self-help books and went to therapy. I felt like I was suffocating, I needed to explore myself and my life. With my mind made up,  I sold most of my belongings, gave away the stuff too special to sell, tossed the excess baggage, stored the memories, said my goodbyes and headed out with just a backpack and my guitar.

It was a huge risk to head out on my own. It was an emotional, unnerving journey to say the least. I found myself in the most interesting situations from recording vocals for a producer while staying on a commune in the jungle on the Big Island of Hawaii to playing music nightly in the middle of the southern Utah desert. The adventure of new people and places was an adrenalin rush but it didn’t take long for loneliness and sadness to set in, especially at night. It was often just me and my guitar. The solitude forced me to face myself without the distractions of the familiar and unfamiliar. It wasn’t pretty but it allowed me to dig deep and heal wounds I had been carrying around for most of my life. Those lonely remote moments were the incubator for my first EP, Lately. Especially, the songs “Lately” and “Ghosts”.

Now here I am, happier than I ever thought I could be and grateful everyday for the leap of faith I took over 8 years ago.  It has been such a gift.  I am a true believer that if applied with intention risk taking can force us out of our comfort zone in such a way that allows our growth and creativity to thrive.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Hey there, I am Sarah Banker a singer/songwriter and lead singer of American Sound Lab.  My intention with music has always been to uplift and soothe the soul but within the last couple years my approach has changed. My first EP, Lately, (available on all streaming services) is a raw look into the depth of emotional trauma,  loneliness, and emerging on the other side. Since then, I’ve continued the journey of healing and growth but I’ve been experiencing it from a broader perspective.

The aspect of my career I am most excited about is my “Why”. To be honest, when I initially set out as a singer/songwriter it was all about me and my success but the pandemic slapped me across the face with a strong dose of reality and got me asking myself “how can I be a part of the solution and not the problem?”. During the pandemic, I studied and completed a hypnotherapy certification program diving deep into the mind. During my studies, I learned that the mind holds all the power in our lives, it can be our ally or our enemy. If we are hurting individually then we hurt as a collective and that pain and negativity leak out into all aspects of our lives and our relationships; as within so without.  As we become more connected globally through social media and such, our energy spreads that much faster around the world. Now a days,  I am writing music for and about you, us, we as humans, and our potential for prosperity and peace amongst each other and with our planet. Currently, I am in the process of producing these new songs which are scheduled to be released in 2023.

The biggest challenge I’ve experienced has been marketing.  I am shy and I have a lot of resistance around self-promotion, especially on social media but I am learning to overcome my shyness because social media is such a great tool for connection with friends and fans, and building community. In the meantime, fortunately, word of mouth has been essential to my music success. The most important thing I have learned on this journey is the value of authenticity as an artist. In a world of filters and trends, the realness of the individual is what attracts our tribe. I am in it for the long haul and I intend to build a community that is supportive and true to our loving, generous, and compassionate human nature.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I live up in Nederland so when my friends come to visit I always take them on a hike in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It’s so wonderful to get out of the bustle of town and find ourselves in the serenity of nature. Coloradans are so fortunate to have such diverse nature minutes away. Especially living in Nederland, I can access so many trails right out my front door. Mud Lake and Caribou Open Space are my go-to when friends are in town, they are easy hikes most can enjoy with ease.

On the days we are resting from our hiking adventures I would take my friends to downtown Denver to enjoy the city life for a bit. We would take a stroll along the 16th street mall to check out the shops and the cheery illuminations (especially around the holiday season), in the evenings I would treat them to a Sofar Denver or Sofar Boulder show to check out up-and-coming local musicians and of course, take them to Dazzle where incredibly talented musicians play daily/nightly.

Back up in Nederland we would enjoy a dinner at Kathmandu, family owned and operated by Resham Gurung and her husband Lok Malla. They are wonderful people and their restaurant has the most savory Lamb Vindaloo and Shrimp Curry I have ever tasted! We would also have to eat lunch or dinner at CrossCut Pizza and go to Busey Brews for Thursday night Trivia. To keep our spirits light, we would go for a twirl on the Carousel of Happiness, a work of art in itself. Afterward, we would head next door to Brightwood Music to check out what Doug Armitage, Nederland’s incredibly talented luthier and professional musician, has going on in the store. It is often he will have at least one or two musicians playing around in there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout is dedicated to my family. Especially my mom and step-dad, Katherine and Bob, my loving husband, Brent, and his parents, Linda & Rick. They have been huge supporters of my music and my growth. I am forever grateful for their uncensored critiques and overwhelming encouragement.

Website: www.sarahbankermusic.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-banker-a3631b56/

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

Youtube: www.youtube.com/sarahbankermusic

Other: Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/Lately-Sarah-Banker/dp/B07GY2251X Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6eW1FPrHHUkND9KDdMmEnm

Image Credits
Give SofarBoulder credit for the Sofar Boulder post pic Credit: IMG_4104 & IMG_4120 to Robert Moody IMG_4784 & IMG_4796 to Brent Bishop