Songs Waiting to Be Written: An Interview with Sarah Katherine
By. Alicia Zamora
A Conversation with Sarah Katherine
In an exclusive interview conducted by Alicia’s Studio, we had the pleasure of sitting down with New York-based singer-songwriter Sarah Katherine, whose debut EP Look What I’m Learning has captured hearts with its raw emotion and poetic honesty. Throughout the interview, Sarah opened up about the inspirations behind her music, the grounding force of her surroundings, and the quiet clarity that comes from listening—both to the world and to herself.
When asked how her heart has been lately, Sarah Katherine shared that she’s been feeling surprisingly full and happy, drawing peace from warm weather and intentional moments of stillness. She spoke about taking a break from constant music consumption to better tune in to her own thoughts—a shift that has given her songwriting new depth and introspection.
Describing her sound as “cinematic indie folk pop—with a bit of grit and desperation,” Sarah Katherine explained how New York City continues to shape her creative process. She reflected on how the city’s chaos pushes her outward, offering a constant influx of experience and emotion that inevitably spills over into her writing. “If it’s not coming,” she noted, “it’s usually because the idea itself isn’t ready—or I haven’t lived the fruition of the song yet.”
Diving In
Alicia: Hey Sarah Katherine, I’m so excited to have you on! First off—how’s your heart these days? What’s been grounding or inspiring you lately?
Sarah Katherine: Eek! Thanks for asking! Honestly, my heart’s been surprisingly full and happy lately. It’s been so nice that the weather’s warming up—I've really been trying to soak up the sun. As for grounding… I’ve been focusing on connecting with my surroundings. I actually haven’t been listening to much music, which feels weird for me, but I think it’s been helping me listen to my own thoughts a bit more, haha.
Alicia: For those just discovering your music, how would you describe your sound in a sentence or two?
Sarah Katherine: Cinematic indie folk pop—with a little grit and desperation, haha.
Alicia: You’re based in NYC. How has that environment shaped your creativity or approach to songwriting?
Sarah Katherine: Funny enough, it’s actually really nice to get caught up in the chaos of it all. I never want to become too self-absorbed or stuck in my own head. New York kind of forces you out—it lets me experience so many different things and people all at once. So naturally, feelings build up… and when they do, I just need to get them off my chest. By the time I sit down to write, it feels like the song is already there, just waiting. If it’s not coming, it’s usually because the idea itself isn’t ready—or I haven’t fully lived the story I’m trying to tell yet.
Alicia: Your debut EP, Look What I’m Learning, is such a tender, beautifully composed body of work. What did the process of making it teach you about yourself?
Sarah Katherine: That really means so much—I’m so glad it resonates with you. The process taught me that it’s okay to take a step back, to think, and even to lose your shit a little. Good things take time. And if you’re not at some level of homeostasis, everything can fall apart. So yeah, overall, it taught me patience.
Alicia: The title alone—Look What I’m Learning—feels so vulnerable. Was there a particular moment or feeling that inspired that name?
Sarah Katherine: It actually came after I wrote “god you get me.” That lyric just felt like it captured the essence of all the songs on the EP in different ways. It came out so naturally that it felt meant to be. I also love the irony in the title. Yes, I’m learning—but I still have so much more to learn. That’s why the exclamation point matters. It feels like I’m trying to convince myself—“See? I am learning!”
Alicia: Your vocal harmonies and arrangements feel incredibly intentional. Can you share how you approach building those layers?
Sarah Katherine: I wish I could say the harmonies were super intentional, but honestly, they were pretty spontaneous during recording. The great thing about working with Ben Coleman on most of this project was that he let me throw stuff at the wall—and luckily, a lot of it stuck. That’s what you’re hearing. :)
Alicia: You’ve mentioned Madison Cunningham, Lucy Dacus, and Rufus Wainwright as influences. What is it about their music or storytelling that resonates with you most?
Sarah Katherine: Their voices and compositions have always felt so grand and full. It’s incredibly inspiring. They’re also deeply introspective—but not in the ways you’d expect, which I love.
Alicia: There’s a cinematic quality to your sound. Do you see your music visually when you’re writing? Are there specific images or scenes that come to mind?
Sarah Katherine: Aw, I’m honored! And gosh, that’s a great question. I think the visual aspect actually comes later for me. When I’m writing, I’m really led by feeling—it’s like my thoughts are pulling me somewhere, and I just follow. So the writing process is all about that raw, immediate emotion in the moment.
Alicia: Your new music video for “good lord! i’m trying!” is stunning. What was the vision behind it, and what do you hope people take away from it—visually and emotionally?
Sarah Katherine: I’m so glad it came together the way it did! The concept came from this feeling of constant, desperate movement—so I wanted to play with the idea of transportation. Train, bus, slide, ferry, escalator, plane—just go-go-go! But the heart of the video is this message: eventually, you have to pause. If you don’t, life catches up with you. So yeah, it’s okay to slow down.
Alicia: Now that you’ve hit the one-year anniversary of the EP, has your relationship to those songs changed? Do any lyrics hit differently now?
Sarah Katherine: It feels like a diary—like a little window into who I was at that time. It’s sentimental, but also comforting when certain songs still hit. And even more special when I see some of the lyrics in a new light.
Alicia: What’s usually your starting point when writing a song—does it begin with a lyric, melody, or a feeling?
Sarah Katherine: Sometimes I know exactly what I want to write about. Other times, the chords themselves end up telling me the story. I go back and forth, but lately, it’s usually me on my guitar—and then everything just unfolds at once.
Alicia: Do you have any “unofficial rules” when it comes to songwriting?
Sarah Katherine: I always have the urge to create chords by just playing around until I find something that feels right—rather than defaulting to the basics. But even when I play a normal chord, I’ll find some way to mess with it—to give it more depth and intrigue.