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INTERVIEW WITH SARAH MC LACHLAN << back l page 2
Val: Were you at all concerned about launching an overdue record? Sarah: Um, yeah, I was concerned because I knew the longer I was out of the game, the more work it would take me to get back into it. And, I knew that a certain number of fans – sort of the hard-core fans would still be there but, I knew that I’d lost a lot and would have to work really hard to get them back. And, y’know, after you have a child, your priorities change. So I kind of, like, I don’t wanna work quite as hard anymore. So um, you make certain sacrifices and you make decisions based on what’s right for me, and ah, y’know, I’m really happy. I think the record’s doing great, I’m finding, uh, a pretty good balance between being a mom and being a musician and… The older my daughter gets, the easier it gets too, because she’s more independent.
Val: Of course. You’ve gained a wonderful following from both critics and the general public alike. What do you think is it about you music that appeals to listeners? Sarah: Um, well I’d like to think that there’s ah… an honesty in it, and, and, ah, I mean, I write from the heart, I write what I feel, and I write about emotions and I write about things that I think probably are pretty universal and everybody goes through, and everybody feels loved, and everybody feels overwhelmed by things. And, and, uh, y’know, again, pretty, pretty universal emotions that everybody goes through. That’s it. For most part, the subject matter I talk about. So I think a lot of people can relate.
Val: Speaking of relating – your emotional ballads, a lot of it make people cry when you sing. What makes you cry? And what moves you? Sarah: Um, frustration makes me cry (laughs). Feeling overwhelmed makes me cry. But what moves me um, selfless acts of kindness moves me. Um, my child moves me, daily. Uh, seeing the world fresh through her eyes is incredibly moving.
Val: Speaking of selfless acts, are you involved with any charities right now? Coz you always were… Sarah: Um, I sort of – Yeah, I have an ongoing relationship with a number of charities. I haven’t done anything lately for anything. I mean, I’ve got, ah, my own charity – Sarah Mclachlan Foundation. I -- I started a, a free music school for children in Vancouver, three years ago. And um, that’s sort of an ongoing project that I’ve been putting a lot of money and time into.
Val: Good luck with that! Sarah: Thank you!
Val: As the originator of the Lillith Fair, how do you feel about being recognized as the artist who led record companies to be more willing to take more risks on women right across the industry? Sarah: Oh, it, it’s a great feeling to have been part of something that has provoked change. Much needed change, I would add (laughs).
Val: And in helping numerous female artists advance in their careers – female artists who, especially have followed in your footsteps – could you comment on that? Sarah: Again, it’s like, ah, it’s really fantastic to feel like I was part of something special. Um, Ilove the opportunity that we had to kind of, boost all of ourselves up. Um, because as ah, as a group, um, when we all banded together, we got to play in front of so many more people than we could have on our own. So it’s beneficial for all of our careers. And it’s, it’s really great to be able to help someone else out who’s just starting out. I mean, y’know, I got helped out, I was also in situations where I was sort of, y’know, not treated very well. And, I’ve always wanted to…y’know, where I found – if I found myself in the situation where I was in control, I was gonna make it as nice as it could be for everybody. And so, in doing Lillith, people came on, coz, y’know, one year we had 80 bands. Which is, y’know, 80 different crews as well. They come on to these festiVals, sometimes they’re all grumpy coz, like, ‘Uuuhhh…I don’t know how this is gonna be run…’ ‘Is it gonna be on time?’ ‘ Are people gonna be nice’ and at the end, everybody always had smiles on their faces, and they’re so relieved. Coz it was ran like a really tight ship. Everything ran on time, everybody was friendly, people were treated well, and, ah, we have fun! I mean, that’s the way my tours always are. I’ve had the same band and crew for fifteen years. And, yeah, I mean, some of them have come and gone, but, ah, the core of my band and crew have been with me since the beginning. It’s like a family.
Val: I think that’s what it eventually becomes after a while Sarah: Yup
Val: Now that the Lillith fair has gone down the books, what sticks out in your mind about it? Like, specifically and generally? Sarah: I would say, it – my favorite and most important memories are getting to do exactly what is initially I wanted to do which was to not only meet a lot of these women who I had such admiration and respect for, but you get to perform with them, to play with them and sing with them. And those are definitely the highlights.
Val: Are there any chances of having another Lillith fair in the near future? Sarah: No, I don’t think so. Um, I sort of wanted to end it on a high note. We’d had a great three-year run, we planned to do three years. At the end of it, we’re all tired, we’re all ready to go home and start something new, and um, y’know I think you put anything out over and over and over again, and, and, it starts to lose its specialness, so I’d rather leave it as – leave people wanting more.
Val: What’s the most fulfilling aspect of music making? Sarah: Ah…well, there’s two different kinds. There’s the joy of discovery, when you finally – when you work and work and work on a song and you finally get into a place where you’re really happy with it, and then also there’s performing live, which just serves like this, immediate gratification, but which is very exciting because you get to connect with a whole bunch of people and uh, there’s this amazing energy that goes back and forth, which is very intoxicating.
Val: What are you listening to now? Sarah: Well…Honestly I haven’t listened to much. What have I been listen-- Oh, I listened to the New Prince today. Musicology. Great!
Val: What’s next for Sarah Mclachlan in the future? What could we expect from you? Sarah: Well, I’m gonna be on the road till December, touring and promoting the record. Um, playing real shows with my band, I’m going to Australia and New Zealand in a week, and I’m doing North America this summer, and I’m doing Europe in October, November, and hopefully Southeast Asia in December
Val: Which leads me to my last question: the classic one – are you planning on stopping over here in the Philippines? Sarah: I hope so. I wanna stop everywhere (laughs)! I wanna play shows everywhere! It’s just a matter of, ah, lots of people making fuss. Y’know (laughs)? Everybody over there has to make a fuss, and, and, they want me to come. I would love to.
Val: And we would love to have you. Sarah: Thank you.
Val: Um, that’s about it… Sarah: Okay!
Val: Um, oh, last one! Sarah: Mhmm?
Val: Whose words do you live by? Like what words do you live by everyday? Sarah: Um, I don’t really have any one manta…ahh… ‘Do what makes you happy.’ I don’t know whose words they are, but (laughs)… and the other one that I find myself thinking about constantly is, “Do unto others what you would have done unto you.” And I’m not a religious person, but, ah, I sort of try and live by that rule.
Val: Wow. Okay, well, that’s it! Sarah: Thank you!
Val: Thank you so much, Sarah Mclachlan. Sarah: Thank you and take care!
© Valerie V. Mayuga, 2005
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copyright valerie v. mayuga 2005 |