Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your musical journey and Background?
My name is Sara Beth Yurow and I am a Pop Punk artist. I grew up in the small beach town of Kailua in Hawaii, before moving to LA to pursue music, where I currently split my time. I have been singing for as long as I can remember, and I started writing songs when I was 10 as an outlet for my angst-I must’ve written at least several hundred by now. I have 7 years of classical Italian Opera training for technique, and when I am not writing music I am dancing and trying to learn Arabic. I also hold a certification in Medical Assisting. The coolest gigs I’ve had are probably singing backup for Rachel Platten in her Pro Bowl Pregame Show on ESPN and dancing in Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
aWho are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound and style?
Technique wise, I was trained to belt and do riffs in the style of Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston by my first coach, Anmercil Canoneo, which you can probably hear. Three Days Grace and Panic! At the Disco were some of the bands I grew up listening to that have those absolutely beautiful guitar riffs that inspire a lot of the songs I write. When I do something more poppy, Selena Gomez was an unexpected influence. I used to carpool to work with a girl who played her a lot, and whoever is her sound engineer is fantastic, because I spent those car rides just studying the tracks.
Can you share a specific artist or album that has had a significant impact on your music?
The very first album I ever bought was probably the most influential-Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go”. I remember as a preteen having all of these feelings, and no idea what words to put to them, and Avril just sort of said it all. She gave me a choice of what kind of woman I wanted to be, which thank goodness, because being ultra-feminine and perfect was just too hard to maintain. She taught me to write, basically, by just being honest and introspective.
What’s your creative process like when you’re composing or writing a new song?
It’s a little different with every song. Sometimes a melody comes to me with no words at the most impractical times while I’m showering or driving. Sometimes the words and the beat come to me first. Sometimes it’s like a trance, it just comes to me all at once like the universe is whispering in my ear, and I’m trying to get it all out as fast as I can in the middle of the night, and I’ll read it days later like, “woah…did I write that?”
Among all the songs you’ve created, do you have a personal favorite? If so, what makes it special to you?
That’s like asking me which child I love the most! They’re my babies! Don’t tell the other songs…but “Thrill Seeker” is very near and dear to me. I think I still have a very rough version of it up on my YouTube somewhere, but I’m definitely going to do an official version at some point because I love it so much.
Can you share the story or inspiration behind that particular song?
I wrote it right after I had graduated high school and I love it because it’s about the part of me that scares me the most. I try to be a very responsible, altruistic person who always does the right thing, but there’s this big, wordless, almost animal part of me that wants to touch the stove, or dive off the cliff, that both terrifies and intrigues me at the same time, and I’m constantly trying to keep her in check.
Let’s talk about your latest song. What’s the title, and what’s the story or message behind it?
My latest song is a single called “Spin” off of my debut EP “Mischievous” and it’s a really sexy, fun anthem about discovering a new love and all the rush of emotions that come with it. It’s a 3-way collaboration between my producer Natalia Bortolotti, her friend fellow songwriter Lisa Finkernagel, and I, and I really think it shows what magic can happen when people make music together because it’s an absolute banger.
Share a memorable or unique experience from one of your live performances.
So I’m in LA and it’s 2019 and I’m doing a set for Canter’s Deli’s Kibitz Room, and my dad had come to visit me, and I have this huge scratch going across my chest where my seatbelt had dug into me the day before, because we had been in a head-on collision when the lights at an intersection went out on the way to the airport. I decided “screw it, the show must go on” so I wore a tank top and in my intro that night I explained why I was a shining example to always wear your seatbelt. The set went well but I will never forget it.
Beyond music, do you have any hobbies or interests that you’re passionate about? How do they influence your music?
I’m very passionate about dance and also about travel and different cultures. I grew up dancing hip hop, which is probably why I’m so passionate about melisma and riffing, and people keep telling me “Twenty One Night Stands” has an R&B flavor to it, which is so funny because it’s supposed to be pure electropop, so I think it’s my dance background creeping up on me.
I also listen to a lot of middle eastern music, but I haven’t started writing in Hebrew or Arabic yet! I have written a few songs while being overseas that I’m hoping to release at some point that tie in with particular countries and themes.
Is there a dream collaboration you’d like to pursue in the future?
I feel like it would be so much fun to sing with Panic! At the Disco. They’re my favorite band, and I just love their energy and their musicality-I love almost every song I listen to. They’re just so melodically unique. Either that or Ariana Grande. I feel like we could have a lot of fun riffing off each other.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting their journey in the music industry?
I would say make sure you love what you do, because there are going to be days that you aren’t going to get the gig, and so really being passionate about making music-loving it anyways-that is what is going to sustain you. Make sure you’re in it for the right reasons. Not just to be famous. Define what “success” means to you and be open to multiple definitions . Don’t box yourself into “I won’t be happy until I’m where Taylor Swift is at.” Set smaller, more attainable goals along the way that will lead you there, to keep you sane. I’m not saying you won’t make it-I’m saying don’t drive yourself crazy before it happens!
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or new music you have in the works? What can your fans and listeners look forward to from you in the near future?
I actually have my debut EP “Mischievous” dropping on January 26th! It’s got 6 songs-5 written completely by me and that one collaborative piece I mentioned earlier. All are produced by 2x Grammy Nominee Natalia Bortolotti, and I’m really proud of how colorful and well-rounded the sound is-we really put our heart and soul into it. We dreamed it up during the pandemic and I could not be more excited to share the one silver lining that came out of such a crazy time.