Sarah Winters

In January 2011, Sarah Winters made the move from her childhood state of Minnesota to the city of perpetual sunshine, Los Angeles. Since moving, she has found success playing venues like Room 5 Lounge, The Hotel Cafe, WitZend, Bootleg Bar, and Silverlake Lounge. The first full-length album from Sarah Winters highlights her signature heartbreaking lyrics and intimate vocals. It was released in April 2010, and features her with a band: Kristopher Schoen on drums and Baylen Wagner on cello. The album, titled Smallest Bones, is an assortment of love songs: falling in love songs, falling out of love songs, being in love songs, and wishing you were no longer in love songs.

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Sarah’s voice is one that often catches people off guard. She’s not afraid to use her full range, and there’s a weakness in her voice that lends itself well to the heartbroken lyrics she pens. Sarah is venturesome enough to go to an awkward place vocally, whether it’s holding a note a little too long or using unusual phrasing. The way she displaces syllables is sometimes Tori Amos-like, and she also has a vocal flip like Tori’s, showing a distinct difference between upper and lower registers. On Smallest Bones, the vocals are immediate and exposed, having a sound similar to St. Vincent or Rachael Yamagata albums. It’s as if she’s sitting in the same room as you. Every single vowel, consonant, inhale, exhale, and spit movement is heard.

The lyrics Sarah writes are often true stories from relationships past, like opening your diary and hearing it sung back. They are painfully honest and painfully intimate. Sarah plays the piano in a very deliberate patterned style, similar to Kate Bush or Regina Spektor. This provides the perfect backdrop for lyrics and vocal melodies, which are the focal point of the songs. As a performer, Sarah is shy and soft spoken. She makes up for this with heartfelt commentary and a sweet disposition.