Sarah Borges is back! With the support of her ever-loving fans, Borges is hitting the road full force after a hiatus from the music scene. The retro-rock songster is now on a Northeast tour to promote her upcoming album, “Radio Sweetheart.” You can catch her at The Plough & Stars in Cambridge, Massachusetts this Friday, November 22nd.
In the meantime, I got to talk to Sarah about her music and get some more insight into what exactly went behind the making of this album.
Anjali: You used to be in a band “Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles.” How was your approach to writing your new album different from what you did with The Broken Singles?
Sarah Borges: I had played with the Broken Singles guys enough to be able to anticipate what they would play on a song, so I could write with them in mind. That changed on this album, the songs that I wrote specifically for the album were done without any idea of what they would turn out like.
Anjali: We’ve been lucky enough for the chance to listen to “The Waiting and the Worry,” one of the songs off the upcoming album. What is the meaning behind this song?
Sarah: It’s a pretty self-explanatory song I guess, just about feelings you have as you’re trying to figure out if someone you’re in a relationship with likes you as much as you like them. I wrote that song with my husband, Lyle Brewer, and Kimon Kirk, who play guitar and bass on “Radio Sweetheart,” respectively. It came together really fast, despite the fact that my son, who was still an infant, joined us on the songwriting session. You can hear him squawking in the background on the original demo.
Anjali: Your sound has been described as having a lot of retro and rock n’ roll influences. How do you think this can stay relevant with today’s music?
Sarah: Music is like people, everyone descended from somewhere. Some bands and musicians just show their influences a little more prominently, but everybody’s got them, so I don’t think staying relevant is a concern so long as that showing is done in some new, creative way.
Anjali: So you’re heading out on a mostly-Northeast tour to promote your music. Which show are you looking forward to the most and why?
Sarah: That’s a tough one. I honestly can’t pick one, because most of the places we’re playing have a special place in my heart because we’ve played there many times before. Each show has a different vibe, thinking of the regular fans we’ll see there, what the room looks like, what it sounds like. I’m really just looking forward to all of them!
Anjali: You had mentioned in an interview with Patriot Ledger that at one point in your career with The Broken Singles, the realities of being touring musicians made it difficult to continue as a band. What inspired you to work on this record and get back on the road?
Sarah: I’m doing it a little differently this time. I definitely wanted to keep playing music after the Broken Singles, but took time off to have a child. Because of him, I’m not willing to go on tour in a van for eight weeks at a time, but I am wanting to play as much as I possibly can. As for why I started playing again after he was born, this is my job. It’s the only one I’ve had for almost 10 years, so it was a little like going back to work after maternity leave!
Anjali: Growing up close to Boston, what was your favorite concert that you went to here? What’s your favorite Boston venue to play at?
Sarah: The best concert I went to – there are too many to count, but I remember going to the Central Square World’s Fair in Cambridge in 1995 or ’96, and seeing Morphine play, and it was just incredible. I had just moved to Boston for college, and it seemed indicative of everything that was open and available to me in my new world. As for my favorite venue, I don’t really have one. As long as it’s a great show with friends I’m in.
Anjali: “Radio Sweetheart” must be extra special considering its production was funded almost entirely by your fans. What’s your favorite fan story?
Sarah: Gosh, let’s see. It really was incredible that we raised more than $15,000 for the record. I guess that’s my favorite fan story. I was really nervous after being away for a couple of years that fans would have forgotten about me, or would just not care, but every one of those donations made me feel like I could still do it, like I still was a relevant musician.
Anjali: Last question, just for fun. If you could go back in time and witness any moment in rock n’ roll history, what would you want to see?
Sarah: I would really like to have been an active musician in the 1990’s. I know that’s not a particularly glamorous time period to pick, but so much of the music that I consider desert island records comes from then, and I feel like everything was much more open to bands just starting out, with indie rock coming into full flower. My answer might change tomorrow, but right now I’m existing on a purely ’90s soundtrack – Morphine, Pavement, Sloan, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine and the Posies.