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Voice with a a Soulful Smolder
Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: September - 2022
Sara Darling’s bringing her irrepressibly joyous sound to the September 7 Orchard Session at Old Edwards. For updates and to book online visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/OrchardSessions.
Iam on the phone with country artist Sara Darling, talkingabout her Wednesday, September 7, performance at OrchardSessions at Old Edwards.Darling’s warmth radiates through the phone. She tells me abouther upbringing, of which she is unfailingly joyful – about grow-ing up outside of Des Moines, Iowa – about the “beautiful pace oflife there, where people are kind, and family bonds tight.”She delights in talking about the beauty of the place and itssunsets; about being in “the wide-open spaces.” “That idea ofdreaming big and the dreamer in me was born there.”It’s easy to envision Darling as a 3-year-old singing for herfamily, and later at 12 performing Shania Twain covers at theIowa State Fair.Early on she got acquainted with the music of Fleetwood Macand the sound of The Eagles and connected with the CaliforniaLaurel canyon Country sound. She arrived in Nashvilleafter high school and started polishing her songwritingskills – helped by a community of writers that included GlenCampbell’s longtime guitarist, Jeff Dayton.She recorded her first album,Every Monday Morning, in 2009,and in 2010 releasedAngels & Devils, an album that theNewYork Timesreferred to as “sharp and underappreciated.” Her bigbreak came in 2013 withHome to Me, Darling’s first single tochart on the U.S.BillboardHot Country Songschart, reaching apeak of number 34.It was, as she says, “the song that kicked off my career.”She appeared on the Conan O’Brien Show and played the GrandOle Opry – which she has done 96 times since, including aperformance with Brad Paisley. At the same time, she startedtraveling all over the world – most frequently to the UK whereaudiences have adopted her as one of their own. In 2018 shestunned the crowd at British Summertime, opening for PaulSimon, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor.The New York Timesdescribed her as, “a sophisticatedsongwriter with a crisp, powerful voice, and a soulful smolder.”Inside her tender tracks are discreet ruminations on love,romantic skepticism and chasing dreams – themes honest andreal, written from a life well lived.Asked to characterize her own singing style, she says, “Mymusic is very transportive, there’s a beautiful escapism to it.”Visit OldEdwardsHospitality.com/OrchardSessions formore information.
by Marlene Osteen
