Meet Sarah Trammell | Musician & Salon Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Trammell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, why did you pursue a creative career?
2020, and a global pandemic really put a lot of things in to perspective for me. Going in to 2020, I decided to start my own business – a salon – which turned out to be one of the best decision I had ever made. Creation – to me -is the easiest, and most beautiful way to spread your soul to others. Doing hair made me money, and allowed me to influence people in the most direct way possible – by making them feel good about their appearance. Music, however, is my first love. As an emancipated minor I was convinced that pursuing music was out of my privilege range. I completed college with a bachelor of the arts in literature, and music theory, and had no idea what to do. Hair fell in to my lap, paid my bills, but there was always something I felt missing. I thought I could fill that void of performing by attending my friend’s shows, and supporting as hard as I could, but there was always that feeling of needing “more”, and not having the proper resources. Starting my own business propelled me out of that victim mentality, and helped me believe, and see things I never thought would be possible in my life. I bought my own home, got a car, and felt so compelled to finalize that last part of my soul that I felt was missing. So, I took to Instagram. Art begets art, and I started by inspiring others to inspire myself. Photos of nature, poetry, acting. Then I started branching out, and finding that confidence again to share my music. Practices, unfinished compositions, vocal range tests. That turned in to a cover collaboration, which turned in to releasing an original song, which turned in to a Christmas album. Then came the day that I received an e-mail to be signed on as a Bentley Records artist. My mind was made up. My art could keep going, I could keep inspiring, and it was done. Art is relative, and forever. Art creates joy, inspiration, and togetherness. Art runs our communities.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I adore the mixture of dissonance over melody. Rachmaninoff is one of my most favorite composers, and the drive, and soul behind his music is breath-taking. I strive to put that in to my music. From dissonanced vocals from post punk groups like Deerhunter, to the soft, sweet melodies of artists like Mitski. I think there’s a place to mix the two, and a friend refers to his band as “nerve pop”. I really like that. Hearing that term got a lot of cogs turning in to my head, and it’s a great representation of what it sounds like when experimental meets high energy chord progression. This was the driving sound of my first single, “Dancing Sun”, and was pushed even further with my first album “brand new eyes” which will be released on the 17th of this month! That is what I feel sets my sound apart. To mix that shoegaze, dream pop softness in to the pop/post punk experiments. Music is my first love. It took my heart at 8, and I gave it everything up until 19. Trauma hit, and many things pushed me away from it. My last live performance with a small pop punk band was at Swayze’s in Kennesaw. Then, I went to college, got my degree in literature and music theory, and absolutely did not use it when deciding to pursue hairdressing. I used working hard from the age of 15 as an excuse to believe that I didn’t have the time, nor the resources to pursue art. It always felt like something was missing, like a piece of my soul had been tucked away. I suppose that’s what they mean when people have an irrational affixation to listening too much to our egos. A global pandemic, and total world shut down forced me to do a lot of shadow work, and that led me to deciding that life was too grand, and too short, to ignore what my soul yearns for the most. I seek to spread my light through my music, my soul through my lyrics, and inspiration through aesthetic.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Gosh! There’s so many places designed for different vibes. Argosy has my heart when it comes to small plates. Their flatbreads are mouth watering, but places like Octopus Bar, and Gaja Korean bar are so full of soul. The Vortex, I feel, is just a landmark staple to visit (and choose to let them surprise you with a $2 mystery shot), and there are so many patios we could frequent (pre-COVID) like Midway, Eldertree, and El Myr. It’s hard to say these days, but I know the breath of life will breathe back in to the city when it’s safe to be out, and about again.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Atlanta community is so vast, yet small. People come to our city, and feel intimidated by the sheer mass of us, but we all truly know each other, and consistently uplift each other. From Rodney Leete at Star Bar with his hilariously fast, and vulnerable Monday night comedy, all the way to The EARL where names are found, and togetherness is a virtue. This city is one of my biggest inspirations, and I truly am so grateful to call it a home. My friends are my backbone, and have always given me the courage I need – no matter how much I doubt myself. Friendship is what gives me energy. Community gives me inspiration. Love gives me hope.

Website: sarahraesings.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahraesings/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sarahraesings/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sarahraesmiles/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahraesings/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg3gupB6LrtTnL60NPXNVTw

Other: https://tiktok.com/@sarahraesmiles https://open.spotify.com/artist/6GkVF2S1vCnSr66jQQqYFm?si=KvDfQqupTimdFft7Bfz-RA https://sarahraesings.bandcamp.com/