Sarah Jarosz on Creativity, Vulnerability, and Trusting Your Musical Instincts
PodcastThe Power of Sounding Stupid
In the world of professional music, there's immense pressure to always sound polished and perfect. But according to four-time Grammy winner Sarah Jarosz, some of the most authentic musical moments come from embracing vulnerability and being willing to sound less than perfect.
During her conversation at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Jarosz shared a piece of wisdom from Jackson Browne that has profoundly shaped her approach to creativity: when writing, Browne needed to be in a room where no one could hear him because "he had to feel free to try anything, even if it was stupid or sounded stupid to him."
This insight resonates deeply with Jarosz's own creative process. "I really identified with that early on," she explains. "And even now going into the co-writing process, I think just finding people that I am not afraid to just be myself with and say anything and see what sticks, see what resonates with the other person, see what gets the other person excited."
From Child Prodigy to Authentic Artist
Jarosz's journey began at age nine when she first heard Nickel Creek and became obsessed with the mandolin. What started as childhood fascination evolved into a remarkable career that has seen her transition from mandolin prodigy to accomplished songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Her early encounter with Chris Thile at age nine became a defining moment. After Thile signed her festival program with "Let's jam sometime," young Sarah knew she had to "go home and get good enough to jam with Chris Thile." This interaction exemplifies the generous mentorship culture in folk and bluegrass music that has shaped so many careers.
The Role of Mentorship
Throughout her career, Jarosz has benefited from the guidance of legendary musicians like Chris Thile, Béla Fleck, and Jerry Douglas. These relationships highlight an important lesson for developing musicians: seek out mentors who challenge you while providing emotional support.
"The bar that he sets is so high," Jarosz says about working with Thile on 'Live from Here.' "There's something so beautiful and freeing about that as a musician where Chris trusts that you're going to give your best and he expects a lot, but it's such a beautiful combination of setting the musical bar extremely high but then also this incredible warmth and kind of open arms vibe."
The Evolution of Creative Process
Jarosz's approach to songwriting has evolved significantly over her career. Initially a solitary activity that began in her bedroom at age twelve, she gradually opened up to collaboration as she gained confidence in her artistic voice.
"I felt I just had this sense early on that I wanted to at least kind of start writing on my own so that I could find my sound on my own," she explains. "Once I felt like I had a better grasp of what I wanted to say musically and lyrically, it was a little easier for me to go into a room because I felt like I wasn't going to lose myself or not be true to myself in those spaces."
Practical Songwriting Techniques
Jarosz employs several practical methods that other songwriters can adopt:
- Voice memo collection: She constantly records melodic ideas on her phone's voice memo app
- Lyrical note-taking: Ideas are captured in her notes app for later pairing with melodies
- Melody-first approach: Often starts by "humming nonsense over top of a melody" before finding the right words
- Cross-pollination: Matches existing lyrical fragments with new melodies and vice versa
The Art of Not Editing Too Early
One of Jarosz's most valuable insights concerns the timing of self-editing in the creative process. "The best tool is just to try to unlock your brain a little bit and let your ego out the door," she advises. "The best tool I find is when you're just letting the ideas out and not stopping yourself before you say it."
This approach requires creating a safe space for creativity—whether working alone or with collaborators. The editing comes later, after the free-flowing creative session has generated raw material to work with.
Simplicity Through Experience
Interestingly, as Jarosz has matured as an artist, her music has become more focused on serving the song rather than showcasing technical prowess. She reflects on her earlier work: "When you're a young musician, you're kind of almost wanting to showcase what you know, showcase in your writing that you can also play."
Her more recent album, "Polaroid Lovers," represents a shift toward simplicity and emotional directness. "Getting older, the things that really speak to me often are quite simple things and quite very melodic things," she explains. "I've tried to distill down what I want to say in the most clear and concise way as possible."
The Instrument as Creative Partner
Jarosz's relationship with the octave mandolin illustrates how the right instrument can unlock creative possibilities. After years of feeling like her voice and regular mandolin "were fighting for the same range," discovering the octave mandolin was revelatory.
"It was like this whole world unlocked because I could take all of what I knew on the mandolin, but it's an octave lower. And so it felt more supportive of my voice so that I could sing and play at the same time," she describes. "When I found this, it was like, oh, this is it. This is my soulmate of an instrument."
Lessons for Developing Musicians
Several key takeaways emerge from Jarosz's journey that apply to musicians at any level:
- Embrace vulnerability: Allow yourself to sound imperfect in pursuit of authentic expression
- Seek supportive mentors: Find experienced musicians who challenge and encourage you
- Develop your voice first: Establish your individual style before diving deep into collaboration
- Listen obsessively: Study other artists' work as your primary form of musical education
- Serve the song: As you develop, focus more on what the music needs rather than what you want to show off
- Create regularly: Treat songwriting as a muscle that requires consistent exercise
The Journey Continues
Despite her remarkable achievements, Jarosz maintains a learner's mindset. "It's a beautiful thing because you can kind of never stop growing," she reflects about the ongoing work of developing as a musician and songwriter.
Her story reminds us that authentic artistry isn't about perfection—it's about the courage to be vulnerable, the wisdom to trust your instincts, and the discipline to keep growing. For guitarists and songwriters looking to develop their own voice, Jarosz's journey offers both inspiration and practical guidance for the path ahead.
