The Bonnaroo Interview: Sarah Jarosz

While most college students spend their summers working part-time jobs and laying by the pool, Sarah Jarosz can be found at every major bluegrass festival this season. With a Grammy nomination and highly acclaimed first album, Song Up In Her Head, behind her, we sat down with the 19 year old up-and-comer to talk about what she’s working on now.

So this is your first year at Bonnaroo, right?

This is my first time playing, but it is my second Bonnaroo. The first time playing is definitely a thrill.

That’s awesome. So who are you excited about seeing while you are here?

I’m excited. Hopefully going to catch Hot Rize tonight and maybe a little bit of the Punch Brothers’ set, which would be great, and Tenacious D and hopefully Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z tomorrow.

Oh, really? Tenacious D?

Yeah, I’m excited to see Jack Black. I think it’s probably going to be really, a fun set, so I would like to catch it if I can.

So, you are living in Nashville this summer recording your new album. Can you tell me a little bit about that?

Yeah, I started at the beginning of the summer. I’m doing a lot of writing right now for the new record and I’m focusing on that mainly, and then I go to The Telluride Bluegrass Festival next weekend and then I come back from that; I’ll probably start diving into recording. I’m really excited. I’m kind of totally open for this record.

That’s exciting. You’re going into your second year at school. Can you talk a little bit about that? What are you studying?

I’m studying at New England Conservatory. My major is called Contemporary Improvisation, and it’s sort of the smallest thing at the school. I mean, the school itself is really small and being in a conservatory is mainly classical students, but Contemporary Improv is really neat in the fact that it allows me to develop my personal style and since last year, I was in an oral music ensemble and a Jewish music ensemble and a jazz improv class.

Very eclectic.

Totally, and really getting me out of my comfort zone musically, and that’s exactly what I was looking for in going to school to study music. So, it has been really amazing so far. I can’t believe that my first year is already done; it went by really fast. It’s nice to have the summer off, but I’m excited to go back.

So how does it feel to already have a Grammy nomination underneath your belt?

It’s kind of crazy. I just feel so honored by it after it happened so early. I mean, obviously I grew up watching the Grammy’s and when I found out that I was nominated for a Grammy I was so thrilled. Actually, when I went up to LA for the award show it was my first time to LA.

Oh, really?

It was just so surreal and just such a thrill. It’s been really neat.

So, I hear that you are learning how to drive this summer. Why now?

I just never got around to it in high school. My dad actually taught at the high school that I went to in Wimberly, Texas. So usually I would just get a ride with him or from friends, and I’m living in Boston, and I don’t really have a need for a car. I don’t have a car there. I use public transportation a lot, but I just need to get a driver’s license.

Are you going to be driving the tour bus around everywhere?

I don’t know, but yeah, my plan is to practice driving in the summer and then I’m home in Texas for about six days, so hopefully I can take the test then and knock it out.