Daily Inspiration: Meet Sarah Harralson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Harralson

Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am originally from Knoxville, Tennessee and have been in Nashville 11 years now. I went to Belmont University for Music Business and Production.

A year after releasing my debut EP in 2014, I was discovered by Scotty Schultz, drummer of Shooter Jennings (Waylon Jennings’s son). Scotty opened up his publishing company, Raindrop Music LLC, in 2015 and after hearing my original song “Watered Down Whiskey”, he signed me to my first publishing deal. Scott produced my next EP, ‘Watered Down Whiskey’, and one of the tracks on the EP includes the song “Radio Static” that was co-written with Johnny Garcia (lead guitar for Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood). Over time, I began writing and working with Johnny, which evolved to the point where I signed my next publishing deal with Busy at Play Publishing (Johnny Garcia’s company) in February 2020.

In addition, I have been working on the business side of the industry in music licensing, and more recently, royalties. I am currently working with publisher and label, Synapse Publishing & Entertainment LLC as a songwriter and artist.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think it’s ever a smooth road as a musician or creative. No one makes a lot of money from music until they are established or “make it big”. I needed to work jobs on the business side of the industry in order to support my music career. To even support my college music education, I was working many side jobs, which in turn, left me with little time to be creative or perform as much. I am thankful for every struggle though because it has always put in perspective that I am choosing to do music and work hard for it because I love it. It can also be difficult as a female in music, both as an artist and producer. I love every opportunity to collaborate with and celebrate women in music and am in an upcoming documentary, Women Behind the Lyrics. I always celebrate when a client chooses to work me as a producer since females are the minority as producers.

I am fortunate to now say I have hundreds of songs, collaborations, clients, and gigs under my belt. I am always growing and will face more obstacles along the way, but I am excited to see where my music journey takes me next.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a country pop singer, songwriter, producer, and freelancer. I have worked in music licensing and royalties. I have been hired to record vocals, write, and produce hundreds of songs through sites such as SoundBetter, Fiverr, Airgigs, Songfinch, and personal references. I am a Recording Academy and CMA voting member.

One song I was hired to sing vocals on, an English version of the Bulgarian hit, “Hello, My Friend”, led me to touring internationally in Eastern Europe on behalf of The America for Bulgaria Foundation.

In May 2024, I signed a multi-year publishing and record label deal with Synapse Publishing & Entertainment, a woman owned company. I’m also currently working with Synapse on a new documentary titled, Women Behind the Lyrics.

This January, I also published my first children’s book, Turtle Tears, which is available for purchase on my website, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. I started a podcast this year, Mind Your Music Business, where I interview different people in the music industry and it is available on all podcast platforms.

My favorite endeavor has been performing for patients at hospitals as a volunteer musician for Musicians On Call. In May 2024, I was awarded the Michael Solomon Volunteer Musician Award at Musician On Call’s 25th anniversary for playing to over 19,000 hospital patients since 2015.

As an artist and songwriter, I have released 3 EPs, 3 albums, and 17 singles, including my latest single on country radio, “Denim”. My new holiday single, “Tennessee Christmas” is out now. You can also hire me to register your songs to collect royalties from your PRO, neighboring rights organization, or mechanical collection society. Having experience in royalties has inspired me to teach other songwriters and artists about royalty collection and making sure they receive what they are owed for their songs.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think it’s extremely important to take risks, especially in a creative field when it’s important to stand out. I always want to be authentic and honest in the music I write and release and sometimes that includes lyrics that are a bit risqué or thoughts that not everyone will agree with.

As a producer, sometimes clients come to me and just want a mix of a song and have a clear vision of how they want the mix to sound. I always like to keep the client’s notes in mind when mixing, but if I hear something that I think should be a certain way, I will take the risk and do something a little different in the mix. For instance, I made some drum cuts and vocal effects on a recent mix for a client, and it was worth the risk because the client loved the direction I took on the first mix.

As a creative, I am constantly taking risks whether it’s in regards to investing in my own music, producing music for others, or taking on new endeavors, but I think that’s the beauty of music – you never know where the risk will take you.

Pricing:

• Lead Vocal Recording & Voiceovers – $100
• Background Vocal Recording – $50
• Demos starting at $200
• Mixing & Mastering – Starting at $100
• Royalty Collection Services – Contact at Website

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahharralson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahharralson/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahHarralsonmusic/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahharralson
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sarahharralson
• Other: https://soundbetter.com/profiles/199417-sarah-harralson