We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sarah Swensen. Check out our conversation below.
Sarah, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Like many creatives, I juggle multiple jobs to support my dream of becoming a professional songwriter. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, I’ve been able to find a balance between my career and my passion. My mornings start with taking care of my Corgi, Chloe, before logging onto my computer to provide clinical supervision for Master’s-level social workers. These therapists offer psychotherapy to children and adults, and I guide them in how to best support their clients. After that, I usually meet with a few clients in my own private mental health practice. By midday, I pause for lunch before diving into either a co-writing session or performing at a writer’s round. My weeks stay full and busy, but I always look forward to carving out some time to relax on the weekends.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Based in the heart of Nashville,TN, Sarah Swensen is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter known for crafting heartfelt, upbeat songs that blend modern energy with classic storytelling. Channeling the narrative depth of Country, the edge of Rock, and the hooks of Pop, Sarah brings a fresh yet familiar sound to today’s country music scene. Informed by her background as a Clinical Social Worker, she is not afraid to address difficult conversations in her writing. By doing so, she shares a very real perspective that resonates with her listeners on a deeper level. Whether it’s a foot-stomping anthem or a quiet, reflective ballad, every song is grounded in real experiences and genuine emotion. When playing out at various venues around Nashville, Sarah performs with grace, and authenticity, allowing her personality to shine through on stage with her dynamic, powerful vocals delivering messages straight from the heart. With a growing list of releases with rising stars and new music on the horizon, Sarah is quickly becoming a voice to watch in country music.
Sarah will be releasing a new song on October 24th called Respect The Dead. “Respect the Dead” is a powerful country ballad about the heartbreak of being ghosted and the strength it takes to move on. Blending haunting imagery with raw honesty, the song compares silence to loss—mourning the person you thought you knew while finding closure in letting go. With its mix of tender vulnerability and hard-won resilience, it’s an anthem for anyone who’s ever been left without answers but chose to keep moving forward.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
The person who saw me before I truly saw myself was my Grammy. She was a church choir director for more than 30 years, played both piano and organ, and carried a lifelong love of music. As a child, I loved watching her play the piano, and once I was old enough, she began teaching me songs to sing while she accompanied me. I didn’t realize it at the time, but she was the one who first introduced me to country music. As I grew older, I took piano and voice lessons and sang in many choirs at both school and church. My Grammy would often tell my mom that she saw a future for me in music and believed I had real talent. I would have never dreamed that my love of music would go from sitting next to her to playing my own music all across Nashville.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
My biggest fear has always been worrying about what other people think. While it’s natural—and sometimes necessary—to consider how others see us, I’ve realized that, in the end, each person should make decisions based on what’s best for themselves, not on outside opinions of what’s right or wrong. For a long time, I struggled with feeling like I wasn’t good enough to compete with my peers. That fear led me to make choices that held me back and caused me to miss out on opportunities I should have pursued. Only recently have I started pushing myself to let go of that fear, focus on what truly makes me happy, and trust that whatever happens is meant to be.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am deeply committed to becoming a signed professional songwriter. After years of honing my craft, building relationships, and collaborating with artists, it would be an honor for a publishing company to believe in me and offer a deal. I’m a hard worker and a dedicated writer, always striving to grow and improve. I know there are thousands of people in Nashville and beyond chasing the same dream, but I also know that songwriting is what I’m meant to do—and that my purpose is to help amplify other people’s voices through music.
As a therapist who has worked with hundreds of clients, I bring a unique perspective and deeper understanding of how people think and feel—an insight that can be a real asset to artists wanting to connect with their audience. I know Nashville is a ten-year town, and though I’m only four years in, I’m determined to keep putting in the work until I get there.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
At one point, I thought I knew exactly how I wanted my life to look. I pictured myself married to my high school sweetheart, living in New Jersey on a few acres with a nice home, running my own private practice, and being surrounded by friends and family. I worked hard to build that vision—opening my practice, meeting new people, trying to make the relationship work, and searching for community—but no matter what I did, I wasn’t happy, even though I had everything I thought I wanted.
Then, by chance, I took a vacation to Nashville, and the moment I arrived, I knew that was where I was meant to be. I knew being in this town would allow me to focus back on music which is what truly made me happy that I had put on the back burner for so long. After moving here, everything began to fall into place—I met my husband, found a home, and finally started pursuing the career I feel truly passionate about: songwriting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahswensenmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahswensenmusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-swensen-2752aa82
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahswensenmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sarahswensenmusic
