Meet Darby Sabin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darby Sabin.

Hi Darby, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a small town in Maine. My father and I lived alone for quite some time and I gravitated toward his musical preferences as our local classic rock station was always on in the car, and he was always blasting his favorite songs through the house – raising me on rock n’ roll. I knew I wanted to be a performer since I was a toddler singing Annie songs and was nurtured by parents and a family that made me believe that I had the power to make my dreams come true. I started out in the musical theater as a child, moved onward to public school music programs, as well as seeking any and all opportunities to sing (national anthem at local football games, talent shows, etc). I started playing paid gigs in high school and kept cultivating my way toward my destiny, all with my musical father’s unwavering, loud-and-proud support. I later attended Berklee College of Music and felt so inspired by all the music I was constantly surrounded by, I studied deeper into songwriting and discerned what my true passions were as an artist. My final years at Berklee were remote due to COVID and I am grateful for the time I spent at home with my father because he ended up passing away in 2021. I was incredibly close to him and this was a devastating time in my life. I ended up writing and releasing my first EP “Throne of Thorns” through the grief, and have been writing and performing in his honor ever since. His influence and inspiration still guide me and whether I’m performing for 2 people or 200 I remember how he used to look at me on stage.

I just returned from a European Tour and had the time of my life traveling and performing for audiences that come from different backgrounds with different life stories that all connect through the power of music. It is a challenging career but these moments of collective heartache and hope make it all worth it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Finances have been hard for me. I had to work incredibly hard for the scholarships that I received at Berklee, and have had to be creative with all endeavors in order to accomplish them in a way that was financially feasible for me. The songs from my album were recorded as student projects so I was able to save on studio fees that way. I’ve also done all of my booking and promotion on my own so I haven’t paid much there either. Although, I will say it would be nice to offload some of this (wink managers, agents, publicists, etc).

My father dying really threw an emotional monkey wrench into my post-grad future. I had so many plans and goals that I wanted to accomplish but I have spent a lot of time handling his estate and taking on responsibilities that I was not ready for! Balancing my time has been a struggle but I seem to be doing okay.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an Americana singer-songwriter – and I like to tell people I play “Folk, Soul & Bluesy Rock n Roll from the Foothills of Western Maine.” Sometimes I play solo on guitar and/or piano, and sometimes I play with other band members. I travel and play shows for audiences anywhere and everywhere and am known for the raw, emotional depth of my music. I use a lot of symbolism in my writing and try to paint a picture that transforms my world into both an audible and visual experience for listeners. Also, being a Mainer is part of my appeal and I connect with a lot of people who understand the backwoods, bootstraps kind of way of life.

My music is available on all streaming platforms as “Darby Sabin” or @darbysabin on YouTube.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Life can be tough – but there is opportunity in all facets of it. My best songs were written in times of great pain and desolation. The human experience is a collage of emotions and we can relate to one another’s unique experiences through music.

I try my best to express my emotions and experiences through songs that could be insightful to anyone else processing feelings on their own accord, and invite you to dive into what I have released into the world for you to connect with.

Pricing:

• Throne of Thorns CD Hard Copy – $10

Contact Info:

• Website: www.darbysabin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darbysabin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darbysabinmusic/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@darbysabin 

Image Credits
Alina Harmash, Ian Flour, and Brandon Cardona