Introducing Connecticut native Sarah Barrios with her electrifying debut single “I Didn’t Mean To”. Mixing honest and exceptional songwriting with soft melodic flows, Barrios brands herself as the girl-next-door with this cool pop tune which draws inspiration from Jon Bellion and indie-rock band Paramore. The young-musician showcases her musical prowess and talent with this hit, as she reveals the chorus came from a one-take freestyle, after going back and forth in a studio session with her writing partner.

While she might come from the small town of Torrington, the singer is dreaming big and has a massive future in the music industry ahead of her. We caught up with the rising star talking inspirations, song-writing and making mistakes…

When did you first realise you wanted to make music?
I’ve wanted to make music since I can remember. I’ve always had a love for singing and doing shows in my living room for my parents but I think the turning point for me was specifically when I started writing and playing the guitar. I was 13 and it was really the first time I really became obsessed with the idea of performing and making music for others to hear, that I could share it. That was really special for me.

Who did you grow up listening to?
I listened to a pretty good mix of artists thanks to my parents. The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Norah Jones, Sting, The Andrews Sisters, Etta James, John Mayer, etc.
My dad and I would have jam nights where we’d just play and sing anything and everything we could find chords for online, so there was a wide variety of genres.

How did growing up in Connecticut influence your music?
As a kid, I felt like there wasn’t very much to do in CT apart from hanging out at parks and get Dunkin Donuts, which, ironically is now all I ever want to do. Looking back now, I think all that nature and “nothing to do” really forced me to lean on my imagination to keep me entertained. I wrote songs 24/7 just because it was something to do, and it really gave me a way to create a world of my own. When I started to play out more, CT fully embraced me and was really a driving force in fostering that dream of being an artist.

Your song “I Didn’t Mean To” is about making mistakes and acknowledging them – did any event inspire the song?
I’m not a perfect person, I make mistakes all the time, but I think when they involve someone you care about and you realize you were in the wrong, it makes it harder to own up to than usual. When I walked into the session that day, I could just feel all the words bubbling up in my chest and knew it was time I had to call myself out. It’s important, even if late, to acknowledge those mistakes and try to fix them.

Is it important for you to write frankly about being human and appealing to the humanistic side in people?
I’ve only ever been human (as far as I know haha) and it really is the most curious thing. I think naturally, a lot of what I write about is based on those feelings of what it means to be human. It’s such a beautiful and confusing rollercoaster that we’re all on together, so it’s comforting to write about it and be able to connect with others on the ups and downs of life.

You’ve spoken about how songwriting is cathartic for you – can you talk a little bit about this?
I deal with a lot of anxiety and I’m definitely a professional overthinker so I keep a journal to help me make sense of what’s going on in my mind. I get to a certain point with a feeling where I feel like I’m being consumed by it and there’s nowhere for it to go, and that’s when I know I need to write a song. Writing those feelings with music is like releasing air from a balloon, it’s freeing and by the time the song is done, I feel clear, safe, and just at peace. It really is a therapy session for everyone involved. 

What’s the best feedback you’ve had on your music?
While you’re reading this, the song has just come out so let me know what you think haha! But so far, I think what’s stuck with me most is that people can hear the honesty in the songs and that it makes them feel something. Music is what helps me when I’m happy or sad or angry etc, so if something I made can bring that same feeling to someone else, I feel like I accomplished what I hoped to.

What’s next for you/what are you excited about?
These songs are really an introduction to who I am, so I’m excited to continue to release more music and more art and just really connect with people as I go.