Syracuse Songstress, Sarah Aument Sets Sail in The Big Apple

Only a wee student at Syracuse University, Sarah Aument is making quite a splash on the East Coast doing live shows in-between classes and course work. But don’t think for a second she’s spread herself thin, this contemplative songstress is on her way to her big break. Clad in lucky panties, crooning in sweaty bars, Sarah is making a name for herself from Manhattan to the big screen. If you’re a true hipster, you better check her out before she’s mainstream, you wouldn’t want to be the last to know.

JP: When did you know that music was your passion?

SARAH: I must have known my whole life, but it became more apparent to me in early high school probably.

JP: Was there any specific contributor that/who brought you to your “Oh, this is my calling!” moment?

SARAH: It was a gradual thing. My family is full of musicians and their love for music bled into my life. So I think that different family members helped my love for music grow… and now I’m so in love with it it’s is all I want to do and talk about! [Laughs] Pretty annoying for people that just want to chill and listen to some tunes with me.

JP: I imagine that was a loud and colorful house to grow up in! What was your first instrument?

SARAH: [Thinking] Piano? Yeah- I must have been in 2nd grade.

JP: Now that you’ve been at it for a while, what’s your instrument of choice?

SARAH: I’d say voice but I don’t think that counts, so guitar wins!

JP: Do you remember what the first song you ever wrote sounded like?

SARAH: Yeah it was really quiet and melody driven. I think I was picking a pretty simple part on the guitar while singing. Simple but nice. Probably like a Nick Drake song if you took out the awesome guitar skills and replaced them with my baby hands.

JP: How did your writing process evolve from there?

SARAH: I wrote that kind of stripped down singer songwriter type stuff for a little while and tried to never repeat the same chord progression. I didn’t want anything to sound the same as the song before. Then I started writing more upbeat songs when I got to college. Now I am exploring writing for a full band with an edgier sound but I still write those quiet, dissonant songs that I have since the beginning. Hopefully I am getting better and better at it.

JP: How did being upstate and in a college environment effect your music?

SARAH: [A lot]. Being upstate meant that I got to meet wonderful people that would inspire me and help me get my feet going.The college environment challenged me to do something outside the normal “college” musician stuff

I didn’t want to sound like everyone else, but at the same time I didnt need to get extremely good over night because being in college meant that I had this safe little bubble to grow in. I’m still growing and learning. Also the content of my lyrics has changed with what I have learned as a student and a kid growing from 18 to 21.

JP: Now that youre in the (New York) city, do you have any sort of special place that you like to write in? A room? A park? A roof? A lucky pair of green sneakers?

SARAH: [Laughs] I’ve always written in the bathroom. My parents would come home to me singing away in the bathroom and now my roommates deal with the same thing…And I don’t really wear anything in particular…although

I do have lucky undies for show days.

JP: Musical influences ? Any? All?

SARAH: [Thinking] I’d say that the biggest, most obvious influences are Feist, Wilco & Radiohead.

I’ve probably just listened to them more than any other artists, but I have so many influences it is hard to narrow it down…

JP: Anyone that you dream of collaborating with?

SARAH: I love Lauryn Hill, The Shins, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tegan and Sara, Carole King, Iron and Wine. List goes on and on…Collaborating with!? Oh man, if I ever sang a song with Karen O or Feist, I’d probably pee and then have a stroke.

JP: Strokes and involuntary bowls are the worst.

SARAH: I know right!

JP: What’s your favorite place to perform, thus far…and…what’s youre dream stage to grace?

SARAH: I like places where it feels crowded and sweaty…So basements, grimy dive bars. We actually just played at The Trash Bar in Brooklyn and that was a great time. It’s a lot less about the place and way more about the crowd.

I’d love to play some stages of a few festivals.

JP: Speaking of…Do you find it important to write to connect, or write for yourself?

SARAH: Both. It is not enough just to write for yourself, at least not for me. And other people’s music has always given me so much. Ya know? It’s made me feel like I wasn’t alone and I’d love to be a part of that process for someone else.

JP: Makes sense. I can see why you prefer an intimate crowd. What has it been like for you to get involved with JinglePunks? Had you ever pictured your music landing on television?

SARAH: Language fails us so much but music has a way of building on language and communicating emotions when words just aren’t enough. It is really cool to get to have my stuff with JinglePunks! In this day and age its not so much about getting your songs on the radio. It’s about landing a commercial or a spot on Grey’s Anatomy or House or something, people will hear it and look it up.

JP: I know I do.

SARAH: That is how i started listening to a ton of my favorite artists…Yeah man, the exposure is almost too easy.

JP: If you could pick any show to play your music, what would it be? / What’s your current favorite show?

SARAH: [Thinking] Good question! Parks and Recreation is my favorite show currently on air and it would be sweet to be on that show.

JP: April is so bomb.

SARAH: So bomb. I love every single character, literally and it’s just a happy show.

JP: If you couldn’t be a musician, what would you be doing?

SARAH: Probably working within the TV or Film industry. That’s what I study at school actually somewhere down the road, I’d love to work on a few projects with a good friend of mine. I love me some good moving picture.

JP: Favorite song right now?

SARAH: [Hmmm] I’m gonna have to go with, ugh this is so hard! I’ve been on a Dirty Projectors trip recently so I’ll have to say, Stillness in The Move by Dirty Projectors.

JP: BK represent!

SARAH: Yeah! Either that or Do it Like a Dude by Jessie J.

JP: Anything you want update the community on? Upcoming shows…recording news…new favorite color?

SARAH: We are going to release a cover of Radiohead’s song Bodysnatchers in a week or so along with a little video taken of me recording the actual vocals and guitar used on the track. We are planning a couple more show dates for the summer and are playing a festival in August- so make sure ya’ll check it out!

JP: We most definitely will! We’ll keep the community posted on your upcoming show dates as they get locked in and we’ll be sure to post your cover video as soon as it’s ready!