Episode 295: Sara Watkins

Please join me in celebrating Bluegrass on Roadcase this week with Sara Watking of I'm With Her!! Sara is a native of San Diego, where she began her musical journey along with her brother Sean, playing wherever and whenever they could. When they met Chris Thile and formed Nickel Creek in 1989, they formed a musical bond that has lasted decades. In the wake of the Nickel Creek hiatus of 2006, Sara went on to pursue a solo career, with her debut 2009 self-titled album produced by John Paul Jones. With her current project, I’m With Her, Sara marks over three decades of music with their latest release, Wild and Clear and Blue.Sara talks to me about those early days in San Diego and we discuss the significant DIY scene there and the impact it had on her and her brother’s musical development. We also go deep into I’m With Her, the latest album, and the challenges of touring as a parent. Sara has played with just about everyone imaginable, and the Watkins Family Hour is a landmark collaborative performance project which continues to leave an impact on the Bluegrass, Folk and Americana communities.==========================================Chapters:00:00 Episode Intro with Host Josh Rosenberg04:27 Intro and Background07:30 Parenting and Touring Life10:22 The New Album: Wild and Clear and Blue13:15 Festival Experiences and Performances16:22 Collaboration in Bluegrass and Folk Music19:21 Songwriting Process and Themes22:11 The Evolution of I'm With Her25:08 Reflections on Musical Community32:12 Songwriting Process and Collaboration34:18 The Impact of Personal Relationships on Creativity35:51 Themes of Life and Relationships in Music37:51 The Joy of Performing Live39:38 Evolving Perspectives on Live Performance43:26 Musical Influences and Growth46:58 Connecting with John Paul Jones53:24 The Importance of Community in Music54:23 Episode Outro with Host Josh Rosenberg==========================================For more information on Roadcase:https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.comOr contact Roadcase by email:  [email protected] theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer