Episode 295: Sara Watkins

Please join me in celebrating Bluegrass on Roadcase this week with Sara Watkins 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 Rosenberg 04:27 Intro and Background 07:30 Parenting and Touring Life 10:22 The New Album: Wild and Clear and Blue 13:15 Festival Experiences and Performances 16:22 Collaboration in Bluegrass and Folk Music 19:21 Songwriting Process and Themes 22:11 The Evolution of I'm With Her 25:08 Reflections on Musical Community 32:12 Songwriting Process and Collaboration 34:18 The Impact of Personal Relationships on Creativity 35:51 Themes of Life and Relationships in Music 37:51 The Joy of Performing Live 39:38 Evolving Perspectives on Live Performance 43:26 Musical Influences and Growth 46:58 Connecting with John Paul Jones 53:24 The Importance of Community in Music 54:23 Episode Outro with Host Josh Rosenberg ========================================== For more information on Roadcase: https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.com Or contact Roadcase by email: [email protected] Roadcase theme music: "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer