Getting to Know. . . Sara Hickman
 by Kathy S-B  ·  24 July 2007

Sara Hickman is someone who has been on my own personal musical radar for many years. She is but one of the many wonderful Texas-based singer-songwriters who are loved and revered down in the Lone Star State but who don’t have as many rabid fans in this area. This blog is my attempt at making the world a little bit more knowledgeable about the terrificly talented Sarah Hickman. Find out all about Sara on her website or at her myspace page. There is much to love about Sara. She’s eclectic; she’s a little bit country and a little bit rock n’ roll and a whole lot of good, gentle wisdom and humor.

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard you before?

My music has been a chronicle of my life stories andmusical influences, really. It is a blend of folk, pop, storytelling, poetry, jazz, rock, r&b and a slight bit of country, to boot. So, I guess I think of it as everyone's music. I'm not really anyone who has ever fit into any category, although when I perform solo, some people call me "folk" because I am the iconic woman with a guitar, and I mix in social justice/commentary, at times. But I have been placed under jazz, vocals, pop in the music stores.

You've written and recorded many children's songs. Has being a mother changed your songwriting mindset? Is the process of writing children's songs any different than the way you approach your adult material?

Becoming a mom unleashed a side of me that had always existed, I just didn't utilize it as frequently. I probably make up 10–15 songs a day now, on the spot, mostly forgotten, but fun for the moment. Children's songs to me are very fun and easygoing, usually not as long as a traditional pop song, although I have a few that speak about things children are concerned with, as well (having a parent's time, war, sisterhood, divorce, etc.) And I find I make up songs all the time, thinking, "Oh, that would be a great sing-a-long for kids!" But, with that said, I think kids are highly sophisticated and have very good taste, so I don't try to "dumb down" anything for them. I do try to capture the joy because they are still very connected to it. With adult music, I find it has strengthened because of my affinity for creating for children. It has given me a wider sense of adventure when writing for big people.

Your latest album, "Motherlode," (a double album no less) is about as far from children's music as one can get. Apparently you surprised a lot of your fans with these very dark songs.

Ah, western culture. I think it is very interesting how our society wants to put people in a certain box, label them, and that's that. The human mind and heart are so complex, how can an artist, someone who is trying to express what they are sensing, feeling, responding to, ever be one thing?

Part of being a mother is the enthusiasm of loving these children that did not exist before, but what comes with that depth of love is the sense that there are darker forces at play in the world, and you must be strong and take care of these children. I must be aware of war, and domestic violence, and all the darker sides of life if I am to be a good, realistic mother and help my children grow into healthy, self-sufficient beings.

Your video of "Mad World" is mesmerizing. Did you comeup with the concept yourself or was it done in collaboration with others? Is that a computer generated morph of your own face or is it your daughter's face? In any event, it's very powerful.

Thank you very much. I had the concept of wanting opposing images, but I created the piece in collaboration with two amazing friends — Gene, our webmaster, who is very gifted at finding imagery/editing, and Lance, my husband, who is a photographer/designer. And, yes, that is my daughter, Lily, who sang on the song and appears in the video.The last shot of her always makes me cry. She captured the feeling so simply and honestly.

I understand that Adrian Belew (formerly of King Crimson) produced your CD "Two Kinds of Laughter" and he appears on this latest CD. I'm trying to wrap my brain around such a progressive rock guitar king playing and producing folk music. How did you hook upwith Adrian?

I simply asked if I could work with him and he said, "Yes," and then he asked if I wanted to use Tony Levin and David Sancious, as well. They are all good friends, as you can guess. He was great to work with, they all were! Adrian is very, very funny. He made me laugh a lot.

You're a performer who is very involved with various social and political causes. What's on your mind themost these days? Tell us a little bit about your website, Necessary Angels.

Currently, I am working with the Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty to do a year-long Texas tour where once a month I go out and perform to start a dialogue about what the death penalty means in this state. I am hoping to have a diverse group of people attend these events, to start talking about the death penalty — whether for, against, or even confused by it. We plan on making a documentary of the performances and people's conversations. I still speak out on behalf of Romanian orphans, and I am fervent about supporting displaced, homeless people. I recently played at the International Women's Peace Conference with Jody Williams, the Nobel Peace Prize winner. It was a powerful event. I am learning that one needs to speak loudly when it comes to peace, though, because, as Jody says, it is more than rainbows and doves. It is hard, consistent work that you have to dig your guts into and believe with all your heart. That is what I try to share from the stage, and my blog. Necessary Angels is a site I started to help people learn about some of the causes I am involved in. I thought if people were looking for ways to get involved, or send financial support, I could make it easier for them by speaking about the groups I work with and believe in. Thank you for asking me these questions!

Find out more about Sara at her website.