In celebration of Women’s History Month, singer-songwriter Sarah Bernstein has released her latest single, “A Woman Like Me,” a poignant ode to self-reflection and empowerment. Characterized by raw vocals and tender lyricism, her new single delves deep into personal introspection and growth and is available on all streaming services.
Reflecting on the genesis of the song, she recalls, “I wrote ‘A Woman Like Me’ weeping at my coffee table in my old apartment. At its core, it’s a self-reflective song about identifying yourself as the problem. And at the time, it was the most honest I’d ever been with myself in writing.”
In this interview spotlight, I catch up with Sarah to discuss the new release, her songwriting process, her evolution as an artist, and more,.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind your latest single, “A Woman Like Me”?
At the core, it’s a love song about self-awareness. It’s about acknowledging your own shortcomings in a partnership, and saying “Hey– I may be hard to love, but this is who I am… If you want to walk out the door because of it, go ahead”
It broke my heart to write at the time, but has brought so much healing and self-acceptance in the years since.
What was the songwriting process like for “A Woman Like Me”? Did you face any challenges along the way?
I wrote “A Woman Like Me” one night in December 2018. Unlike most of my songs, which I’ll work on for a few weeks and tweak for years to come, this one has existed in its present state basically since the day I wrote it.
The challenge came when it was time to perform it live. Was I really about to stand on-stage and confess how crazy I am? I was so nervous to share that side of myself that I almost didn’t. But when I finally did, it felt extremely empowering.
How do you feel your music has evolved since you first started your career?
As a songwriter, I put a lot more thought into my lyrics than I did at 14. Back then, anything that popped into my head was put on paper. Now I’m much more careful with what I want to say and how I want to say it.
In the studio, I’ve spent a decade searching for my sound. You’ll hear all sorts of instrumentation featured on my older songs, like mandolin, violin, saxophone and even a harpsichord. But over time I’ve grown much more concise. Often, less really is more. I think “A Woman Like Me” is a great example of that.
What do you hope listeners take away from “A Woman Like Me”?
I hope it helps others find self-acceptance as well. We’re so hard on ourselves, and if there’s anything I’ve taken away from performing the song live, it’s that we aren’t alone.
You’ve mentioned that “A Woman Like Me” is your favorite song to perform live. What is it about this track that resonates with you so deeply?
It’s less about how it resonates with me and more about how it resonates with others. For a long time, performing this song still broke my heart a little every time I performed it. And yet, without fail, someone would request it at every show.
I’ll never forget being on-stage at Rockwood Music Hall, looking down, and seeing my co-workers in ACTUAL tears. It made me want to cry too!
I couldn’t believe how moved they were, but also, how much joy has come from that very sad night in 2018. After so many years of avoiding it, that’s when I knew it was finally time to record this song.
How did you approach translating the raw emotion of your live performances into the studio version of “A Woman Like Me”?
The emotion in the song is absolutely genuine, and I have my mix engineer Kenny Varga to thank for the sincerity of the studio version. When it came time to record the lead vocal, he set me up with a stool in the vocal booth, dimmed the lights, and let me sing it straight through a few times.
I usually don’t perform or record sitting down, but it brought an intimacy to the session that wouldn’t otherwise have been there. The last take we did left me in tears.
“A Woman Like Me” was released on International Women’s Day. Was this intentional, and if so, what significance does this hold for you?
I wish I could say it was my intention all along, but whatever you believe in– that timing was pure luck/fate/chance. I had gotten the final mix back only a few days before International Women’s Day. When I looked at the calendar and realized it was coming up, I knew I had to release it on March 8th.
Even though it wouldn’t get a ton of traction and overlapped with my last release, it holds a special significance to me for years to come. I owe this song to the women who have supported me in my career, and it just felt like a meaningful way to honor that.
What role do you think music plays in celebrating and empowering women, especially during Women’s Month?
I’ve seen more features on women in the industry in the month of March than the rest of the year combined. And even though they deserve that same recognition year-round, it’s so inspiring to see how they’ve navigated this male-dominated industry. Their success only motivates me to work harder.
What’s next for you after the release of “A Woman Like Me”? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations on the horizon?
While I have no shortage of original songs to record, my next pursuit is actually recording some of the covers I’ve performed live over the years! I’m always taking song requests from my friends for fun and sending them back as a voice memo. But there’s just something really special about a well-done cover, and I’m excited to share something I’ve never done before. In the meantime, I’d be happy to take any song requests your readers may have!
