Sarah Hickey is a singer-songwriter from Cork. Blending indie, folk and pop, she delivers poignant lyricism, emotional depth and atmospheric soundscapes. Sarah’s immersion in the arts shines beyond music, designing and painting her cover art to perfectly reflect the sonic tapestries of her production. With her newly released debut album Fastener, Sarah dives deep into introspection and resilience, poetically telling stories of heartbreak and contentment, so it seemed like this was the perfect time to catch up and discover more.
Fastener shows you on a personal journey as well as a musical one. What were the origins of the project and the themes you set out to explore? Â
The project was meant to be an EP at first but grew into an album. I recorded the first few songs in West Cork and it was such a brilliant experience. The songs for the most part all came naturally when I was writing them and they go through different themes, some from personal experience and some are stories that inspired me. The songs are about love, loss, fear and a mix of other things.
Your lyrics are often poetic. When writing, where do you start, and how do you approach building a song from initial idea to final form?
I usually pick up a guitar or sit at the piano or sing in my car and see what comes out. It’s often all at once and if I like the idea or if it comes naturally it’s usually a song I will come back to and complete. I try not to force it too much. I think the songs that happen naturally are the ones I’ve written when I had something to express. After it’s written and I set out to record the song I gather images and song references that match the essence of the song to give to the band and producer so they have information about the meaning and feeling of the song.
Cork has a rich cultural history and a strong music scene. Has your Irish heritage and surroundings influenced Fastener, both sonically and in your storytelling?
Yes, definitely. I am always inspired by my surroundings and I’m very lucky to be in such a beautiful place with so many brilliant and kind people around me. I think the feeling of where you are and who you are surrounded by has such a big impact on you and I feel very grateful for where I am and who I’m with.
You’ve shared that inspiration comes from countless artists and bands you’ve loved for years. Who would you say were your biggest influences for this album, and are there any unexpected sources of inspiration that made an impact?
I have been inspired by so many artists, I think this album is definitely inspired by a broad mix of artists like Shawn Colvin, Warren Zevon, Peter Mulvey, Radiohead, Gillian Welch, Kings of Leon, Jeff Buckely, Joni Mitchell. I think inspiration can come from so many places and I found myself inspired by big and small things throughout writing this album.
With Fastener, you’re debuting a fully realised collection of work. Looking to the future, what are you excited to explore next?
I would love to keep making music. That’s all I want to do. I have started writing and recording the next album and I’m really excited to see where it leads.