German-American singer-songwriter Sarah Bernstein brings listeners a meticulously crafted composition that authentically captures the essence of the early 2000s with the brand new anthem “Loser Of The Year”.
This latest release was written by Sarah Bernstein and produced by Bernstein & her mentor Shane Adams. It was engineered and mixed by Kenny Varga, & recorded in Nashville at Coop DeVille Studio featuring drums by Wes Little, bass by Luis Espaillat, guitar by Justin Ostrander, & piano by Shane Adams. Mastering by Alex Dobbert at True East Mastering.
This release marks a defining moment in Sarah Bernstein’s career, showcasing not only musical prowess but a deep-seated connection with their own narrative, and a commitment to inspiring confidence in others.
Sarah has kindly taken the time to speak with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution regarding the brand-new single & its full transformative journey. You can find the full interview below.
Hey Sarah, thank you so much for this interview. Can you start by introducing yourself to readers who might be unfamiliar with your music?
Sarah: Actually, I’m willing to take a chance and say none of your readers have heard of me or my music before, but I hope they will soon!
Hi, my name is Sarah Bernstein, and I’ve called myself a singer/songwriter since I was 13. It’s funny because looking at my musical catalogue over the past decade it basically tells my life story. I was 17 when I recorded my first EP “Man in the Moon” in Germany, and the cover was shot at the beach in Ocean City, Maryland (30 minutes from my hometown of Salisbury). My 2019 EP “Spellbound” was about my life in New York City and shot on the 34th Street subway platform. You can literally hear my voice change over the years, not to mention the music production value. But the one thing all my songs have in common, and what I’m still proudest of, is that I wrote them all myself.
When did you first discover your love for music?
Sarah: Listening with my family growing up, like so many of us do. Neither of my parents are professional musicians, but my Mama is a painter and had our favourite German radio station playing all day, every day. My Dad is secretly an amazing saxophone player, so when it was time to pick an instrument in my elementary school band, that’s what I picked too.
But it was my cousin Josef in Germany who I truly idolized. He was the frontman of a band at the time and wrote music too. I remember sitting at my aunt and uncle’s kitchen table and sharing my own songs for the first time. He explained to me what a bridge is, and showed me where it was in my song. Instead of making me feel small for not knowing, he empowered me for it.
Have you always felt that you wanted to pursue a career within the music industry?
Sarah: The short answer would be– yes. But I’m not sure I understood what that really meant until more recently. Growing up completely off the beaten path of the music industry, I wrote songs just because I could. No one ever really taught me how, or told me whether or not I was doing it right.
In retrospect, I see that as a blessing.. Had I known then what I do now about the music industry, and what a force it is to be reckoned with, I might’ve been too intimidated to keep writing and growing into my craft.
How would you currently describe your musical style?
Sarah: Avril Lavigne meets John Mayer at an early 00’s party.
You recently released the pop-rock anthem “Loser Of The Year”. How did the inspiration for this song come together?
Sarah: Last year I performed six solo shows in addition to my full-time job in broadcast TV and also moving out of my apartment and in with my boyfriend.
I’d wake up in a cold sweat, terrified of embarrassing myself on stage in front of my coworkers. Every second I wasn’t working or unboxing was spent practising. I felt like I was stuck on a hamster wheel, desperately trying to get it all right, all the time… “Loser of the Year” pretty much sums up that feeling.
Over time, this song has undergone a transformative evolution, as it’s adapted from a song you previously wrote. What was this like for you as a songwriter looking at this song in a whole new light & giving it this transformation?
Sarah: Yes! The chord structure and main melody came from a song I wrote as a teenager. But it was much slower, and my phrasing had these long pauses where I was still learning how to play and sing at the same time.
Now, it’s an absolute blast to perform. The first time I played it live at The Bitter End, my colleague John immediately came up to me after the show and asked where he could hear the song. That’s how I knew it had to be my next single.
What did this song mean to you when you first wrote it & what does it mean to you now?
Sarah: It used to be called “Only in my Soul” and was about a guy friend I had a crush on. Back then, basically, anything I couldn’t say to someone’s face—but wanted to– was said in a song. I didn’t put as much thought into my lyrics as I do now, but there was a rebellious quality to it that I hadn’t felt in a long time. That’s what motivated me as a writer to turn it around and ultimately make it the song I’m proudest of.
What message would you like listeners to gain from this song?
Sarah: The freedom and confidence to pursue your own self-expression, whatever it is!
Are there any further releases planned in the near future that you can currently tell us about?
Sarah: Yes! My next single, “A Woman Like Me” was just sent to mastering in Nashville today. For now, all I’ll say is that the song is basically the polar opposite of “Loser of the Year”. So if this single is a little heavy on the pop-rock side for some listeners, something new is coming your way very soon!
What message would you offer to someone looking to pursue a career within the music industry?
Sarah: Be the captain of your creative vision. Stand behind your work and its value. There are a lot of sharks in the water, and plenty of non-creative people preying off independent artists for a living. If you know what you bring to the table, don’t be afraid to eat alone— embrace it.
Finally, is there a message that you would like to share with the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?
Sarah: Thank you so very much for reading, and I hope the song makes YOU feel like a winner.
You can check out “Lower Of The Year” on Spotify below or on more platforms here.
Fierce & Fabulous Revolution 