Artist’s profile: Sarah Barrios

NORTHWEST CORNER — Sarah Barrios, 20, is an up-and-coming musician from Torrington.

Barrios describes her music as indies, blues and pop. She performs as a solo act, singing while playing an acoustic guitar.

She began her musical career by performing locally in venues such as Infinity Hall in Norfolk. Last year she won best new act of the year at the New England Music Awards. She now performs in clubs and festivals in many different states.

Barrios said that she writes all of her own music and started to write songs when she was 13.

“It’s interesting to look back,” Barrios said. “I’ll find songs I wrote when I was really young and compare them to the ones that I’m writing now and I’m like wow, these are bad. They probably sound like your basic pop music, but it’s a lot different I think, which is cool. It shows that my music has grown up along with me.”

Barrios describes writing music as an outlet for her feelings and a way to express herself.

“It’s cool to see people’s reactions to your songs,” Barrios said. “A lot of people will come up after hearing me sing to tell me they can relate to the music. That’s always really great because it makes you feel like you’re not insane. This isn’t one feeling that only you have had, you’re not the only person on this earth to feel this way. For me that’s really cool, just being able to connect with other people. Also I’m honored to say, certain songs I’ve written have had impact on other people’s lives. I think that’s a really special thing for me, when someone comes up to me and says, hey, this really helped me. For me, it helps me to write music, but if I can help somebody else it’s even better.”

Barrios said her inspiration for songs comes from everywhere.

“A lot of the songs that I write come from personal experiences or feelings that I’ve had,” Barrios said.  “That’s not to say that I don’t write songs that are based on or inspired by other people. Every song I’ve written has been inspired either by someone specifically or just people that I meet or see in general. I could see somebody in a coffee shop having a conversation and wonder what they’re saying, and I’ll just make something up in my head. I always tell people I’ve been a big bookworm for a really long time, and I just don’t have the patience to write an entire book, so I think this is my outlet, to write little stories that express either feelings, a message or just a story that plays out. My inspiration comes from everything and everyone.”

Trish Barrios, Sarah’s mother and previous manager, describes her daughter as gifted, talented and very cool to watch.

“I often tell people I feel like I’m a little biased because she’s my daughter, but truly when you see the things that have happened for her,” Trish Barrios said, “the awards and people coming to see her and her connection to the crowd, it’s not just me anymore. Pretty much everyone that hears her thinks she’s pretty special. I’m extremely proud of her. As far back as I can remember she would sing around the house. She would sing along to the radio, make up songs, but just in the past two years is when she’s really started to think that this is something she may want to do for the rest of her life. I completely support her. So far she’s been very fortunate and lucky. The opportunities that have opened up for her have been amazing. The support from everyone that knows her in the community has been really great.”

For more information go to www.sarahbarriosmusic.com.

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