At Inner Voice Artists, we aim to not only be a platform for music, film and global change, but for the artists and global changemakers who create them.
Our Artist Spotlight series aims to create a space for discovery of new, budding global talent, while simultaneously offering you an exclusive glimpse into their creative process.
In this week’s edition, we’re extremely excited to feature Sarah Musicant, an up and coming actor and singer based in New York City.
Music first became an importance influence in Sarah's life after listening to her dad’s Beatles and James Taylor records for the first time as a child. At the age of eight, she began training in violin and soon she taught herself guitar, piano, and ukulele. Writing some original songs, Sarah performed at local cafes and school functions in her home state of New Jersey. Music also lead Sarah to start joining her school’s productions of musicals, which introduced her to the world of acting. She began dedicating her life to musical theatre, working at school until 11pm some nights and traveling to Papermill Playhouse to start her intense training journey.
Eventually this journey brought her to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where Sarahtrained heavily in musical theatre acting and the infamous method acting. It is here that Sarah discovered that theatre has power, and that there is a much bigger picture than just acting for fun. Throughout her four years of study, Sarah worked on discovering how to put her passion and drive into theatre while using it to send a message about equality and love.
1. What inspires you and your creative process?
I would say that the hard work it takes to create your own career as an artist is an inspiration. Every opportunity I get to perform, audition or full on production, is a gift. The appreciation I give to the art is something that motivates me to tell the story to the best of my ability. Artists like Benedict Cumberbatch who can tell a story so intimately and passionately inspire me every day to keep pushing.
2. What is the connection between your music and social justice? Why?
Being a part of the theatre community has never stopped amazing me and opening my eyes to different life experiences. On one hand, I find great power in being a woman, and I embrace the strength women have in telling stories.
In the political climate we are currently in, every woman who stands up for their right to live as an equal and respected gender is a hero, and every time I get to play one of these heroes, it is my way of spreading their message. Moreover, every gender and color is beautiful, and the theatre community embraces that beauty and gives those disadvantaged by prejudice, a platform to show that beauty. I am lucky to be in an environment where I can be a part of that, and use my privilege to give a voice to those who don’t get heard.
3. What inspired you to pursue music? What were the challenges you overcame in this?
I’ve always struggled with anxiety, and the only place I felt I could freely be myself was on stage looking out at a sea of black. In theatre, I get to mix my thoughts and feelings with a fictionalized character through prewritten words to create a story that is new and different every single performance. To think outside the box, first you need a box! The words put a limitation that forces you to be creative and express yourself in a different way.
For me, the safety net of knowing what comes next gave me the freedom to open up between those words and feel comfortable expressing myself.
4. What’s been the most rewarding part of being an artist for you? Do you have any advice for future musicians?
The most rewarding part of being an artist is inspiring others to be artists. Of course I love getting to perform live in front of an audience, but there is something special about having a young kid come up to you and say, “I wanna do that!” Theatre has helped me to grow as a person in so many ways, and the most rewarding part is spreading that gift and giving back.
I’ve spent a lot of time teaching the younger generation theatre and improv and music, and seeing the confidence grow in them like it did in me is more than I could ask for. Introducing these kids to theatre and the wonderful theatre community is introducing them to the fight for equality through love and storytelling.
To any future artists, just do what you love and the rest will follow. Being an artist isn’t an easy life, but it is rewarding and IMPORTANT. The world needs art, art is an escape, art is the reality, art is activism and truth. To be any part of that is an honor and far worth the hardship.
Like Sarah's Facebook Page & follow her on Instagram!
Thank you for your continuous support and love,
Lots of love,
#Team IVA