Artist Community Member Spotlight - Sarah Lightman, Oct 2022
In this month's member spotlight, we get to know Sarah Lightman – an artist that advocates for mental health through her music and has impacted her fans in life-changing ways. Sarah shares how she uses music as an outlet to heal from trauma, how building a fan community on Twitch has affected her work, and advice to help fellow artists to do the same.
Hey Sarah, thank you for joining us in this month's member spotlight! Can you start off by telling us a bit about yourself?
Hey Bandsintown, thank you for having me! I’m Sarah Lightman, recording artist and singer/songwriter newly based in Nashville, Tennessee (originally from Central New Jersey) and just moved from an 8-year Los Angeles residency. I started in music as a street performer in Downtown Burbank, CA, and climbed to having my music video featured on the jumbotron at Universal CityWalk, LA while performing at various residencies all over the city and touring on the East Coast - including the NAMM Mainstage and CityWalk.
When the pandemic started and in-person gigs were put on pause, I wanted to keep connecting with fans through live music on Twitch. My main focus is advocating for mental health through my original songs. By sharing the adversity I’ve overcome, the resilience I’ve developed, and the wisdom I’ve learned, I hope to help others know they can face their fears and live beyond them. I’ve been told I’m known for my uniquely soulful voice and smooth, clear tone that cuts like a knife. I aim to provide a refreshing outlet for pop listeners, and am also sponsored by Luna Guitars, Cleartone Strings, and Empire Ears.
It sounds like you’ve had a rewarding career so far with many more great things ahead. Was there a specific moment when you first knew that you wanted to become a singer-songwriter?
When I was a kid, I always wanted to write lyrics to process whatever I was feeling. It was an incredible outlet. It took me a while to choose my path as an artist. It wasn’t until I started street performing that I saw what music did for me and others, and how I could be part of that connection. There was something magical about grabbing people's attention and for example, moving them as they were walking to their car from the movies or the mall.
Writing can be such a healing process. Do you have any rituals when it comes to starting a new song?
If I feel stressed or self-critical, I’ll usually meditate to recenter and to be present in the process. I also like to capture the vibe and feel in melody of what I want to say before adding the lyrics. I find for the most part it’s much easier to write when the lyrics are set to the melody.
That’s good advice for any songwriter! You mentioned earlier that you advocate for mental health through your music. How does that message translate through your lyrics?
I’ve overcome a lot of trauma, and each time I move forward and shed things that no longer serve, I gain a sense of wisdom about myself or the experience. Sometimes I also like to write songs about the process of going through it. Sharing these two different perspectives fills me with purpose and it feels good to connect with listeners through my experiences. If I can help someone suffer less than I did, help them feel less alone, or help them find a sense of peace and joy through my art, then I’ve done my job. I’d like to leave the planet a little better than I found it, especially now. People are in deep need of healing, compassion, community, empathy, and belonging. Why not give them that outlet through music? It’s not just for them, but hearing how they benefitted or relate to me also helps me feel a sense of accomplishment and belonging too!
It’s incredible to hear how writing and making music not only serves your fans, but is healing to you as well. So, it sounds like you were able to create a thriving online community through Twitch during the pandemic to stay connected with your fans. Can you tell us how that has impacted your work?
Absolutely! Apart from becoming loyal fans, they’ve helped connect me to other professionals, collaborators, charities, and have even given me the support to help me feel heard on the days I feel low. They accept me as a human and not just as a streamer and artist. There’s something really organic about being able to show the subtleties that come with streaming. All that being said, I feel like it has improved my performance, writing, and communication skills. They’ve also introduced me to new music, new ideas, and have helped me grow the stream too! Of course, the financial return has been growing each time I invest, but it’s not just about that. They’ve helped me become more successful in various areas. More specifically, being the first to be invited to join the Twitch Collective. That community really helped me gain the tools, confidence, and connections to be better, feel seen and validated on the platform.
Building a community through streaming is no easy feat, so you must have a real impact on your fans and a powerful bond with your audience. Do you have any advice for others who may want to start streaming as well?
Patience, consistency, strategy, integrity, healthy boundaries, and self-care are a must! As one of my mentors would say, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” It’s a journey and the finish line doesn’t really happen overnight when it comes to growing and feeding the stream community and a music career. Cultivating certain routines over time that I know will help me get to Twitch partner is also a must. Being open to growth and having really good lifestyle habits will help me build toward it!
Good things do come to those who wait! We know your fans are important to you–is there a particular fan moment that stands out to you?
Ah man, there are so many, but I think my favorite was when a super young fan told me that hearing my music helped them save their life. To have that kind of impact and to be able to help them rethink taking their life is just incredible and beyond words. It’s not my intention to save lives, but if I could inspire someone so positively like that, that’s why I do it.
That’s incredibly powerful! You have a lot to be proud of and clearly, your message really resonates with your fans. Looking into the future, where do you hope to see yourself five years from now?
I see myself touring, breaking into bigger festivals, and having a sustainable and abundant fanbase. I also see myself building a team to help be the reflection of those results and being known nationally.
We can’t wait to see your dreams come to life. You’ve been using Bandsintown for Artists to promote shows and engage with your fans. Is there a particular feature you love the most?
My favorite feature is the ability to connect with the Bandsintown team more directly through the Artist Community, learn with them, and the speakers they bring in for webinars.
We’re thrilled to hear that our resources can help you in your journey, and we so value having you as a member of our community! Are you currently working on any projects you'd like support on?
I’m currently working on growing my online fanbase (possible fundraiser in the future), releasing a special merch line for my community, and planning new music and video content to be released thiss November continuing into 2023. Please consider tracking my shows, following (with alerts) on social media and streaming my music, etc here. Most importantly, please make sure to visit my website to sign up for my mailing list so you can hear about new music, contests, news, shows, personal reflection and the like from me directly and stay in touch even if a zombie apocalypse hits.
Note: If you wish to be an investing resource to help fuel my online fanbase, please consider joining Patreon (early access) or contact me sarah@sarah-lightman.com. I’d love to connect to discuss more!
Sarah, we’re so grateful to have connected with you and learn more about your story today. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you so much Jojo and Bandsintown for inviting me to be featured and allowing me to be part of the community. It’s an honor and a pleasure to take part in it!
We hope you enjoyed this member spotlight! Until next time, keep creating and inspiring those around you!
To connect further, you can find Sarah in the Bandsintown Artist Community or through the links below.
Website - https://sarah-lightman.com/
Bandsintown - https://www.bandsintown.com/a/15183578-sarah-lightman
Instagram - https://instagram.com/sarahlightman
Twitter - https://twitter.com/sarahlightman
Facebook - https://facebook.com/sarahlightmansings
LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/sarahlightman
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahlightman