Whenever I watch one of Sarah Potenza’s videos on YouTube, I see a bold woman with a larger than life voice, who could absolutely be mistaken for my sister. Well, she isn’t my actual sister but I feel like she’s still a sisterly type figure for women around the world. My daughter used to call women who were not her sisters but just as important, a sister-friend.
She’s had plenty of people doubt her chances for success. Look at her now. She was on season 8 of The Voice. Sarah is playing shows around the world, including an upcoming cruise with Melissa Etheridge. She’s got a new album, Road to Rome, coming out on March 8, which is International Women’s Day. The first single from the album, “I Work for Me,” is available in all of the usual spots – iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, etc. None of those naysayers were right – not one.
Women need a sister-friend who is there to motivate us to get off of our asses and do something with our lives. We need a woman whose voice is louder than the haters.
. Sarah Potenza is that sister-friend.
Were you a headstrong as a kid?
Yes, and it caused me a lot of pain because girls are not supposed to be like that. So I always felt different.
Did you have positive female influences in your life?
Yes and no. The women in my family let the men tell them what to do, because they came from a time when that was the way it was. My grandmother was not allowed to go to school past the sixth grade. Her father said that girls can’t do anything with that education, so she didn’t need it. She was forced to work in a mill until she married.
However, her husband died when she was in her 30s. So she had to learn to do everything. She had to learn things like how to drive. She got work at a bank as the cook in the cafeteria. She worked at that bank, and at that time women were not allowed to open a checking account without the signature of a man. Can you imagine that? She had to work for a place where she had to have her son sign for her to cash her own damn check.
Has being defiant served you well?
It makes me happy. And I am not sure where I would be if I was more submissive. So who knows.
Where was your first show?
My mom took me to see Bonnie Raitt. I was in the 4th grade. It was amazing.
Have you ever been on a cruise before? How excited are you to be going on a cruise with Melissa Etheridge?
I have. I have done 4 other musical cruises, and they are always great. But Melissa is iconic. She was my idol. So I am really looking forward to this one.
How important was it for you to release the new album on International Women’s Day?
It’s very special to me.
Where do you find such cool glasses? Do you think they would work for bifocals? Asking for a friend . . .
Of course !!!! ha. I get them all over the country. I love to shop for glasses.
What do you want people to know about you?
I want them to know that I really appreciate them taking the time to listen to my music and to spend their hard earned money on my shows and my merch and supporting me.
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