After her set, we found a quiet place backstage to pray and chat a little.

It was a stripped down, acoustic sound; she is not currently touring with a band. "Going out with a band is kind of expensive," she notes. But at the same time, she is using this time to hone her abilities, and to explore the depths of the acoustic sound. She is working on new songs for another album, though at this time there are no specific plans for recording. She adds that she and producer, Charlie Peacock, are working together, exploring new sounds, as an artist may choose different mediums or pallets.

Sarah sprang onto the contemporary Christian music scene only a few years ago. In fact, she was signed onto Charlie's new re:think record label over the internet. Though she had recorded several songs for fun, she hadn't let herself dream of making music a career. That changed when her brother, having found Charlie Peacock's email address, sent an inquiry to the well known producer. Charlie responded, "send me some of your little sister's music." He listened to the tape, and signed her as the first artist on his label.

Sarah was raised in a Catholic family, in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. "My mother was the leader of the family, and she made sure that we all went to church." She adds that at age five, her mother began to explore other philosophies in Christian thought, and they began to attend a Baptist church. It was there that she began to be exposed to the idea of Christ being a savior; that he paid the price for our redemption. At about the age of 16, she says, she realized a need within herself for salvation; the need for a savior, Jesus Christ. Since then, she says, she is still exploring what it means to be a Christian and to live a life for God. "I think that I am just learning what salvation really means."

Her songs, her lyrics, are a strong evidence for this exploration. Songs like All Fall Down, which talk about the universal need for grace, and the certainty that we will all eventually fall down before the feet of God. "The fools stands, only to fall, but the wise trip on grace. All fall down." Or the song, Flames Of Truth, which cries out "forgive my thunder / pushing you under / give me the strength to admit / nothing's my own here / We fall and hearts tear / facing us toward the truth."

Her most recent release, Downtown, she explains, is about prayer. The lyrics, "in the middle of our human condition / in the Emerald City of our saving provision / and we wrestle and struggle / till we can hardly stand / and we drive downtown into that praying land / but what we want most is home." She explains, "the Emerald City was a place of refreshment and rest." She goes on to explain that prayer is sometimes like us driving into the heart of the city. "The city is what supports the rest of the state," she says. "It's where the leaders are." She adds, it's the center of activity, and we as Christians, in going to prayer, are doing that. We are going to a place where our Leader is. "When I'm flying deep / into the clouds of fear and doubt / I speak out loud your Name / in the midst of my defeat / I run to my car and travel down the road / that leads me straight into my Father's arms." I must admit, it is a good analogy.

"I don't want to reveal too much about my lyrics," she responded when questioned about her song Break Hard The Wishbone. In her press releases, she describes the song in terms of the restrictions that we as believers place on ourselves, in comparison to the freedom in we have in Christ. However, in the concert setting, she dedicates it too all those who are in jobs they don't enjoy. "I think that it can mean one thing one time, and something totally different the next." She adds that she doesn't want to examine too closely the details in her art.

She attributes her musical stylings, the foundation of her songs musically, to artists she describes as being passionate in their art. Groups and individuals such as U2, the Cranberries, Mark Heard, Keith Green, Tori Amos, and Joni Mitchell. The evidence of these artists are abundantly evident in the passion with which she performs. Looking at this woman, one wouldn't guess that hidden inside of her was such a powerful voice; she carries herself with an air of timidity, yet she writes as one who has learned great confidence.

As we finish talking, the strains of Sixpence None The Richer, whom she is touring with, break through to where we sit. Another group who are passionate about their art. I thank her for taking the time to talk with me. She is eager to watch Sixpence perform, and it reminds me that they too were once where she is. I earnestly pray that her passion will remain, after all, passion is what art is all about.