Subscribe to Guide
No Result
View All Result
Hamptons.com
  • Spotlight Magazine
  • Lifestyle
    • Featured
    • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Community
    • Dining
    • Recreation
    • Trending
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Post an Event
    • Gallery
  • Real Estate
    • Real Estate Features
    • Hamptons Real Estate Market Data
    • Search Real Estate
      • Open Houses
      • Search Sales
      • Search Rentals
    • Title Insurance
    • Happening In The Hamptons Podcast
  • Live Cameras
    • All Live Cameras
    • Live Weather Cams
    • Amagansett, Atlantic Avenue Beach
    • Bridgehampton, West Scott Cameron Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Street
    • East Hampton Village, Newtown Lane
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Beach
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Bridge
    • Hampton Bays, Shinnecock Fishing Dock
    • Hampton Bays, Tiana Beach
    • Long Island Aquarium | Coral Reef
    • Long Island Aquarium | Penguins
    • Long Island Aquarium | Shark Tank
    • Montauk, Downtown Circle
    • Montauk, Lars Simenson Skatepark
    • Montauk, Gin Beach & Inlet
    • Montauk, Sunset Beach & Inlet
    • Sagaponack, Sagg Main Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Foster Memorial Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Long Wharf Marina
    • Sag Harbor, Main Street (South)
    • Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor Bay
    • Sag Harbor, Windmill Beach & Bay
    • Shelter Island, South Ferry
    • Southampton, 39A to Montauk Hwy Merge
    • Southampton, Conscience Point Marina
    • Southampton Village, Coopers Beach
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (North)
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (Hildreths)
    • Westhampton Village, Main Street (East)
    • Westhampton Village, Rogers Beach
  • Public WiFi
    • Public WiFi Map
    • Public Wi-Fi Support
  • Spotlight Magazine
  • Lifestyle
    • Featured
    • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Community
    • Dining
    • Recreation
    • Trending
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Post an Event
    • Gallery
  • Real Estate
    • Real Estate Features
    • Hamptons Real Estate Market Data
    • Search Real Estate
      • Open Houses
      • Search Sales
      • Search Rentals
    • Title Insurance
    • Happening In The Hamptons Podcast
  • Live Cameras
    • All Live Cameras
    • Live Weather Cams
    • Amagansett, Atlantic Avenue Beach
    • Bridgehampton, West Scott Cameron Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Street
    • East Hampton Village, Newtown Lane
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Beach
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Bridge
    • Hampton Bays, Shinnecock Fishing Dock
    • Hampton Bays, Tiana Beach
    • Long Island Aquarium | Coral Reef
    • Long Island Aquarium | Penguins
    • Long Island Aquarium | Shark Tank
    • Montauk, Downtown Circle
    • Montauk, Lars Simenson Skatepark
    • Montauk, Gin Beach & Inlet
    • Montauk, Sunset Beach & Inlet
    • Sagaponack, Sagg Main Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Foster Memorial Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Long Wharf Marina
    • Sag Harbor, Main Street (South)
    • Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor Bay
    • Sag Harbor, Windmill Beach & Bay
    • Shelter Island, South Ferry
    • Southampton, 39A to Montauk Hwy Merge
    • Southampton, Conscience Point Marina
    • Southampton Village, Coopers Beach
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (North)
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (Hildreths)
    • Westhampton Village, Main Street (East)
    • Westhampton Village, Rogers Beach
  • Public WiFi
    • Public WiFi Map
    • Public Wi-Fi Support
No Result
View All Result
Hamptons.com
September 27, 2023

Sara Hartman Talks Musical Beginnings, Berlin, and New Album ‘Start Somewhere Dark’

Veronica Chumbiby Veronica Chumbi
in Entertainment, Featured, Trending
Home Featured
Sara Hartman Talks Musical Beginnings, Inspirations, and New Album ‘Start Somewhere Dark’

With the excitement surrounding the return of the Sag Harbor Music Festival this year, one artist stood out in the lineup: Sara Hartman. She’s not your typical local artist. She is a SHMF veteran, performing at the very first one when she was just 15 years old. She grew up in Sag Harbor and attended Pierson High School. She took lessons at the famous Harbor Music Studio in Sag Harbor, and in 2015, she signed a record deal with a major label, moved to Germany, and toured the world opening for acts like Ellie Goulding, Clueso, Kelvin Jones, and many more. Her song “Monster Lead Me Home” off her Satellite EP has over 34 million Spotify streams. The US premiere of her new album “Start Somewhere Dark” will take place at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor on Saturday, September 30th. It seems things are coming full circle for Sara.

 

She spoke to Hamptons.com about her musical beginnings, Berlin, and new album ‘Start Somewhere Dark.’

 

Take us back to the beginning of your musical journey. How did it all start?

 

I grew up in Sag Harbor and took lessons with Paul Chapin at Harbor Music. It was a little lesson space near Sag Town Coffee way back in the day. I got a drum set for Christmas and really fell in love with it. I’m sure my neighbors were not as in love with the instrument as I was haha. I was really grateful to be working with Chapin as a teacher. He taught me a bit of piano, bass, guitar, and ukelele as well. That led to me writing songs in my bedroom as a way of dealing with a bit of a chaotic home life. It was therapy for me to be able to express myself through songs. I was adopted by the East End music scene after playing a show at Crossroads Music in Amagansett and soaked up all that I could learn. I was really supported by my family and my teachers at Pierson. Without all this, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

 

What are some artists that inspire you, and how have they influenced your sound?

 

I discovered Amanda Palmer when I was a teenager, and her songwriting really inspired me. Her lyrics were honest, to the point of being a bit abrasive. I appreciated this. Of course, I was also inspired by Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles, which is probably why I drove all around the Hamptons as a teenager with a ukulele. My car didn’t have an aux cable so I ended up going through my parent’s CD collection. My mama raised us on 90s art rock, Radiohead, David Byrne, and Bjork and my dad was a bit more punky, the Clash, Green Day, System of a down. Recently, I’ve been listening to old jazz records. Music is incredible. I am quite a nerd, and it makes me happy to find something new, random, and inspiring. My favorite song changes pretty much every day. Today, it’s sound and color by Alabama Shakes. 

 

It must have been a huge change moving to Berlin in 2015, signing with a major label, and touring around the world. How was the process for you?

 

Long story short, it was the dream. The dream is not always what you imagine it to be. I got to experience things that most people don’t get to. I played stadiums all over Europe, got a festival crowd of thousands to clap along to my songs, was on TV shows with a translator in my earbud, really incredible stuff. But I found that the amount of pressure involved with that level of a music career doesn’t always make diamonds. Things become a lot more about business than about music. It really wasn’t for me. I wasn’t ready for it. I’m grateful for the experience, but I’m much happier playing electric guitar at tiny, sweaty shows full of people who really appreciate what I do and are there for the music. I learned a lot. It took me a long time to realize that making music for the love of it is the only way that I really can do it. I lost a lot of my love and curiosity for my craft in the major label system. I’m going in a different direction now, and not only is it better for my mental health but it feels like people are really resonating with it. Audiences really want to support artists. The system that artists have to work in is not always the best at doing that.

 

“start_somewhere_dark” is your first album release. What or who inspired this album?

 

This album is dedicated to my mother, Kerrie Sundara. She has been very ill for the past few years. The album was my way of dealing with this. Music can be therapy. In the past, I wrote and produced my songs with a team of people. During the pandemic, I decided to learn how to produce myself. it was a long process, but these songs are the fruits of that labor. I wrote and produced these songs 100 percent myself. I then reached out to a friend at Fox Lane Records who agreed to help me bring them to the next level. We added more layers of production to create what you can hear now. We worked in basements in Berlin, apartments in Vienna, and a trailer in Steinfurt across from a cow farm to make this music a reality. With no budget and whatever time we could steal, wherever we were allowed to make noise. The songs correspond with the stages of grief. From Denial to Acceptance, I always play the songs in the order of the stages. This repeated process has helped me a lot. Loss is profoundly difficult, but mama was an artist and taught us how to make beautiful things out of challenging times. 

 

You’ve performed at the Sag Harbor Music Festival in previous years. How does it feel to be back and premiering your first album at this year’s festival?

 

I remember playing in the corner of Grenning Gallery at the first-ever SHAMF when I was 15 years old. This festival has helped me more than I can say in the past years. As a broke artist AND an expat, it can be quite difficult to get back home sometimes. This festival has allowed me to bring what I’ve made overseas back home. Most of my shows and life is in Berlin so it means a lot to be able to show my family and hometown a glimpse of what I’ve been up to. Playing Bay Street is a big deal as well! SOOOO grateful to Kerry and Kelly for supporting and believing in me from the very beginning. It’s a rare thing.

 

Berlin is such a cool epicenter of all different types of music. How does the Berlin music scene differ from the Sag Harbor music scene?

 

Berlin is a creative confluence of weirdos from all over the world. of course, their biggest export is techno, but I became quite involved with the underground jazz scene. Theres a little bit of everything for literally everyone there, which can be overwhelming in the beginning but once you find your people the city really opens up to you. Sag Harbor is a warm and open scene, which I do miss a bit in Berlin. But the Berlin scene is constantly pushing boundaries, combining influences, rethinking performance, playing punk shows in abandoned buildings, a breeding ground for the next new, cool thing. I find Berlin most exciting when it comes to the redefining of performances in general. When you have an audience in a space, you can quite literally do anything, and the possibilities are endless. I find this really inspiring. 

 

You play multiple instruments like drums, guitar, bass, and ukulele. Which one do you resonate with the most? 

Recently, I’ve rediscovered my excitement for the drums. It’s funny everything seems to be coming full circle recently, back to where they began. I really think that I approach all of the instruments that I play like a drummer. It’s the heartbeat of the band. Really excited to be playing with James Bernard at Bay Street. He’s one of the better drummers I’ve ever played with. 

 

Can you walk us through your songwriting process?

 

Songwriting is a funny thing. Ideally, you sit down with the right instrument on the right day, and the song just flows through you. These are the magic tunes. All you can do to prepare for those kinds of songs is to sharpen your tools. Learn new chord shapes, learn new vocal techniques, read lots of books, and then when songs come to you, you are ready to make it the best it can be. On the other hand, there are work songs. I write songs for German Radio artists and EDM DJs to help pay the rent. This is a much more collaborative and rational process. Thinking about internal rhyme schemes, finding a chorus melody that is memorable but accessible, and writing lyrics that are universal yet specific. I prefer the more emotional way of writing. Songs usually start with lyrics for me. I always keep a notebook with me so I can catch those magic ideas when they come around.

 

What are your favorite Hamptons spots with us?

 

I haven’t spent much time out east in quite a long time. I suspect a lot of my favorite spots are not there anymore. I will always be a huge fan of Kites of the Harbor. Good people running that shop :).

One of my favorite things to do out east was getting pizza or a foccacia sandwich from Cappellettis and eating it at Long Beach on the tailgate of my dad’s truck. That secret sauce they have is the BEST!  

Big Olaf on the Wharf also has the best waffle cone in the world. 

 

 

Instagram @SaraHartmanMusic

Bandcamp: @SaraHartman

sagharbormusic.org

 

 

Sign up for our weekly newsletter!

Get the top Hamptons events and latest scoop!

What's Happening in the Hamptons

Related Posts

Top Hamptons Events This Weekend: August 22nd, 2025
Entertainment

Top Hamptons Events This Weekend: August 22nd, 2025

August 25, 2025
Big Voices, Small Stage: The Soho Sessions Returns to Amagansett with Maren Morris and Yola
Entertainment

Big Voices, Small Stage: The Soho Sessions Returns to Amagansett with Maren Morris and Yola

August 25, 2025
Elias Friedman “The Dogist”, Irina Kro Eicke and more attend ARF’s Bow Wow Meow Ball
Gallery

Elias Friedman “The Dogist”, Irina Kro Eicke and more attend ARF’s Bow Wow Meow Ball

August 22, 2025

Search Articles

No Result
View All Result

LOCAL EVENTS

Events

25
Aug
25
Aug
-
25
Aug

Hampton Jazzfest & LTV Studios Present Bill O’Connell

August 25 @ 06:00 PM - August 25 @ 08:00 PM
LTV Studios 75 Industrial Road Wainscott, NY, 11975
25
Aug
25
Aug
-
25
Aug

Hamptons Jazzfest & LTV Studios Present: The McIver Piano Jazz Series

August 25 @ 06:00 PM - August 25 @ 08:00 PM
75 Industrial Road, Wainscott, NY, 11975
25
Aug
25
Aug
-
25
Aug

The Perlman Music Program Alumni Octet

August 25 @ 06:00 PM - August 25 @ 07:00 PM
Jewish Center of the Hamptons, 44 Woods Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937
25
Aug
25
Aug
-
25
Aug

The Center at West Park Presents One-Night-Only Staged Reading of All the President’s Men

August 25 @ 07:00 PM - August 25 @ 10:00 PM
Guild Hall, 158 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937
25
Aug
25
Aug
-
25
Aug

A Miserable Evening with Jackie Hoffman at Bay Street Theater

August 25 @ 08:00 PM - August 25 @ 10:00 PM
Bay Street Theater
Load more listings
Next Post
Top Hamptons Events This Weekend – September 29th, 2023

Top Hamptons Events This Weekend – September 29th, 2023

  • @wagsandwalks @themontaukbeachhouse 

Puppies + Pilates + @montaukila = The Perfect Day

Check out our Events Calendar for more events! (link in bio)

#wagsandwalks #animaladoption #adoptdontshop❤️ #dog #montauk #montaukbeachhouse #montaukila #pilates
  • Check out the Top Hamptons Events This Weekend! ⁠
⁠
✨ 50th Annual Hampton Classic Horse Show⁠
📅 Sun, Aug 24 – Sun, Aug 31, 2025 | 8am–5pm⁠
📍 240 Snake Hollow Rd, Bridgehampton, NY⁠
🐴 One of the largest outdoor horse shows in the U.S., a premier summer destination for competitors & spectators.⁠
⁠
⁠
🎶 Apollo in the Hamptons⁠
📅 Fri, Aug 22, 2025 | 6pm⁠
📍 Si Si, 295 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Rd, East Hampton, NY⁠
Experience the essence of the legendary Apollo Theater with DJ Cassidy, Doug E. Fresh & more!⁠
⁠
⁠
🦈 50th Anniversary of JAWS Celebration – Montauk⁠
📅 Sun, Aug 24, 2025 | 12pm–7pm⁠
📍 Shark Bar Montauk, 2167 Montauk Hwy⁠
Screening, live music with Molly Scheider, themed cocktails, shark merch 🦈 — all to benefit Hayground School.⁠
⁠
⁠
😂 Chelsea Handler at WHBPAC⁠
📅 Fri, Aug 22, 2025 | 8pm⁠
📍 WHBPAC, 76 Main St, Westhampton Beach, NY⁠
A night of comedy with Chelsea Handler!⁠
⁠
⁠
🎵 The Knocks at Surf Lodge⁠
📅 Sat, Aug 23, 2025 | 4pm⁠
📍 The Surf Lodge, 183 Edgemere St, Montauk, NY⁠
The Knocks bring their signature groove to the Hamptons.⁠
⁠
⁠
🌅 Generation S.O.S – Live From Water Mill Fundraiser⁠
📅 Sun, Aug 24, 2025 | 5pm–8pm⁠
📍 Water Mill, NY⁠
Featuring Jason Biggs, Luke K, & MC Sophie Sumner.⁠
⁠
⁠
🇬🇷 Mykonos Nights at Calissa⁠
📅 Fri, Aug 22, 2025 | 10pm⁠
📍 Calissa, 1020 Montauk Hwy, Water Mill, NY⁠
End-of-summer vibes with DJs, drinks & dancing.⁠
⁠
⁠
👜🐶 Bark Jacobs by Marc Jacobs at The HUB⁠
📅 Sat, Aug 23, 2025 | 11am–7pm⁠
📍 The HUB, 2183 Montauk Hwy, Bridgehampton, NY⁠
Shop Marc Jacobs & get your pup’s portrait or initials hand-painted on your accessories.⁠
⁠
⁠
🐾 Wags & Walks’ Party Cruise⁠
📅 Sun, Aug 24, 2025 | 3pm–5pm⁠
📍 Easy Breeze Cruises, 462 W Lake Dr, Montauk, NY⁠
Cruise Montauk waters with cocktails & adoptable pups.⁠
⁠
⁠
🎨 5th Annual Celebrating Creatives of Color⁠
📅 Sat, Aug 23, 2025 | 11am–5pm⁠
📍 The Church, 48 Madison St, Sag Harbor, NY⁠
Showcasing artists & authors of color, with works available for sale.⁠
⁠
Check out more events at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#hamptons #weekend #hamptonsclassic #jaws #montauk #apollotheater⁠
  • The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation held its “Sweet 16th” Unconditional Love Gala, a premier Hamptons event celebrating compassion, community, and animal welfare at a private estate in Bridgehampton. The Unconditional Love Gala is SASF’s largest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds directly supporting the shelter’s mission to provide care, rehabilitation, and forever homes for homeless animals. ⁠
⁠
Check out the full gallery at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#animalshelter ⁠
#fundraiser #hamptons #southampton
  • Make sure you check out the sunset music series before the end of August. For more info on dates and times check out the Wölffer website.

#sumsetmusic #winestand #wölffer #rosé
  • Hilary Matt Interiors is a residential design firm started and located in New York City with projects spanning across the country, including in the Hamptons and East End.⁠
⁠
Hilary, principal and founder, is known for a bold aesthetic that is comfortable and livable. She always keeps her clients at the forefront so they can express themselves as individuals through their spaces. After starting out in the fashion industry, Hilary felt a call to interior design where she has been bringing her unique approach and style to every space as the brand continues to grow.⁠
⁠
Hilary spoke more about her background, how each HMI project differs from one another, and why the Hamptons is such a special place to her. She also shared her top 5 interior design tips as inspiration.⁠
⁠
Can you discuss your background and how you got started with interior design?⁠
⁠
HM: I studied business and apparel merchandising. After graduating, my first job was at a women’s contemporary showroom in NYC. I had always loved fashion and wanted to be in the industry. After a year, I realized it wasn’t quite what I expected. I had always been interested in interior design, so I took a leap of faith and accepted a job as an assistant to an interior designer. I was initially nervous to leave fashion, but I figured I could always return. I ended up loving it and worked with her for eight years, learning the ins and outs of the business. I also took classes on weekends and evenings to learn computer programs, scaling, and other essential skills. After leaving that position and having my first son, I started my own company, which has snowballed into what we are today.⁠
⁠
⁠
Read the full interview at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#hilarymatt ⁠
#hilarymattinteriors ⁠
#hamptons ⁠
#interiordesigner⁠
#hamptons lifestyle⁠
#interiorstyling⁠
#design
  • Comedian Des Bishop took the stage at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center this week and delivered laugh after laugh. A native New Yorker, Des moved to Ireland in his teenage years, which ultimately inspired his start in comedy and a successful career that has spanned three decades.⁠
⁠
His comedy is full of observational humor and nostalgia, whether it be about his many cross-cultural experiences, an ever-changing societal landscape, and his own personal stories growing up. Des brings energy and a unique perspective to every show, evident at his Westhampton show, the place he has spent all his summers since the 90s.⁠
⁠
Des spoke more about his background, how his experiences have shaped his approach to comedy, his connection with the East End, and his WHBPAC show.⁠
⁠
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you first got into comedy?⁠
⁠
DB: Well, my background is a little complicated, but the quick version is I grew up in Queens, flunked out of St. Francis Prep at 14, and ended up going to Ireland to boarding school in 1990. It was a crazy, life-changing experience, but it definitely saved my education and ultimately inspired a comedy career that in the early days focused a lot on being an outsider looking in. It’s hard to know if I ever would have tried stand-up if I hadn’t been in Ireland. I got sober at 19 and it was a comedian I knew from that world that pushed me to try stand up. Once I got on stage that was all she wrote. I was addicted.⁠
⁠
Read the full interview at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#desbishop #comedy #westhampton #whbpac
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
Hamptons.com

Saunders Broadcasting Corp.

Phone: 631-613-8440
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Facebook.com/HamptonsOnline
Twitter: @Hamptons
Instagram: @HamptonsOnline

About Us | Contact Us

Hamptons.com

  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Real Estate
  • Live Cameras
  • Public WiFi

Subscribe

Sign up for our weekly newsletter!

Get the top Hamptons events and latest scoop!

© 2025 Hamptons.com | All rights reserved
Saunders Broadcasting Corp.
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Spotlight Magazine
  • Lifestyle
    • Featured
    • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Community
    • Dining
    • Recreation
    • Trending
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Post an Event
    • Gallery
  • Real Estate
    • Real Estate Features
    • Hamptons Real Estate Market Data
    • Search Real Estate
      • Open Houses
      • Search Sales
      • Search Rentals
    • Title Insurance
    • Happening In The Hamptons Podcast
  • Live Cameras
    • All Live Cameras
    • Live Weather Cams
    • Amagansett, Atlantic Avenue Beach
    • Bridgehampton, West Scott Cameron Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Beach
    • East Hampton Village, Main Street
    • East Hampton Village, Newtown Lane
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Beach
    • Hampton Bays, Ponquogue Bridge
    • Hampton Bays, Shinnecock Fishing Dock
    • Hampton Bays, Tiana Beach
    • Long Island Aquarium | Coral Reef
    • Long Island Aquarium | Penguins
    • Long Island Aquarium | Shark Tank
    • Montauk, Downtown Circle
    • Montauk, Lars Simenson Skatepark
    • Montauk, Gin Beach & Inlet
    • Montauk, Sunset Beach & Inlet
    • Sagaponack, Sagg Main Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Foster Memorial Beach
    • Sag Harbor, Long Wharf Marina
    • Sag Harbor, Main Street (South)
    • Sag Harbor, Sag Harbor Bay
    • Sag Harbor, Windmill Beach & Bay
    • Shelter Island, South Ferry
    • Southampton, 39A to Montauk Hwy Merge
    • Southampton, Conscience Point Marina
    • Southampton Village, Coopers Beach
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (North)
    • Southampton Village, Main Street (Hildreths)
    • Westhampton Village, Main Street (East)
    • Westhampton Village, Rogers Beach
  • Public WiFi
    • Public WiFi Map
    • Public Wi-Fi Support

© 2025 Hamptons.com | All rights reserved
Saunders Broadcasting Corp.
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us