In this episode of Good Job with Beth Roars, Beth Roars talks to MOBO nominated Gospel Singer Sarah Téibo. Beth and Sarah chat about how to juggle a busy work and family life whilst still creating music with passion. They also get to grips with how to deal with criticism, the difference between leading worship in church compared to performing gigs and address the question - is it ever too late to start a career in music?
““We have so much potential inside of us. Every day is an opportunity to put out more, to influence people, to encourage others, to live out our purpose””
Podcast Episode Highlights:
01:14 - What was Sarah Téibo’s worst job ever?
01:51 - What was Sarah’s journey into music and why did she want to sing?
02:41 - How did singing in Church shaped Sarah’s musical journey?
03:20 - Is it possible to start a career in music later in life?
04:24 - Has Sarah Téibo had any doubts about her music?
05:15 - Dealing with criticism and surrounding yourself with the right people
07:59 - Juggling a full time job around her music trying not to take on more than she can handle
09:20 - Finding balance
10:18 - What is it to be a worship leader in church and how is it different to music industry gigs?
13:33 - What are Sarah’s primary musical influences and which cultures has she drawn from to find her own sound?
15:20 - Why does Sarah use the phrase “Die Empty” as an inspiration?
17:51 - Beth asks if Sarah has any advice for any aspiring independent artists out there
Key Points:
Find a way to make the industry work for you, around the message that you want to bring to people/the stories you want to tell, in the genre that you want to perform in, however commercial opportunities might appear in that sector.
Stand up for yourself as an independent artist. Don’t be afraid to look for ways to find yourself more work and make sure you’re being smart about monetising yourself, claiming royalties etc.
Not everyone will like your music. Surround yourself with good people who can be honest about where you’re at. Even if you find yourself not being able to have a clear opinion on whether something is good, share it with people you trust and have them as a fall back option for if/when criticism arises.
Quotes:
“I didn’t allow it to stop me because I knew I had something to offer, something relevant”
Sarah Téibo on getting into the music industry at a comparatively late age
“It’s one thing to write a song and think it sounds good when you play it back to yourself, it’s another thing to be sure that other people will like it when they hear it”
Sarah Téibo on releasing her first single ‘My Joy’
“You can’t please everyone. Not every single person will like your music… you need to be prepared for that”
Sarah Téibo
“For me, even if you’re critical about me I still find something I can take from it, to improve myself”
Sarah Téibo on criticism
“You can’t grow if you can’t take or handle criticism well”
Sarah Téibo
“I do also value the importance of taking time out and pulling away from everything, including social media for just a day or two”
Sarah Téibo on taking a break
“Whatever it is you’ve got, just share it, even if it’s just a smile… they might be going through a really tough day”
Sarah Téibo
“Be persistent, be consistent and be resilient”
Sarah Téibo
Resources Mentioned:
