Sara Gerdine returns with Time Waits For No One, a moving new track which encourages us to experience life as it unfolds. The Irish singer/lyricist combines folk and country influences with an attempt at classical polish in this song about the passage of time and the evolution of human beings and living in the moment. This is a thoughtful release that brings something universal to everyone’s experience—it feels personal and universal.
Sara grew up in a musical family in the west of Ireland, and has been composing songs since childhood, refining her vocal technique by studying classical music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Her music is influenced by honest storytelling, nature, and her experiences, as they’ve influenced her as an artist and a person. Her soothing music and heartfelt lyrics form a bond with her audience.
Sara talks in this interview about the inspiration behind Time Waits For No One, how childhood experiences and the beauty of Ireland influence her writing, her musical training and how it influences her writing and the importance of this release to her new chapter in her career. It’s a discussion of music, thought and capturing all moments.
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Time Waits For No One carries such a powerful message. What moment or reflection in your own life inspired you to write this song?
I don’t recall one exact moment that inspired the message for ‘Time waits for on one’. It was the realisation of how quickly time goes by while reminiscing back on the years already gone.
The song touches on the passage of time and the embrace of life’s fleeting moments. Was there a particular turning point that made you want to explore this theme through music?
There wasn’t just one moment but as time passes by, I find it is a provoking reminder that we could maybe make more good use of our time and I was inspired to write a song with a message that is so universally relatable.
You blend folk, country and subtle classical influences in your sound. How did your classical training at the Royal Irish Academy of Music shape the way you approached this single?
I feel that I don’t consciously approach my music with a classical influence, but I think that because I trained in classical singing it possibly comes out in subtle ways vocally in my phrasing and technique while writing and recording ‘Time waits for no one’.
Growing up in a musical family in the west of Ireland, how much of your childhood and upbringing do you feel comes through in Time Waits For No One?
My childhood partly influenced this song as when I reminisce on my childhood, it is a sobering reminder of how fast time does go by and that it really does not wait any of us.
Your music is often described as storytelling first. Can you walk us through how the story of this particular song came together, from the first idea to the finished track?
When I write my songs, I don’t have a particular structure, ‘Time waits for no one’ came about from just thinking how time is flying by and to make the most of time and I usually just start writing and the story unfolds itself.
The landscapes and quiet rhythms of the west of Ireland are said to inspire your work. How directly did your surroundings influence the mood or imagery in this song?
Yes, this is true, I love nature and being outdoors and I do feel that nature has influenced a number of my songs including ‘Time waits for no one’ particularly in how my lyrics relate the bends and winds of a road which have similarities to life’s journey, the bends, the winds, the twists and turns which there are many on the stunning route out to Connemara, one of my favourite places.
You studied classical singing formally, yet you have stayed close to your folk and country roots. How do you balance those two sides of your musicianship in your songwriting today?
I have only ever written music in the Folk/Country genres, so I don’t feel that I need to balance anything really in regard to writing and if there are subtle classical influences evident, I welcome that as part of my musical journey and sound and something that creates a uniqueness in my original music so I don’t try to interfere with that.
You have performed at festivals like Celtic Connections and Galway Fringe Festival, as well as charity events for organisations such as Cancer Care West. How have those experiences shaped you as both an artist and a person?
I feel that with all life experiences we are constantly learning and growing, and it is the same from musical experiences. I have gained a huge amount from my performances, interacting with my audiences, with fellow musicians, travelling and with the charity events I learned about the strong message that in giving we greatly receive.
The Cancer Care West concert that we organised gave the charity funds which were greatly appreciated but the experience gave me the beautiful opportunity of being able to use my talents to help others and created cherished memories of performing on stage with my late father who sadly passed away from Cancer just a few months later.
Time Waits For No One is described as marking an exciting new chapter for you. What does this release represent in terms of your growth as a songwriter?
Time waits for no one’ represents an exciting new chapter for me as it has built an amazing energetic movement towards my professional dream by not procrastinating but instead creating.
When listeners hear this song for the first time, what do you most hope they take away, whether it is a feeling, a memory, or a new way of looking at time? I hope that listeners feel empowered by the lyrics to embrace their life more fully, to make a start on something such as a hobby or dream that they have procrastinated on and hopefully my song inspires the listeners to get going on some of those things and to take the time to enjoy what matters to them most.
