https://spinexmusic.com/exclusive-interview-with-sarah-herrera/

Interview With Sarah Herrera

Sarah Herrera’s career is marked by her distinctive and uncompromising presence in the contemporary punk and independent music scene. As both a solo artist and the driving force behind the bands The Tommy Lasorda Experience and Pancreatic Cancer, she is known for her raw, unfiltered artistic expression, defiance of industry norms, and a discography that blends social commentary with personal narratives.

Born in The Bronx in 1999, Herrera’s musical journey began in various bands between the ages of 14 and 19, where she developed an approach aimed at pushing boundaries and full self-expression, being named 2022’s Artist To Watch by Underground Punk. Her commitment to artistic principles over commercial success is evident in her philosophy of refusing royalties and offering music on free platforms, establishing her as an “anti-industry” artist.

Welcome Sarah. It’s a pleasure to have you here. Things seem to be moving very fast lately for you these days, we’d love to hear the latest news.

Hey, thanks for having me. So, the latest news is my new Bandcamp page! .I have officially come full circle, from Bandcamp to Soundcloud to Spotify and Apple Music and now back to Bandcamp. I’ve released some of the hits, some of the old stuff, some unreleased demos, isolated vocal tracks, all sorts of things you haven’t heard. From what I’ve been told, if you listen to one of my songs more than three times, they start pestering you to open your wallet. Don’t, just make a new account. You wouldn’t be able to pay me even if you wanted to, I signed up with a stolen credit card and I’m not going to go to the bank claiming to be someone named Samuel Chang to try to collect 50 cents.

Anyway, the live album that caused all the problems (“I Never Make Mistakes Because I Never Do Anything”) is on there. “Yelling Freebird! At Funerals” is mostly singles and demos from 2020-2023. “Die Die My Friend” is on there, which was a collaboration with NYC punk musicians B-Stylez on vocals, Señor Bonez on drums and Noodle Girl (me, age 11) on guitar, my first recorded performance. And the newer stuff I released as a solo artist, with The Tommy Lasorda Experience and with Pancreatic Cancer I split up into two compilations, “Taking It Too Far” and “Last Grasp At Relevance”.

You’ve spoken candidly about your personal life in interviews. Are your friends and family generally supportive of your career?

It depends. With songs I’ve written, like “Is It Really A Stereotype If It’s Actually True?” and “I Drink And Drive Because I Want To Be A Giant Pinball Going Down The Road”, some of my musician friends have said “we love you Sarah, for real, but please don’t mention our band as an influence in any interviews. Like, don’t mention us at all”. In fact, I think those were the exact words from the guys in Yesterday’s Dream. On the other hand, my family is very supportive. My mom will walk up to anyone on the street who is wearing what she thinks is a punk t-shirt (which usually means Metallica or The Geto Boys or something) and pull out her phone and start typing my name into Google to show them. There are almost a thousand people named Sarah Herrera just in the U.S., so I tell her to add “punk” or “musician” but she forgets. But, just to push the algorithm for her, let me say Sarah Herrera Sarah Herrera Sarah Herrera Sarah Herrera, haha.

There’s a lot of interesting stories about you floating around out there. Any misconceptions you’d like to clear up?

Yes, a few. First of all, ChatGPT says I’ve released 4 songs about drunk driving. I’ve released 7, and I’m not happy about them getting it wrong. What do they think a song called “Look Out Utility Poles!” is about? Stupid AI. Also, that whole thing about me having multiple personalities, not true – that was an interview where I said all sorts of weird shit, I was extremely drunk, I could barely get my keys into the ignition driving home from the radio station.

It seems like you were destined to make music. Were there any points in your life where you considered going in a different direction?

Yeah, things actually could have turned out very differently. Shortly after I graduated high school, I was approached by a scout for a modeling agency. At least he said he was, he could have been a fugitive war criminal, but he had a nice suit and a business card. Only problem is, I’m 5’ 7” – you can’t be a model at that height. Rico in the neighborhood makes very good fake ID’s, the one he made for me when I was 15 got me into bars and clubs no problem, so I had him make me a driver’s license that said that I was 6’ 1”, and that worked. The guy tried the casting couch thing, I pulled out my boxcutter and he realized I wasn’t playing, I did end up signing a contract with the agency.

Ultimately, I just wasn’t into the whole bulimia thing – if I’m going to throw up, it should be from a few bottles of Jägermeister, not a finger down my throat. Would have been nice, I suppose, but a model doesn’t get to interact with people, you just have to stand there. At least when I’m on stage and some guy is staring at my tits, I can stop a song to verbally abuse him. If he starts jawing back, I’m jumping down off the stage to start mixing it up. You can’t really do that on a runway.

You’ve mentioned some of your musical influences in the past. Anyone else had a profound effect on your life or career?

Yeah, I guess my agent/manager. I’d really have no career at all without him. Well, I have no career now, but you know what I mean. He took me on last November, and I wouldn’t be where I am without him. He turned a broke, unknown musician into the broke, unknown musician you see today. And when I’m too drunk to find the keys to my apartment, I know I can drive up the Bronx River and crash on his couch. Of course, I have to sleep under a giant poster of myself, which is a little creepy, but I try not to judge. But yeah, really sort of mentoring me in the ways of the music business, it’s been very helpful, and if he wants to look down my shirt while we’re shooting pool, I can live with that. Least I can do.