We were lucky to catch up with Sara Serpa recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sara, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic comes from a commitment to treating others with justice and dignity above all else. I’m also deeply driven by curiosity and the practice of listening—truly being present with others and with my work. These principles guide me, whether I’m creating, performing, teaching, or supporting others through initiatives like Mutual Mentorship for Musicians.
For me, it’s about fostering meaningful connections and staying open to learning through every step of the process. Engaging with curiosity and respect is what keeps me grounded and inspired.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a vocalist, composer, and educator, and my work is all about exploring the space where music, storytelling, and collaboration meet. My projects blur the lines between jazz, contemporary classical, and improvisation, creating something unique and deeply personal. Collaborating with musicians and artists from around the world keeps my work exciting—it’s in those shared creative spaces where the unexpected happens.
My latest album, Encounters and Collisions (released November 15, 2024, via Biophilia), is my most personal project yet. Featuring Ingrid Laubrock on saxophone, Erik Friedlander on cello, and Angelica Sanchez on piano, the album dives into themes like migration, home, family, motherhood, loss, and art. It’s an intimate, multi-dimensional experience, with poetic lyrics, narrations, and a companion book of hand-drawn, comic-style illustrations that add a whole new layer to the storytelling.
Beyond creating music, I co-founded, with the amazing vocalist-composer Jen Shyu, Mutual Mentorship for Musicians (M³), a non-profit that supports musicians of underrepresented gender identities through mentorship and collaboration. It’s been a game-changer for me—helping to create spaces where new voices and ideas can thrive feels just as important as making music.
I’m also working on a new duo album with pianist Matt Mitchell, blending voice and piano in ways that feel both minimalist and expansive. We’re planning to share this music live soon, including a potential performance at National Sawdust. At the core of everything I do is the belief that music and art should build connections, foster curiosity, and amplify voices that need to be heard. That’s what keeps me inspired.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, three qualities that were most impactful on my journey are curiosity, active listening, and resilience.
Curiosity: Being open to new ideas and experiences has been essential. It’s what pushed me to explore a wide range of genres and forms, and it keeps me engaged with art and life beyond just music. I’ve learned that curiosity can lead you down unexpected paths that enrich both your creative and personal life.
Active Listening: Listening closely to others—whether in performance, conversation, or collaboration—has been a cornerstone of my growth. It’s not just about hearing, but truly understanding and connecting. This has shaped both my music and my relationships with other artists.
Resilience: The path is rarely straight, and setbacks are inevitable. The ability to stay engaged and keep moving forward, even when things aren’t easy, has been crucial. Every challenge has offered something valuable, and that persistence has helped me develop both as an artist and a person.
Along the way, connecting with all kinds of people and experiencing the generosity of others has been equally important. These moments of connection and support have been just as influential in shaping my work and my life.”
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents provided me with love, support, and belief in my potential. Through their unwavering support, I was taught to believe in myself, even in the hardest circumstances. They taught me to fight for justice, dignity, and freedom. They made sacrifices to ensure I had the best education, surrounding me with books, music, art, culture, and politics. They also made sure I traveled, so I could see the world beyond Portugal’s borders. Most importantly, they encouraged me to ask questions and challenge dogmas and taboos. Their approach shaped the way I think and approach my work, always urging me to stay engaged with the world around me
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saraserpa.com
- Instagram: saraserpamusic
- Other: bluesky: serpita
Image Credits
photo #1- Rob Davinson: Sara Serpa singing with bassist Linda May Han Oh
photo #2- Ebru Yildiz
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
