GoLocalProv Interview: Sarah Potenza of The Voice

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic

Sarah Potenza is on a roll. Earlier this week, the Rhode Island native became a household name on The Voice, turning all four chairs on the popular NBC series with her over-the-top performance of “Stay With Me.” 

She spoke to GoLocalProv earlier this week from Nashville where she lives. We learned more about her background, her musical influences, and why Rhode Island holds a special place in her heart.

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New Found Fame

Over 50,000 people tried out for this season of The Voice. Potenza is now 1 of 48 who remain, and will compete in the “Battle Rounds” soon. She intentionally selected “Stay With Me,” she noted, “to stand out in the crowd. It’s a male rock song, so it’s different for a girl to sing it. Rock has always been a part of my repertoire.”

The 34 year old singer-songwriter credits her life experience thus far for her success on the show. She’s toured for years playing mainly country and blues music with her band Sarah and the Tall Boys. Along with husband and bass player Ian Crossman, Potenza’s been branching out to rock and roll in recent years.

“I’ve played on all kinds of stages, and used every experience as a musician, a restaurant employee, you name it. It’s important to play to the crowd, and focus on the song.”

As for her Voice audition, she “planned to ignore the coaches, and felt relieved when the first chair turned. I sang my heart out,” she recalled, while adding some theatrics as she dropped to her knees for the final verse.

Blake - "Like Ian with Money"

Choosing Blake Shelton as her coach was not easy, noted Potenza. She was tempted to go with Adam Levine, but she felt Blake would be easy to work with.

“He’s like (husband) Ian with money,” she joked. “I love country music, the way it tells a story. In Nashville, lyrics are king. He’s a blue collar, salt-of-the-earth kind of guy,” she said of Shelton.

Since the broadcast, Potenza’s voice has received frequent comparison to the vocal style of the late Janis Joplin. She finds it “amazing” and remembers hearing Janis for the first time.

“Growing up in the 90’s, I couldn’t sing like Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey … I have a raspy voice. When my older brother brought home a copy of Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits, I just loved it!”

“I love country music, I love blues music. Eat a Peach by the Allman Brothers is one of my favorites; the music is great and so is the way the lyrics tell the story!”

Mother Approved

We also spoke to Sarah’s mother, Deb LaTour, to learn a little more about the roots of Sarah Potenza.

“Sarah showed an interest in music from an early age. As a toddler, she used to follow me around the house singing. I first knew she was going to be a musician when she sang ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ at a 7th grade concert at Gallagher Middle School in Smithfield,” noted LaTour. That same year, she attended a Bonnie Raitt show at Great Woods (Xfinity Center), and really caught the music bug.

At Smithfield High School, she starred in musicals, sang in the Rhode Island All-State Chorus and played Open Mic nights at places like the Custom House and the Living Room. She continued to play around Providence while attending Rhode Island College, where she majored in voice and violin.  

In 2003, after finishing at RIC, Potenza decided to chase her dream and moved to Chicago. There, she recorded ‘The Eastside,’ a love song set on the East Side of Providence, which was included on the album Acoustic Chicago.

She later formed Sarah and the Tall Boys, with husband and fellow Rhode Islander Ian Crossman. The band established a reputation as a top notch touring act, playing small clubs and festival like Rhythm and Roots, where she quickly became a crowd favorite. (In 2011, she sold more CD’s than any other act.)

“She originally embraced country music, channeling Lucinda (Williams), but started shifting more toward a rock style in the last couple of years,” explained LaTour. “When she moved to Nashville in 2012, she started playing at Music City Roots with Jim Lauderdale, John Oates and Elizabeth Cook. She placed 2nd in the American Songwriters Awards with her song ‘My Turn.’”

Life on the Road

LaTour also spoke about the struggles and challenges her daughter has endured.

“Sarah has sacrificed a lot of things people take for granted such as having a family, because she believes that she was meant to be a singer-songwriter. She’s worked hard to get where she is, driving old cars, no TV, a macaroni and beans kind of life.”

“I’ve seen her in venues with hundreds of people cheering; I’ve seen her in little honky-tonk bars working for tips. She always gives it her all,” explained her proud mother.

“I Treasure Rhode Island”

Her hometown is never far from her heart.  “I treasure Rhode Island” rasped Potenza in our interview. “I love that people are watching back home. I’m reppin’ RI!”

She’s written more than one tune about her home state. In additional to “Eastside,” she penned “Jonesin’ for Little Rhody,” a country tinged tune complete with the lyric…

“There ain’t no big moon tonight over Chicago; Not like the ones that they’ve got in my hometown

You can see ‘em looking out from Roger Williams; Above the Biltmore Hotel they put downtown”

Her mother’s advice: “I always told her that if you give something your very best, you are a winner. No matter what!” We agree and will be watching and updating her progress regularly on GoLocalProv. Stay tuned.

Ken Abrams reviews Roots, Rock and Blues for GoLocal. E-Mail him here.

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