Singer-songwriter Sarah Banker joined Indra Raj live on KGNU at the Boulder Farmers Market to share music from her new EP Into the Heart and discuss her creative journey. Sarah highlighted self-discovery, love, and resilience. She spoke about her background in theater and cultural anthropology, and how both have shaped her approach to songwriting and performance. A longtime resident of Nederland, Colorado, Sarah described the mountain town as a vibrant incubator for artists. Her thoughtful reflections and heartfelt music offered listeners a glimpse into her artistic world and her belief in the power of creativity to transform lives. (Studio Session: 5/21/25)
Indra Raj: Up next, we have Sarah Banker joining us. Welcome, Sarah.
Sarah Banker: Thank you.
Indra Raj: It’s great to have you here. We’re going to talk more about everything, but first, let’s get started with some music.
Sarah Banker: Alright, sounds good. This first one is called Cockadoodledoo—a song just to remind us that it’s always a good time to dance around and enjoy life.
(plays music)
Indra Raj: We’ve got Sarah Banker live here on KGNU. We’ve had several local musicians joining us on the air today, and it’s so nice to have you here.
Sarah Banker: Wonderful to be here.
Indra Raj: A perfect day here on the Front Range.
Sarah Banker: I agree.
Indra Raj: So, tell us a little bit about you. You live in Nederland, correct?
Sarah Banker: I do live in Nederland.
Indra Raj: So what is it like up there for music?
Sarah Banker: Well, I would say that it is a great place for musicians as an incubator. There are so many artists and musicians up there. It’s a wonderful, wonderful place to be as a musician.
Indra Raj: Yeah, that’s great. And how long have you been active here in the Front Range with writing songs and performing?
Sarah Banker: Since 2016.
Indra Raj: Okay, great. So almost 10 years here.
Sarah Banker: Oh my gosh. Yeah, it’s almost 10 years. Wow, that’s crazy.
Indra Raj: And you released new music this year, is that correct?
Sarah Banker: I did, yes. I released an EP called Into the Heart. And the song Oodle Dude that I just played—that was the last song on the EP. It’s gotten some wonderful, warm reception, so I’m very grateful for that.
Indra Raj: That’s wonderful. It’s great to have you here this afternoon.
Sarah Banker: Thank you.
Indra Raj: Why don’t we hear another tune?
Sarah Banker: Sure. The second track on the EP is called Into the Heart. Into the Heart is just a reminder that we all have life coming at us. No matter how beautiful the day is and whatever’s happening in our lives, sometimes our thoughts can really take us down. It is a practice to get out of our heads and live into our hearts.
(plays music)
Indra Raj: Thank you. So, we have Sarah Banker live here at the Farmer’s Market, and I was reading a little bit about you. I see that you have a background in theater and cultural anthropology—things that you kind of explored before you got into songwriting. How did those things inform your journey as a musician to where you are now?
Sarah Banker: Well, the theatrics of performance—I would say that was really helpful. I started theater at a really young age, so I think that has helped with just stage presence and calming-the-nerves kind of thing. I would say cultural anthropology has been a big influence on my writing because we all operate off of cultural norms and rules, right? That’s just how every single culture operates.
And the thing is, sometimes, things can influence us that aren’t necessarily in our best interest. So, cultural anthropology—understanding that aspect—helps. Because it’s kind of a made-up thing, right? Rules and norms are just made-up things. And because of that, we can start creating our own rules and our own norms that actually serve us as individuals, as people, and as communities in the world. So, that has definitely influenced the way I approach songwriting.
Indra Raj: Absolutely. I think we can relate to that here at KGNU—being an independent, community-driven radio station. Alright, well Sarah Banker, it’s been great to have you. Why don’t we hear one last tune?
Sarah Banker: Okay. This next tune actually hasn’t been released yet—it’ll come out in July. It’s kind of in the same vein as Into the Heart. As creators of our own reality, anything and everything is possible. So, you know, just remembering that creation is based off of thought, which is then followed by action, and then you have creation—just like the beautiful people here at KGNU. You had a thought, you took action, and now you are KGNU. In that spirit, of all the things we can possibly create in our world and in our lives—why not make some love?
(plays music)
Indra Raj: Sarah Banker, live here on KGNU. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Sarah Banker: Thank you.
