Broadway Dreams Realized

Sara Bareilles has described musical theater as the reason she started singing in the first place. The pop singer’s dream of Broadway stardom has been realized in her newest studio album What’s Inside: Songs From Waitress. The fourth installment differs from its 2013 predecessor, The Blessed Unrest, in that it is a collection of songs that Bareilles wrote for Waitress, a musical adaption of the 2007 indie film of the same name. The musical was performing at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts this fall and is headed for Broadway April 2016. Songs from Waitress was released November 6^th, on Epic Records.

Songs from Waitress is the musical chronicle of a small town, pie-crafting waitress and her struggles with marriage and infidelity. Sara Bareilles’ sunny, indie-pop style is perfect for musical theater, telling a story through catchy lyrics and inspired instrumentation. As can be expected, the albums songs are centered around Bareilles’ piano and profound vocals. The strength and dexterity of Bareilles’ voice leaves nothing to be desired. Jason Mraz makes an appearance on the album, donating his vocals to “Bad Idea” and “You Matter To Me.” The product of their duet is a wonderful blend of two talented vocalists.

A standout track of the album is “She Used To Be Mine,” which was released as a single on September 25^th. The song is a heart-wrenching piano ballad about watching yourself change as a person, and losing parts of yourself that used to define you, a relatable story. The song displays Bareilles’ incredible range.

As of late, Sara Bareilles has been broadening her horizons and realizing her potential. Not only did her 2013 album, Blessed Unrest, get nominated for the Grammy Album of the Year, but also, she is achieving her Broadway dream and her new book, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) In Song, was released in October. There is no telling what else she is capable of.