SARAH POTENZA has always been larger-than-life. From TV performances in front of 12 million viewers to chart-topping album releases, she's built an eclectic, empowered empire with a voice that's as big as her ambition. But she's never sounded bigger than this.
"I'm entering my disco-diva dance era," says the out-and-proud songwriter, who kickstarts a new chapter of her career alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Audé. "I've always loved glitz and glam. I love drag. I love house music. It's time to make music that lives within that fun, sparkly, shiny world."
Years before she began collaborating with Audé — a house music icon who's earned more Number 1 hits than any other producer on Billboard's Dance Clubs Songs, racking up more than 130 chart-topping hits — Potenza grew up in working-class Rhode Island. She was raised by a family of loud-mouthed Italian-Americans who were unafraid to speak their mind, and she developed an appreciation for bold, brassy singers who were similarly confident. Influenced by Tina Turner, Bette Midler, Whitney Houston, and Cher, Potenza became a sharp songwriter and show-stopping singer. "For as long as I can remember, I loved divas," she recalls. "And I always knew I was one, too."
When she hit the road in support of critically-acclaimed solo albums like Monster and Road to Rome, though, Potenza couldn't help but feel a little limited. She'd become a household name thanks to prime-time appearances on shows like The Voice and America's Got Talent, and Rolling Stone had even dubbed her "a colossal-voiced singer who merges her old-school influences with a modernistic sound." Fans agreed, sending Road to Rome and its lead single — a cover of Mary Gauthier's "Worthy" — to the top of the iTunes Blues chart. Potenza wasn't only a blues artist, though. She wasn't just a soul singer, either. She had more to offer.
"I'd be playing a folk venue in a sequined dress with feathers, and it never really lined up," she remembers. "The frame didn't fit the picture."
Things feel different now. The frame fits. Working with Dave Audé, Potenza has unchained her inner disco-ball diva, creating a sound that nods to the dancing queens who came before her — from the Weather Girls to Mariah Carey to Diana Ross — while still thriving in the contemporary world. The collaboration began with a club-friendly remix of Lady A's "Need You Now," propelled by four-on-the-floor percussion and a vocal performance that channels power and pain in equal measure. There's more to come, and the results are stunning. This is music for the dance floor, the bedroom, and all places in between. It's music rooted in melody and movement. It's the sound of an artist's rebirth.
Most importantly, it's music that's bombastic enough to support Potenza's voice. She's spent years calling her own shots, chasing down her own sound, and leading the way for fellow women who remain the minority within a male-dominated music industry. She's become an entrepreneur and a queer advocate. That sort of trailblazing work requires someone who's loud enough to rise above the noise, and Potenza continues to wield a voice that deserves — no, demands — to be heard.
Maybe you've heard her before. But as she enters her new era, Sarah Potenza proves it's time to listen up all over again.
DAVID ROBERT KINGThe Bluegrass Situation has raved about singer/songwriter David Robert King by saying, “If you appreciate the likes of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits, you might well enjoy what he’s up to.” Accolades are coming in for the troubadour and his album IDAHO, which will be released on February 16. Mary Gauthier, King’s longtime collaborator, began the wave of praise when she noted, “IDAHO, David Robert King’s new record, is a stunning soundscape of whispered confessions and poignant observations. A beautiful collection of haunting songs, it deserves a good listen.” Grammy-winning singing titans The Blind Boys of Alabama also approve, as they came on board to augment King’s brooding vocals with their harmonies on the title track “Idaho.”
King recently performed at the 30A Songwriters Festival, alongside Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Mary Gauthier, Patti Griffin and many more. King has also shared stages with Josh Ritter, The Mark O'Connor Band, Tim O'Brien, Loudon Wainwright III, Darrell Scott, and Over The Rhine. He has collaborated with Emily Saliers of The Indigo Girls, Jonatha Brooke and others. This combination led to a top 40 song on folk and roots radio, wide critical acclaim, and a featured spot at AMERICANAFEST 2017. King was also named a finalist in the 2017 NewSong Music Competition, performing last month at Lincoln Center in New York.