Our Story
With organic harmonies that enchant and uplift the spirit, The Real Sarahs share their special gift of vocal synergy. This trio of women, who are all named Sarah, enjoy the magic that is created by voices in harmony, acoustic instruments, and the energetic connection between artists and audience. Embracing many genres of music, you are likely to hear threads of folk, jazz, blues, and country running through their songs. Singing from the stories of their own life journeys and experiences, their original music is honest, evocative and heartfelt.
Introduced by a mutual friend in 2010, Sarah ‘Songbird’ Larkin and Sarah Ryan have been nearly inseparable, musically, since. As founding members of Motherland Family Band in 2011, these ladies began to sculpt their original songs into tightly woven harmonic collaborations. Larkin and Ryan struck out on their own as a duo in 2012 and The Real Sarahs was born. They recorded their first EP CD together in 2013, demonstrating each in their capacity to lead and support and embody beauty through song. Their second album, Afternoon with the Dirty Birds, was released in May of 2017 and represents the body of work they developed together, with the support of full instrumentation. This work showcases their songs with a big, 'full band' sound and allows the pieces to reach a sonic potential unachievable as a duo.
As neighbors in a tight knit musical community, it was inevitable that Sarah Rose would find her way to The Real Sarahs. ‘Rosie’ was an accomplished local performer who had admired the work of the duo. Her first solo EP, Lay My Burden Down’ was released in 2016. Her strengths as a singer/songwriter, harmony singer and cellist made her a natural fit. The ladies jumped into re-arranging their repertoire for three parts and started performing together in October 2016. Sarah Rose's lovely cello playing is featured on Afternoon with the Dirty Birds.
With gratitude for the gift of music given them, The Real Sarahs offer back their gifts with open hearts and truth of purpose. These women seek to inspire, uplift and entertain their audiences with songs that speak to the heart of the human experience. With warmth and humor The Real Sarahs offer their REAL selves to the world as the women of song that they were born to be. Currently residing in Mendocino County California, The Real Sarahs enjoy performing in their local area and throughout the Northwest. They aim to do more regional and national touring in time.
Sarah Larkin
Sarah ‘Songbird’ Larkin grew up singing. From age 3, she was performing with her father and sister at church, and throughout her school years performed with choral ensembles, show choirs, and in musical theater productions. She began hobby songwriting in college and later began writing more seriously. In 2003 she picked up the guitar, and a new love was born.
Since forming the Real Sarahs, her songwriting has accelerated and a deep love for arranging songs for harmony singing has been awakened. ‘I often hear songs in my head first. A lingering tune, a repetitive melody line, knocking at the back or front of my consciousness. I hear music when I’m working with plants or surrounded by nature. It’s as if they whisper them to me.”
Sarah Ryan
Originally from Ontario, Canada, Sarah Ryan has been singing and performing all her life. From her high school beginnings in jazz vocal a cappella to studying musical theatre in college; singing, acting and music have been an important and constant part of her journey. Her father, a blues musician, was an important influence throughout “I wrote my first song in 2010, just after my father died. The song ‘Markin’ Your Grave’ which is on our first EP, memorializes him”. Through travelling, new people and hard times, she often feels her songs flow through her in “whirlwinds of inspiration”.
Sarah Rose McMAhon
Sarah Rose McMahon is a singer-songwriter, ukulele player and cellist born and raised in Mendocino County. She first fell in love with the cello at four years old and it’s been all about music ever since. In her songs, she draws upon her own life experiences and travels: travels to India and Africa, bluegrass in Asheville, backpacking in the Trinity and Cascade mountains with her ukulele in tow, Scottish fiddle festivals and camps, and a childhood immersed in classical cello and folk music. In January 2016, she released her first solo acoustic album ‘Lay My Burden Down’.