Sara Watkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sara Watkins
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Sara Watkins in 2009 at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, North Carolina
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sara Ullrika Watkins |
| Born | June 8, 1981 |
| Origin | Vista, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Bluegrass, folk, country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, fiddle, guitar, ukulele, percussion |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Nonesuch Records Sugar Hill Records |
| Associated acts | Nickel Creek, Sean Watkins, Chris Thile, Mutual Admiration Society, Works Progress Administration, The Decemberists, Dan Wilson, I'm With Her, Aoife O'Donovan, Sarah Jarosz, The Killers, Jackson Browne |
Sara Ullrika Watkins (born June 8, 1981) is an American singer and songwriter who plays the fiddle. She started her music career in 1989 as the fiddler for Nickel Creek. This was a bluegrass band she formed with her brother Sean and mandolin player Chris Thile.
Besides singing and playing the fiddle, Sara also plays the ukulele and the guitar. She even played percussion when she toured with the Decemberists. In 2012, she and her brother performed with famous singer Jackson Browne on his acoustic tour.
With Nickel Creek, Sara released five studio albums, one collection of songs, and seven singles. When the band took a break for seven years, she released three solo albums. These were Sara Watkins, Sun Midnight Sun, and Young in All the Wrong Ways.
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About Sara Watkins
Her Musical Start: Nickel Creek
Sara Watkins began her musical journey early. She joined her brother Sean and Chris Thile to form the band Nickel Creek in 1989. She was the fiddler for the group. The band became known for their unique bluegrass sound.
Nickel Creek released several albums. Their music was enjoyed by many fans. The band took a break for a few years, but they later got back together. They continue to make music and perform.
Sara's Solo Career
In 2005, Sara started talking about writing her own songs. She said it was a bit hard for her at first. But she kept trying to write more music.
In 2008, Sara signed a deal to release her own music. Her first solo album, Sara Watkins, came out in April 2009. She recorded the album in Nashville and Los Angeles. A famous musician named John Paul Jones, who was in the band Led Zeppelin, produced her album. He had played with Sara before in 2004.
Sara toured around the United States to share her new music. She opened shows for other artists like Tift Merritt and Robert Earl Keen. She also performed on TV shows like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In 2011, she appeared on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion.
In 2012, Sara released her second solo album, Sun Midnight Sun. This album also featured guest artists like Fiona Apple and Jackson Browne. In 2016, Sara won an award for "Instrumentalist of the Year" at the Americana Music Honors & Awards.
Other Music Projects
Sara has worked on many other music projects. In 2002, she was in a TV ad for a phone company. She also worked with other musicians on an album called Mutual Admiration Society.
In 2007, Sara sang a song called "Song of the North (Beneath the Sun)" for the documentary film Arctic Tale. She lent her voice alongside other famous singers.
In 2008, Sara joined a new music group called Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). This group included her brother Sean and other talented musicians. They released an album together in 2009.
Sara has also been a guest on other artists' songs. She sang on Needtobreathe's album The Outsiders in 2009. She also performed with Jerry Douglas and Aly Bain in Scotland and England.
In 2011, Sara played fiddle, guitar, percussion, and sang on The Decemberists' tour. She also started performing in a radio podcast called "Thrilling Adventure Hour". Sara played violin and sang on John Mayer's 2012 album Born and Raised.
Sara and her brother Sean often play together at a club in Los Angeles. Their show is called "Watkins Family Hour". They often have other guest musicians join them. This led to an album and tour under the same name in 2015.
Also in 2015, Sara toured with Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan. This trio now performs as the band I'm With Her. They even hosted the radio show A Prairie Home Companion.
More recently, Sara played fiddle on Phoebe Bridgers's album Punisher in 2020. In 2021, she played fiddle and violin on The Killers's album Pressure Machine.
Personal Life
Sara Watkins married Todd Cooper on August 16, 2008. In 2017, she announced that they were expecting their first child.
Discography
Solo career
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
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| US |
US Folk |
US Heat |
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| Sara Watkins |
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— | — | 13 |
| Sun Midnight Sun |
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— | 11 | 16 |
| Young in All the Wrong Ways |
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200 | 7 | 1 |
| Under the Pepper Tree |
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| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
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| 2012 | "When It Pleases You" | Peter Zavadil |
| 2013 | "You and Me" | Russ Kendall |
| 2016 | "Move Me" | Allister Ann |
| "Say So" | Alex Chaloff | |
| "Young in All The Wrong Ways" | Emilie Sabath |
With Nickel Creek
Albums
Compilations
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Singles
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With Watkins Family Hour
Albums
- 2015: Watkins Family Hour
- 2020: Brother Sister
- 2022: Vol. II
With I'm With Her
Singles
- 2015: "Crossing Muddy Waters" / "Be My Husband"
- 2017: "Little Lies"
- 2017: "Send My Love (to Your New Lover) – [Live – Feat. Paul Kowert]"
- 2019: "Call My Name"
Albums
- 2018: See You Around
