Sarah McLachlan struggled to find musical inspiration as a 'wealthy, middle-aged white woman'
Sarah McLachlan is making new music after a decade of struggling to find new material because, in her words, she's "just another wealthy, middle-aged white woman."
In an interview published Thursday by The New York Times, the "Angel" songstress opened up about her journey back to fame after leaving the spotlight in 2008 and becoming a single mom to two daughters, India and Taja.
"What do I want to talk about?" she told The Times while discussing a set of songs she wrote about a breakup a few years ago but later shelved. "I'm just another wealthy, middle-aged white woman."
She told the publication she's "so energized by music, now that I'm living and breathing it every moment" and has started working with singer-songwriter Aimee Mann and Phoebe Bridgers producer Tony Berg, calling the potential comeback "a very different feeling."
The Lilith Fair founder acknowledged that age plays a role in popularity in music — but everybody likes a comeback.
"I didn’t talk for the first 10 years of my shows. When the music was happening, I knew what I was doing. Take the music and my voice, and I’m 12 again," she told The New York Times. "But in the last 10 years, I say whatever comes to mind. I feel more freedom daily to be who I am."
Sarah McLachlan celebrates 'Fumbling' with new tour 30 years later: 'I still pinch myself'
Last year, McLachlan celebrated 30 years of her third studio album "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy," with an eight-week tour, which was chronicled in The New York Times article. She also spoke with USA TODAY last year about the album, her music comeback and the 30th anniversary tour which kicked off May 25 in Seattle.
"I'm in the process of writing. I could not tell you when a new record is coming, but there will be some new songs played on the tour," she told USA TODAY at the time.
"Fumbling," featuring tracks such as "Possession," "Good Enough" and "Hold On," landed McLachlan on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts for the first time and helped kickstart her drive to 90s music superstardom.
Sarah McLachlan recalls being called 'Medusa' as a kid after kissing another girl
McLachlan also spoke about traumatic childhood experiences from her youth in Nova Scotia.
After kissing another girl in the seventh grade, she became a pariah at home, she recalled. "I became poison. Then they started calling me 'Medusa,' because I had long, curly hair," she said. "There was physical abuse, too. I thought, 'I am on my own.'"
Music was Sarah McLachlan's safe space
The trauma didn't end at school as she struggled with her relationship as one of three adopted children in her family. So, she turned to music.
"I didn’t have a relationship with my father, because my mother wouldn’t allow it. If I showed him any attention, she wouldn’t speak to me for a week," McLachlan said.
Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sarah McLachlan talks music comeback, reflects on childhood trauma
