On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sarah Jarosz at a remarkable moment in her career, fresh off multiple Grammy wins, including recent recognition with I’m With Her. We talk about what it actually feels like to experience that kind of validation after years of nominations, and why the support she receives from her hometown of Wimberley, Texas, still means so much, especially with music that reflects on family, time, and staying connected to where you come from.

Sarah shares how I’m With Her, her trio with Aoife O’Donovan and Sara Watkins, became a creative counterbalance to the pressures of solo work. What stands out is how naturally the collaboration works: three distinct musical voices, no ego battles, and an instinctive approach to arranging harmonies and deciding who carries each musical moment. It’s a reminder of how powerful true musical trust can be.

We also explore how her perspective on collaboration has evolved over the years. Early in her career, Sarah felt a strong need to protect her artistic voice. But as she gained experience, she realized that once you truly understand what you bring to the table, collaboration becomes less risky and far more rewarding.

One of my favorite parts of the conversation is a deep dive into the next generation of acoustic musicians, artists with deep bluegrass roots who aren’t confined by genre boundaries. Sarah traces that lineage through musicians like Chris Thile, Punch Brothers, David Grisman, Mike Marshall, Béla Fleck, and Edgar Meyer, framing today’s scene not as a sudden movement but as a continuation of a long and evolving acoustic tradition.

We also nerd out about her time at the New England Conservatory, why she chose it over Berklee, and how her early Kodály training gave her a powerful foundation in ear training and musical intuition. We wrap by talking about what’s next: an upcoming I’m With Her live album, summer touring, and a rare pause in her solo career as she finds herself between record contracts for the first time. In a music industry constantly shifting, from streaming economics to AI, the grounded takeaway is simple: the real thing still matters, and people continue to show up for honest music played by real humans.

Key Takeaways

• What it actually feels like to win Grammys after years of nominations.
• Why Sarah Jarosz still feels deeply connected to her hometown of Wimberley, Texas.
• How I’m With Her works creatively—three voices collaborating without ego.
• Why collaboration becomes easier once artists understand their own musical identity.
• The lineage of modern acoustic music through artists like Chris Thile, David Grisman, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Mike Marshall.
• How Kodály training and ear development shaped Sarah’s musicianship early on.
• Why the “real thing”—human voices and acoustic instruments—still resonates in a rapidly changing music industry.

Music from the Episode

• Jealous Moon — Sarah Jarosz
• When the Lights Go Out — Sarah Jarosz
• Runaway Train — Sarah Jarosz

About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a long-form conversation podcast where host Brad Williams sits down with some of the most thoughtful musicians, composers, and artists working today. The show explores the stories behind the music—creative process, collaboration, career paths, and the human experiences that shape the sounds we love.

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