Singer‑songwriter Sara Bareilles is using her newest album, Good Grief, as a form of worship. In a candid interview, Bareilles described how the loss of two close friends to cancer, ongoing fertility challenges, and a deepening battle with anxiety have led her to view grief as a sacred practice rather than a destructive force.
Grief as a devotional ritual
“Songwriting is a really sacred ritual, a kind of faith in the unknown, and a faith in the mystery of how music works and moves and God and the universe,” Bareilles told the reporter. She explained that the album’s songs emerged from a place of surrender, allowing her to sit with sorrow rather than flee from it. The result, she says, is music that “transforms” pain into something listeners can hold and cherish.
Personal loss informs the music
During the recording process, Bareilles realized the entire project was centered on grief. The first single, “Home,” debuted on Anderson Cooper’s podcast All There Is in March. Cooper’s conversation with comedian Stephen Colbert about openly sharing their own grief inspired Bareilles to write the track, which she performed with tears.
She also collaborated with Brandi Carlile and the late poet Andrea Gibson on the song “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet.” Gibson, who was battling terminal cancer when they met, taught Bareilles that “to die is to be reincarnated in the people you love while they’re still alive,” a concept that informs the album’s hopeful tone.
Faith‑filled lyrics offer comfort
In “Capsize Me,” Bareilles describes a relationship with a “life force” she calls God, describing it as “a very wide interpretation” that guides her back to herself when anxiety overwhelms. She assures listeners that “there is no version of this life where you are actually capsized,” emphasizing resilience over despair.
Other tracks, such as “Forever,” imagine the perspective of someone on the brink of death, echoing ancient Greek mourners who sang spells to summon the dead. Bareilles believes that grief, when approached with reverence, can become a source of “mystery, awe, joy, and jubilation.”
Tour and documentary extend the message
Bareilles launched her tour on September 9 and released the documentary Sara Bareilles: Good Grief the week before. She hopes each concert creates a space where “the veil feels exceptionally thin,” allowing audiences to experience communal healing.
“If this tour is a place to create a space where the veil feels exceptionally thin, I am here for it,” she said, adding that sharing her grief publicly may enrich her own recovery.
Why this matters for listeners
In a culture that often shuns open discussions of death and sorrow, Bareilles’ work invites believers and non‑believers alike to confront loss with honesty and hope. Her music serves as a modern hymn, offering a pathway for those wrestling with mental‑health challenges, fertility concerns, or the pain of losing loved ones.
For anyone seeking a compassionate soundtrack to navigate personal trials, Good Grief provides both lyrical solace and a reminder that grief, when embraced, can deepen our appreciation for love and life.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
