Album Notes

"The title track of Sarah Hays’ solo debut Water seems a bit prophetic right now: “Water, where's the water / Flooding in the lowlands / And dry up on the hill...” But instead of approaching looming environmental disaster with literal or preachy lyrics, she employs subtle imagery to make her point: “We thought it was lovely when the sun was beating down / But I can hear that bunny scratching at the ground.” Other standouts include the piano-poppy “Drop Me a Line,” the banjo stomper “Tricky” and the mournful “Anyhow,” which bathes Hays’ airy, angelic voice in a Lanois-esque fog of echoey baritone guitar and vibraphone. The disc was produced by Ken Coomer (former drummer for Uncle Tupelo and Wilco), and his spacious, rootsy arrangements spotlight Hays’ vocals without overwhelming them." - Jack Silverman, Nashville Scene Critic's Pick, June 2008


Sarah Hays was raised in North Carolina. She played piano, violin, flute, and guitar, but it was the piano, guitar and vocals that stuck. She lived in New York and Los Angeles for several years before settling in Nashville in 2007.

In L.A., she was a member of The Cash Diners, a vocal duo and writing team that took her to Nashville to record their first record. After finishing the record, the band discovered the devastating news that their producer had disappeared with all of the money allotted for musicians, studios, mastering, etc... The Cash Diners was irreparably wounded, but the partnerships and musical inspiration she found in Nashville were undeniable.

Her first solo record, Water, was produced by drummer/producer Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Clockhammer, and Swag) and mixed by Charlie Brocco (engineer for George Harrison, B.B. King, Fleetwood Mac, and Patty Griffin among others). She also had the enormous pleasure of getting Charlie Cushman to play her great-grandfather's banjo (circa 1915) which she recently inherited from her Grandmother, and she is plucking away at it now herself.

Check out Drink Your Wine, Anyhow, Lately or any of the other songs listed here to see the range of her writing and the raw emotion in her vocals. She is currently working on her next record and playing shows in and around Nashville.