Bearing Song and Gifts
Bearing Song and Gifts
Story
Back in 2007, as a newlywed in Nome, Alaska, I dreamed of creating a space where I could merge my love for music with my new chapter in life. I envisioned a studio where people of all ages could come together to explore their musical talents. I named it Bearing Song as a nod to the nearby Bering Sea and as a symbol of the many journeys—musical and personal—that would start here. It’s a place to bear witness to your own growth and to share in the harmony of our community.
To bear a child, to bear in mind, to be a bear, to bear witness, to bear a song. Bearing this way meant more to me than The Dutch explorer who named the Bering Sea. I liked the detour it made the mind take to be that close to the same spelling as the Bering Sea, which lay within eyes reach from my location. To me the sound of the words, which are the same, and the meaning of the words can like poetry dance the line in our imaginations.
About Sarah C. Hanson
Hello, I'm Sarah C. Hanson, born in the windswept town of Nome and nurtured under the vast skies of Juneau. My life's journey has taken me from the serene landscapes of Denali to the vibrant communities of Fairbanks and Nome, and now to the coastal charm of Petersburg. My music, much like my life, is a tapestry woven from the experiences gathered along these paths.
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Artistic Journey
From a young age, songwriting blossomed naturally from my love for poetry and journaling, each song a deeper exploration of my curiosities and observations. My music career began in earnest during my college days in Bellingham, WA, where I first captured the essence of longing and discovery in my debut album, Something More Than Beautiful (1998). This collection of songs reflected my yearning for home and the personal transformations I experienced during those formative years.
By the year 2000, my second album, Breaking Strings, was born in the creative confines of Skate Bottom Sound in Juneau. This album was a patchwork of experiences—inspired by the loves and lessons of Bellingham, a summer with the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theater, and the emotional landscapes of working with the elderly. It also featured a heartfelt cover of Greg Brown’s Never Shine Sun.
In 2003, I released All I Can See, my most richly produced album to date, recorded in Fairbanks at 10th Planet. This album was a culmination of vibrant community interactions, steady gigs, and the humorous realities of adapting to life in a colder climate. It featured a mix of local musicians who helped bring to life the observations and encounters I had during my time in Fairbanks.
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The year 2008 marked a pivotal chapter in my life with Treasure A Storm Can Bring. Newly married and expecting, I found myself recording in Anchorage at Surreal Studios. The songs spoke of finding stability in love and returning to my birthplace of Nome, where new beginnings and reflective insights into life’s continual cycles inspired my work.
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My 2014 album, Walking Singing Loving Being, was a vibrant diary of life in Nome as I juggled motherhood, my music store Bearing Song, and the simple joys of everyday life. The album started in Fairbanks but ultimately came together under the skilled hands of Karl Blau, whose visit to Nome helped encapsulate the essence of those bustling years.
Looking Ahead
Now, I am poised to record again with a fresh collection of songs that mirror my recent moves and the introspective journey through the challenges of a global pandemic and personal transitions. The music industry has evolved, favoring singles over albums, but my heart still lies with creating cohesive collections that reflect chapters of life. Check out my latest song Door to Door.
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Music and Bearing Song
At Bearing Song, not only do I share my passion for teaching and music, but I also continue to create and share my original works. Each note played and sung at Bearing Song carries the imprint of my journey, inviting others to explore their own paths in music and life.