Music Features

Sarah Lupo's debut

By CHRIS CONTI | October 31, 2012

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IN THE MOMENT Lupo.

More than four years in the making, the self-titled debut disc by singer/songwriter Sarah Lupo is well worth the wait. Surely the name rings a bell: Sarah is the wife of Rich Lupo (the couple co-own the Met) and reeled in quite a crew of musicians to help record the album. She first teamed with veteran musician/producer Kraig Jordan (Lloyd's Llamas, the Masons) at his Plan of a Boy studio in Providence, then developed the project further with Steve Rizzo at Stable Sound Studio in Portsmouth. Rizzo, plus notable locals Mark Taber (piano), Travis Colby (organ), and Dave Zinno (bass), will join Lupo onstage at the CD release party on Sunday. The 10 tracks coast from rainy day ballads ("Route 6," "Taber") to sunny pop numbers ("Without You," "True"), and Lupo's vocals particularly shine on "Undone" and "Him."

The album will be available at the Met, and at Round Again Records on Wickenden Street in Providence. I caught up with her for a quick Q&A just prior to deadline.

WHAT'S YOUR SONGWRITING PROCESS? I wake up with songs in my head. I try to record or write them down right away because I forget everything once the next thought comes in my head. I think it is a way for me to release thoughts and feelings. I love the piano, but I wish I knew how to play the damn thing. Thankfully I have Mark Taber to play it for me.

NERVOUS ABOUT PLAYING YOUR CD RELEASE SHOW? I used to play out occasionally when I was younger. We actually played at the Met and Lupo's about 20 years ago — yikes. And there was the Pork Chop Lounge on Sunday nights at AS220 where I would sing. I would prefer to record in the studio for the rest of my life and never play out, but I am working on "being in the moment and enjoying it," as my guest guitarist, Bobby Keyes, thoughtfully imparted.

I ASSUME YOUR HUSBAND WAS HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE WITH THE NEW ALBUM, TOO. Rich actually bought me my first keyboard. The poor guy then realized he had to listen to me play it. Being the six-foot, 200-lb fledgling flute player in his sixth grade music class, he developed a sensitivity for performance criticism. He has strong opinions and a sincere love of music — obviously. I just wish he would start playing the flute again so we could jam!