reprinted with permission - Arcata Eye newspaper - Tuesday, May 14, 2002
by Jennifer Savage

A new CD has joined the category of "local releases," but the artist isn't new to singing at all. Sari Baker grew up with music.

Her father, Scott Baker, played in a band of his own, and she remembers going to his shows. Baker joined her first choir at age five and is currently part of Arcata's Interfaith Gospel Choir.

Her CD,Mad Woman Blues, exists because for years people have been saying to her, "you should do something" with her music. Well, Baker's done something now.

The CD, coproduced with Eldin Green and featuring the members of Dr. Squid on instruments, showcases her rich, pure voice, thoughtful lyrics and should satisfy her current fans - as well as attract numerous new ones.

In person, the 26-year-old Baker is as warm and direct as a listen to her CD would suggest. She's also funny and modest, as when she explained her inspiration. "What really motivates me is a broken heart," she said during an interview at Bon Boniere - then laughed - "If I were any better at dating, I wouldn't have a CD!"

She cures herself of heartache by songwriting. "I find the best way to get through a bad situation," she said, " is by making up a song ... By the time I get sick of singing it, I'm usually over what happened."

As a result, the CD's lyrical content emerges from an intimate place. Baker said she'd mostly written songs for herself and didn't really think about the personal aspect until the CD was just about to be released. "I realized that not everyone is going to like it ... that I was putting it out to be judged," she said. She felt good to finally have songs recorded, knew that people would take her more seriously, but "hoped I wasn't burdening friends with CDs they didn't really want."

Doubtful, based on the reception she's received so far. Not only have her friends and family applauded her release, but it's already been the subject of flattering remarks on KHUM 104.3 FM and KHSU 90.5 FM.

Baker called the process of recording the CD "very involved." The band laid the music tracks down separately from her vocals, and Green had to be able to intuit Baker's needs from near scratch. "I came to Eldin with songs in my head," she explained. "He gave me a note to reference and we'd record a cappella. He basically had to be a mind reader."

Apparently Green's paranormal abilities were up to par - Baker had nothing but praise for her co-producer/engineer. "Eldin was great," she said.

Although she's been involved in music her whole life, hearing herself in the production sudio was a new experience. "A recording is so different from performing live ... It's weird to hear myself," she said. Still, she had enough fun making the CD to say that she's do it again.

That's good news for her fans, including her dad, who is, Baker said, "very excited" about Mad Woman Blues. She's not counting on fame and fortune, however, having been around musicians long enough to realize that being talented doesn't necessarily equate with "making it."

"I'm content with what it is," she said, "and I'd rather be pleasantly surprised (by success) than secretly disappointed." Much of this attitude was instilled by her father, according to Baker. "The main thing Dad taught me was to love music, to enjoy it, to be passionate about it - but not to take myself too seriously."

Mad Woman Blues is available at The Metro, People's Records, Yifang, Natural Selections, Humboldt's Finest, Sam Goody's - and from Baker herself. "If people see me walking down the street, I usually have a few on me," she said "And if you get them from me, they're only $10. Plus a free autograph!"