Singer, songwriter Sarah Slaton’s stirring serenades

Honest. Soulful. Captivating. All could describe singer/songwriter Sarah Slaton’s music. The 26-year-old out musician has been making heads turn in the Denver music scene with her almost haunting lyrics and guitar chords. Originally from Arkansas, Slaton both sings and plays the guitar with the capability to draw you in, both chilling you to the bone and warming you from the inside out simultaneously.

I first noticed this when I was walking through Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood, rushing to catch the 16th Street Free Mall Ride, and I slowed down as Slaton’s “Be Somebody” rang through my headphones. Something about the words she was singing hit me, seemingly matching and capturing the exact mood I was having after a long day. Smiling, I ran down the street, settled into a Starbucks and, sipping on a café au lait, called Slaton to talk about her upcoming Feb. 22 concert with Hannah Georgas and a slew of other things.

Your music is incredible, you’re extremely talented. How early did you start playing?

Not until I was about 16 or so. I was an athlete my whole life; I played basketball in high school. So in my senior year or so I would sneak home and teach myself to play the guitar.

Why did you feel like you had to hide your talent?

I was afraid to let anyone know that I played, so it wasn’t until I went to college that I got up the courage to perform at my first open mic night.

So then what happened?

I eventually started playing more shows, and then I ended up going to school for entertainment management.

(Slaton is in the business of entertainment management, working for an artist management and booking firm in Denver, Vinefield.)

How did you end up in Colorado, let alone in the Denver music scene?

Well I came out here in 2008 for college, I wanted to study entertainment management. I came onto the scene when I was an intern for Live Nation. Since then I’ve played with various artists, including Denver’s own Coles Whalen.

So would you consider yourself more of musician, or an entertainment manager?

I first and foremost consider myself an artist. But I also really, really have a passion for the way that music works. At first, I was in awe of it all.

How do you distance one from another, playing the music and managing it?

I get to see a really wide spectrum of the whole experience. Like yesterday, I was with Justin Bieber and his manager at the Ogden until after 2 a.m. I’ve worked with artists like Adele, Andrew Bird, Lady Gaga. I recently spent a whole day with [the band] fun. So that’s a huge side that I deal with. But at the same time I feel like if I were ever to become more successful, like playing some arena for a big crowd, I know how different I would be. Some artists can be kind of crazy. It’s funny, though, because I already consider myself successful, because I get to play music whenever I want.

So since you consider yourself an artist first, your music and the quality of it must be extremely vital to you. What does playing your music or singing do for you?

Well, I really just play whatever ends up coming out. But I guess you could say that it ends up kid of being therapy for me. Everybody’s gone through tough real life experiences, including myself, and just I’m blessed that I can just play through it all.

You’re a big part of Denver’s music scene, but how about with the LGBT community?

(laughing) I’m as gay as the day is long. I’ve been gay ever since I saw Bring It On. Just kidding, I’ve been gay since I was born, but that was really my defining moment. I live with a girlfriend up in the Highlands, and I’ve also participated in a lot of PRIDE events. I’ve been to Dallas, Kansas City, Tampa. I guess I’m your typical U-Haul lesbian.

So let’s talk about the upcoming performance. Have you ever performed with Hannah Georgas before this show?

No, I’ve actually never even met her. I know the booking agency that Hannah is with, and the promoter in town was looking for someone for her to perform with, so I thought it would be a good fit.