Sarah Harmer

Sarah Harmer

What are you up to?
5'6"

Hometown and current HQ:
Burlington, ON and Kingston, ON

Current fixations:
Maps, trees, seatbelts

Mind altering work of art:
"The Underpainter" by Dan Urquart

Most memorable/inspirational gig and why?
Playing and then sitting in the stands watching the crowd, especially the two middle-aged women beside me, get powered up by the music of Ani Difranco and her band in the Fargo, North Dakota Arena. The feel good vibe puts a smile on my face now, years later.

What should everyone shut up about?
Themselves?

Your greatest strength/weakness:
Stamina/deadlines

Your vital daily ritual:
Coffee, and I haven't had one yet.

Guilty pleasure:
I'm keeping that to myself except to say that it's sitting beside me right now.

If I wasn't playing music I would be…
Less happy.

Your most memorable day job:
Washing lettuce in buckets of ice water in a cold storage room for six hours at a time.

Best/worst advice received:
Best: Love what you do. Worst: Don't pick up hitchhikers.

I would drop everything to play a benefit for…
S.H.A.R.E. (Sending Help And Resources Everywhere) – an organisation run by family farmers in Canada to support refugees and people in need in Central America. Cows, education, seed.

What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
My guilty pleasure.

What personal trait would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed? And have you?
Being too much like me. Kick is too strong a word.

When I think of Canada I think:
… of those shows, those vistas, those people out there I know and love.
And Husky stations, especially the one in Regina that sells carrot juice.

Music and sex: Is there a difference? Why?
Depends on who you're having sex with.

Strangest brush with celebrity:
Halloween night in Calgary. Well into the evening, I see someone stumbling towards me dressed as Scotty Bowman. Turns out the Red Wings are in town playing the Flames. I don't know why sports celebs get me excited ? Bob Gainey was at our show in L.A. Whooee!

What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
My mom is the most supportive person on the planet. A Songs For Issy may be in the works.