Photo: Jeroen TruyenExpand
With Expand, I bring my songs to a quintet of distinct musical voices: vocals, trumpet, vibraphone, bass and drums. We give the melodies space and keep surprising one another on stage.
Explore project ↗Vocalist · Composer · Bandleader
Hi, I’m Sara.
I write songs, I sing, and I love the moments when music happens between people. Sometimes quietly, sometimes with all its energy – especially alongside musicians who bring their own voice to it.
What moves me
My music moves between jazz and pop. I love melodies that stay with you, words that tell a story, and the freedom to discover a song anew each night. On stage, I love listening as much as singing. When the band responds to an idea and something unexpected happens, that is my favourite part of playing live.
Maastricht · New York
From Maastricht to New York – and beyond
I studied jazz vocals and composition at the Conservatorium Maastricht. A Fulbright scholarship took me to the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where I graduated with a Master of Music cum laude. Friendships and musical connections from that time are still part of my work today.
On stage
Music that brings people together
In 2017, I came second in the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition. A year later, I joined the Academy Band led by Bugge Wesseltoft to open for the Chick Corea Trio. Those encounters stay with me, as do the intimate club nights when everyone in the room feels close.
Three musical worlds
My music.
Three programmes, each revealing a different side of my music.
Photo: Jeroen Truyen
poetryfied
For poetryfied, I set poems by Rilke, Dickinson and Mascha Kaléko, among others, to music. This project is especially close to my heart: the words find a new voice while keeping their intimacy.
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Long Distance
Long Distance tells stories of closeness across distance. These songs grew out of my time in New York and were recorded with the Sara Decker Group.
Explore project ↗And beyond
I also find new musical conversations with FRIDA and Yo Toco, from vocal ensemble to Latin trio.
Explore other projects ↗
FRIDA ↗
Yo Toco ↗Photo: Pierre HansenAbout Sara
Lovely to have you here.
If you’d like to hear more, explore the projects. For concerts and press enquiries, you’ll find everything else here.