Sarah Stevens – Fingerstyle Guitarist & Storyteller

Sarah Stevens is a fingerstyle guitarist from Vlaardingen, based in Rotterdam. Known for her melodic and emotionally rich solo performances, she blends melody, rhythm, and harmony into intricate arrangements, all played live, without loops or backing tracks. Her instrument of choice: the Maton acoustic guitar, which she plays with clarity, groove, and depth.

Sarah began playing guitar at the age of 16, starting out on electric guitar with influences like The Offspring and Red Hot Chili Peppers. But it was a chance encounter with a YouTube video of Tommy Emmanuel in 2009 that completely shifted her direction. Inspired by the power and musicality of solo acoustic performance, she made it her path.

Her debut album Moree was released in 2013, named after a song dedicated to her first guitar teacher, the one who showed her her first chords and sparked a lifelong love for the instrument. Encouraged by Dutch guitarist Harry Sacksioni to start composing, Sarah dove fully into songwriting, developing a distinctive voice that combines technical precision with emotional storytelling.

Her second album, Still Waters Run Deep, followed years of growth on stage, including opening for Tommy Emmanuel and touring Germany with Australian guitarist Michael Fix. These experiences shaped her into a confident performer, comfortable with both the technical demands of fingerstyle guitar and the vulnerability of solo performance.

In 2017, Sarah made the courageous decision to step away from performing to embrace her identity as a transgender woman. This seven-year journey of self-discovery transformed not only her personal life but also her relationship with music. She returned to the stage in 2024 with a deeper connection to her artistry and a renewed sense of purpose.

Now working on her third album, After All, A-Typical, slated for release in 2025, Sarah showcases her most refined work to date: sonically, emotionally, and artistically. The album represents both her technical evolution as a guitarist and her personal growth as an artist who has found her authentic voice.

Her live performances are intimate and engaging experiences. Between pieces, she shares stories about her songs, her journey, and the emotions that drive her music, creating a space that is both musically rich and emotionally honest. She thrives in listening rooms, theaters, and venues where audiences can truly connect with the music.

Sarah's playing style is characterized by her ability to make the guitar sing with multiple voices simultaneously — carrying melody, bass lines, and rhythmic elements while maintaining the emotional core of each piece. Her repertoire spans from gentle, contemplative pieces to more complex arrangements that showcase her technical mastery, all unified by her commitment to storytelling through instrumental music.

Currently, Sarah is actively performing across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, building her audience both on stage and online. Her sound is honest, expressive, and crafted to move people, not through words, but through every note she plays.

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