Sacha Talks Career, Inspiration, & ‘Shooting Star’ with Restless Road
Sacha is stepping confidently into the next chapter of her career.
Sacha; Photo by JEN SQUIRE
Rising country star Sacha has been making waves in the industry with her heartfelt storytelling, infectious energy, and a series of career milestones that signal she’s just getting started. From her breakthrough viral hit “What the Truck” with The Reklaws, which became the fastest Canadian country song to achieve PLATINUM status in the streaming era, to her debut full-length album Woman In The Mirror, Sacha has quickly established herself as a dynamic and relatable voice in country music.
She has shared the stage with acts like Maddie & Tae, Tenille Townes, and The Reklaws, while performing at major festivals across North America, including CMA Fest, Boots & Hearts, and LASSO.
Most recently, Sacha teamed up with Restless Road for the new single “Shooting Star,” a story of fleeting love captured in a playful, behind-the-scenes music video that highlights the chemistry between the rising stars in the studio. With the deluxe edition of Woman In The Mirror now out and the debut live performance of “Shooting Star” set for the 2025 Canadian Country Music Awards, Sacha is stepping confidently into the next chapter of her career.
In this Q&A, Sacha opens up about her journey, from growing up in Canada surrounded by music, to her evolution as a songwriter and performer, and the inspiration behind her most recent releases, giving fans an intimate look at the artist behind the hits.
Can you take us back to the moment you first fell in love with music? Was there a specific artist, performance, or memory that sparked it all?
Music has always been ever present in my world since childhood. My parents were in a band which opened me up to a world of all kinds of music and artists across all genres on a very regular basis where I could draw inspiration from. My mom played a lot of oldies, one being Patsy Cline, whose voice and soul immediately had an impression on me.
Looking back on your early releases, how do you think you’ve evolved as both a songwriter and a performer?
Often times, photos will circulate as “on this day” memories on my social media where I was playing down at the open mics or early day festivals and performances and I don’t even look the same. The growth and evolution has permeated all aspects inwardly and outwardly, audibly and visually from my songwriting, vocal growth, articulation, and confidence during live performances. All which came with a lot of time and hard work on this path and life experiences through the years that have shaped what I have to share and what I am now prepared to share in my songs. The landscape keeps expanding on a sonic level and the teams I have creating with me have also contributed to achieving the continual growth and expansion of the many facets of “Sacha.”
How has growing up in Canada influenced your sound and perspective as a country artist?
Canada’s landscape is extremely vast – especially when it comes its agricultural landscape. I grew up in a small town in Ontario with a strong agricultural heritage. The town also had an annual rodeo that was a highlight event. I had friends who were farmers’ kids, which lead to lots of fun sleepovers on the farms and turning barns into playhouses. I lived a life full of all the things you hear in most Country songs, which makes Country music and living a very relevant and natural place for me to draw from in my own music.
You’ve opened for Maddie & Tae, Tenille Townes, and more—what’s been the most valuable thing you’ve learned from being on the road with them?
Having the opportunity to open for acts that I have been such a fan of has truly been a dream come true. It’s always amazing to see how much their songs resonate with their fans which is always a key takeaway because their songs come from their raw and authentic experiences. People come to their shows not only because they are just simply awesome and incredibly talented, but also because they have the ability to connect on somewhat of a “bestie” level where it’s like you’re singing these songs with someone who’s done life with you based on how much each song sounds like your own story.
“Shooting Star” is such an emotional track. What inspired the story behind the song?
“Shooting Star” is meant to come across as an anthemic and energetic telling of the feeling of love that came and left as fast as a shooting star. How could something that felt so good be over as fast as a blink of an eye? One minute we were lighting up the sky like a shooting star and now we’re just looking up at the sky hoping to catch a glimpse of a shooting star to wish back the days gone past.
How did the collaboration with Restless Road come about? Was it something you had been manifesting, or did it happen more organically?
I had the opportunity to collab with Restless Road through an introduction from my team for a writing session. I hadn’t known them prior, and it can be intimidating meeting people for the first time – especially because there are three of them, along with the two others we wrote the song with, Cole Miracle and Sam Martinez. So quite a few people you’re meeting for the first time with some pressure to make sure this one hits. I’m glad to say we all hit it off like a house on fire, and our personalities went together very well making it a fun writing session. The cool part is we came out of it with a song that everyone including our teams loved and is now at radio!
Speaking of collaborations, what is a dream collab you haven’t done yet, but would love to?
I feel like there are too many artists that I admire to boil it all down to one. If I had to list a few I’d say Lainey Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, and Taylor Swift are at the top of the list at the moment. Ask me next year and it could change! 🙂
You’re nominated for three CCMAs this year, including Female Artist of the Year. How did it feel to get that surprise nomination on air?
I definitely got emotional when I found out I was nominated for three CCMA’s this year. The Female of the Year nomination is what really got me. I still can’t believe it. I remember the years of being a spectator, a ticket holder way up in the way back seats (bleachers) and dreaming of the day to go from the seat I was sitting in to the stage, let alone a nominee! I am blown away by this full circle moment and will use it as a reminder that anything is possible.
Being named iHeartRadio’s Future Star and a CMT Next Woman of Country—what do those kinds of recognitions mean to you personally and professionally?
It’s a huge honor to have the recognition of both having worked so long and hard and independently at the time. There’s nothing like having more people in your corner who believe in you enough to see your potential is going to take you places. The kind of yesses have given me a chance. And that’s all I ask for.
If fans only take one thing away from your music, what do you hope it is?
I hope that fans take away HOPE from my music and my story.
What can fans expect to see from you in the future?
Working on whatever version of Sacha comes after 2.0. I don’t know if it’s called 3.0 haha! Looking forward to more collabs, tours, and new and unique music.
Fans can keep up with Sacha on Instagram.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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