Sara Bareilles - Amidst the Chaos (2019) [Hi-Res]

A lot’s changed since Sara Bareilles released her last non-Waitress-related album, 2013’s Blessed Unrest. Namely, she tells the Los Angeles Times, she’s no longer afraid of what people will think of her.

She says at the beginning of her career, she “was terrified of upsetting anybody.”

“It was paralyzing,” she says, adding that now, “It’s more important to me to say what feels true than to worry that someone’s not going to buy my record because they know I don’t like Trump.”

Her new album, Amidst the Chaos, was born out of feelings about the state of the world today. It features “A Safe Place to Land,” a duet with her Jesus Christ Superstar co-star John Legend about family separation at the southern border, and “If I Can’t Have You,” a song that sounds like she’s pining for a lost love but is actually about… missing the Obamas.

All of the songs – including lead single “Armor” – were recorded live in the studio, giving the album a less-processed sound.

Sara tells Los Angeles Times that the year's she's spent working on Broadway have taught her about collaboration, and to "not to be so precious” with her material.

Produced by T Bone Burnett