Woodstock is a town built on the foundation of art, creativity and a thriving bohemian culture.
Sarah Fimm, an independent singer/songwriter from Oklahoma, is one such artist who has found a home for her campaign in the arms of the Woodstock community.
“My love for music started before I was even born,” Fimm said. “My mother played the piano, so it really began while I was still in the stomach.”
Inspired by the music she grew up with, her mission to become a musician herself took her to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. at 18 where she entered a “world of music” that set her future.
“Unfortunately my personality doesn’t really lend itself to authority” Fimm said, laughing.
After graduating with a songwriting degree, Fimm began to distribute her music worldwide as the digital revolution made everything accessible through the Internet. Creating a name for herself in the music industry, Fimm seeks more than just a hit single and a celebrity fan page: she aspires to give a voice to those crying silently. Her mission brought her to Woodstock roughly five years ago.
On Sunday, Sept. 11 in Woodstock, Fimm held a benefit concert for resident Dorothy Dodig who had lost her home during Hurricane Irene. While publicized in the name of one resident, the concert was meant to raise awareness about all of the people suffering from the hurricane.
“What people don’t recognize is that the hurricane flooded out close to 300 people and the insurance companies are doing nothing to help,” Fimm said.
The concert brought in more than 50 viewers and raised roughly $500.
On Friday, Sept. 23, Fimm’s new music video for her song “Everything Becomes Whole” -— off the album Near Infinite Possibility — made its public debut at the Woodstock Film Festival. Directed by Erik Montovano of New York-based graphic design and production house, Newspeak, the video holds a haunting message about the harsh reality of relationship abuse and the victims of human trafficking.
“I believe that music elevates connection,” Fimm said.
Hoping to reach out and spread the message worldwide, she expressed her idea that music and videos are the way to connect to young people and raise awareness.
“How do we shine a light on what is happening if in the face of difficulty, people shut down?” Fimm said. “Nowadays every young person is either on Facebook or Youtube, and I want to see if I can use these tools to connect with them.”
The album received praise from Billboard Magazine, AOL Music, iTunes and various other sources.
In her drive to increase awareness about domestic violence, Fimm has recently decided to team up with the International Justice Mission, a human rights agency working to “rescue victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression” (see their website www.ijm.org for more information). Inspired by their charity work and cause, Fimm said she aspires to combine her music with their message to bring an end to sexual oppression.
Information regarding Fimm’s upcoming events and concerts can be found at www.sarahfimm.com as well as on her public Facebook page. Her music video was released to the public on Youtube on Monday, Sept. 26.
“It’s hard not to love something so beautiful,” Fimm said, speaking not only of her cause but also of the art and creativity she has found in Woodstock.