Exclusive Interview: Sarah Jeffery Chats New Single “Suffer”, Charmed Season 4, and More

Sarah Jeffery is an exciting triple threat who has the industry under her spell. From starring roles in projects including Descendants and Charmed to releasing her debut single “Even the Stars”, Sarah is captivating audiences in all facets of her career.

This October, Sarah continues to wow fans with the release of “Suffer”.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Sarah about the inspiring message behind “Suffer”, tapping into her vulnerability, and what’s ahead for the Charmed Ones.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting and music?
Sarah: I started dancing at the age of three. I continued to dance throughout my whole childhood and teen years. Because of that, I was always very open to the arts and receptive to all different kinds of art forms.

My family is quite artistic. I was always bound to do something in it, which is funny because I initially wanted to do medicine, but I think I’m better off this way.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Sarah: I always think back to the first project that I did called Rogue. I worked with Thandiwe Newton. I’ve always respected her as an actress, but then I got to know her as a human. My respect and love for her grew. When I think back on things that have really made an impact, I think of my time working with her and how lovely she was taking me under her wing. She made sure my first time on a set was comfortable, and she taught me a lot. I love her.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Sarah: Descendants definitely stands out as a time in my life where it was all coming very fast. It was very exciting. You never know how people are going to react to something, but people loved those films, especially my character in the third film. I had a larger role, and I got to sing. It’s when I realized that I had people who looked up to me, people were dressing up as my character for Halloween, and there were Barbie dolls of the characters. It was a surreal meta moment.

PC: You’ve got a new single out now. Tell us about “Suffer” and the inspiration behind the song.
Sarah: I was inspired by a breakup I had about four years ago that was particularly rough. Everyone can relate to that in one way or another, whether it’s a romantic relationship, a friendship, a family dynamic, it can be rocky. Sometimes they end in a way that really sticks with you.

For me, that happened about four years ago. It really forced me to get to know myself better and push through. That is the leading message for me with “Suffer”. It’s their loss and your gain because you get to know yourself better. That’s so important in every relationship—you can’t share the best version of yourself with someone else until you’re confident and solid in your own two feet.

PC: You’re teaming up with Rock Mafia again. How has this partnership grown over time? How has this collaboration helped you grow and develop as an artist?
Sarah: I worked with them on the third Descendants movie. They wrote “Queen of Mean”. I was blown away by what they did with the song. I was so happy that I got to record it. It was received so well globally—I was so pleased with the reaction to it. They approached me and were like, “We would love to work with you and create some more music and see where this goes.” That’s exactly what we’ve been doing. We’ve got a few more songs in the bank, and we’ll see when those will come out. I definitely foresee working with them more in the future. They’re great people to work with; they’re great artists and lovely humans, which is always a good thing. I really love the collaborative process that we have going on.

PC: Actor-musicians have often said there’s a different level of vulnerability that you need to tap into when you’re releasing your own music. Do you feel similarly?
Sarah: I definitely do. It’s very vulnerable. People will always have questions, “What is the song about? Who’s the song about?” Usually, it comes from a place in your life or at least you’ve drawn inspiration from an event. It’s like you’re wearing your heart on your sleeve, but that’s why I’m drawn to the arts. I’m a very open person naturally. It’s cathartic for me to share it with people.

PC: As you embark on this new chapter in your career, what do you hope to say as an artist?
Sarah: I want to keep making—whether it be music, films, or TV—art that I care about, things that are relevant, and messages I want to send to people. I just finished filming a project that I’m so proud of. It has such a strong message. I can’t reveal too much, but it really reminded me why I’m doing what I’m doing, because it’s important to tell delicate, beautiful, fragile stories. That’s what that was. That’s what I hope to do: make people feel things.

PC: There are so many layers to your talent. Has it been a challenge to manage the different facets of your career?
Sarah: Timewise, it’s interesting. Acting for me is in the driver’s seat, and the passenger’s seat is music for me, if that makes sense. Then in the backseat, I’ll always have dance. Dance is still a part of my life, but she’s on the back burner for now. It’s really time management, fitting in projects where I can, and also making time for myself is something that I’ve also realized is so important because burnout is a real thing. It’s always a combination of doing the right projects and having something that fuels my artistic fire.

PC: What would you say is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from the acting side of your artistry that you’ve been able to apply to music and vice versa?
Sarah: That’s a good question. It definitely comes back to vulnerability for me and being as open as possible. It’s interesting; acting is very much about conversations and relationships with people, but with singing, I’m in the booth alone, even though I’m working with people. It’s definitely more of a private experience. I haven’t played a concert yet or anything like that. I’m sure that’ll change things. It’s about staying vulnerable and tapping into your emotions, which isn’t too hard for me, because I’m typically an emotional person. I think that’s good because it serves my craft pretty well.

PC: As the world begins to open up and you start to release more of your music, is a tour in the cards for the future?
Sarah: I would love nothing more. It’s something that is so nerve-racking for me, but also something I really want to push myself to do. I love performing. I’ve always loved entertaining, so I don’t see why not. It’s just a matter of when.

PC: You’re also one of the stars of Charmed, and Season 4 is just around the corner. Is there anything you can tease about what fans can expect?
Sarah: There are a lot of changes this season—that’s been at the forefront of my mind. I’ve read the first three episodes. The writers have handled those changes in a really respectful and delicate way. There’ll be more for Maggie. I can definitely say that there’ll be more combat fighting, which I love—I love to do that stuff. I’ve got stunt rehearsal next week, and I hope there’s more self-discovery. Getting to know yourself makes you a better partner, sister, daughter, and friend.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Sarah: It’s not a surprise because it’s on my Instagram bio, but I listen to Led Zeppelin all the time, like every day. That’s definitely a bit of a juxtaposition to my own personal music.

PC: First album you bought?
Sarah: Britney Spears’ Oops!… I Did It Again. I remember having that CD and listening to it all day. We love Britney—so happy for her.

PC: First concert you attended?
Sarah: The first one was with Baha Men and 98 Degrees, but I don’t remember it. The first one that I remember going to was Avril Lavigne.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Sarah: Lorde’s Melodrama. Her album came out in a time in my life where I was like, “Why is she saying all the exact things that I want to say but can’t.” I listened to it from cover to cover.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Sarah: Madison Square Garden.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Sarah: Headphones, so I can meditate. If I don’t meditate, I don’t feel like the best version of myself. I’m optimal Sarah when I’m consistently meditating.

Make sure to follow Sarah on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Pick up or stream “Suffer” today.

Photo Credit: Raul Romo