Meet Your Neighbor

Sara Kronenberg with guitarist Mateo Briscoe (left) and bassist Ira Mandella. Photo by Aniko Kiezel

J L By Jessica Laskey Meet Your Neighbor

Devil's Due Devil's Due SINGER EXPLORES EMOTIONS THROUGH MUSIC

Sara Noelle Kronenberg had a revelation when she plunged into the Pacifi c at Ocean Beach in San Francisco on New Year’s American River College before moving Looking forward, Kronenberg is to Chico State for a degree in forensic optimistic. In January, she released anthropology. a single, “Deja Vu,” which she says Her degree qualifi es her to be a “touches on the familial experience of Eve 2018.

“I realized I wanted to do something to leave a legacy,” says Kronenberg, who fronts the Sacramento band Sara and the Devil. “I had always enjoyed playing music, but I’d never taken it seriously.”

Kronenberg played guitar since age 15, but it took until her late 20s—and the frigid dip in the ocean—for her to decide to pursue a music career. A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Kronenberg grew up in Woodland and attended coroner, but she quickly realized, “I constant disappointment from friends, don’t want to look at dead people for the loved ones or struggles you might be rest of my life.” She found her way into experiencing about your own self.” marketing for a local TV station and She’s working on an untitled new enjoys her day job. But music really lets project with Cities You Wish You Were her shine. From, plus a new song with transgender “I love talking about mental health in artist Briscoe. my music,” says Kronenberg, whose band No matter what she creates, her name is a nod to the personal demons she focus remains the same. “If I can relate overcomes through music. “We’re raised to somebody through my music, that’s to not talk about our emotions, but we the ultimate goal.” need to change that rhetoric. This whole nation is struggling with anxiety and PTSD—we’re not equipped to deal with all the stress that we have these days. “Music is my outlet to talk about what I couldn’t talk about with my friends For more information, fi nd Kronenberg on Instagram @ saraandthedevil and online at saraandthedevil.wixsite.com/ saraandthedevil. or therapist. ‘I’m Sara and I’m able to Jessica Laskey can be reached at create beautiful music and relationships, jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous but at the same time, I’m my own worst profi les can be found and shared at enemy.’ I struggle with PTSD and InsideSacramento.com. Follow us on anxiety disorders, which is something I’m Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @ constantly working on.” insidesacramento. n

After her Pacifi c plunge, Kronenberg connected with two producers at Think Tank Music. They helped the singer-songwriter take the next step. She released her fi rst EP and embarked on a tour across Britain, Europe and Israel. Back home, she started performing at the Starlet Room at Harlow’s, Old Ironsides, Goldfi eld Trading Post and Shine.

Her solo act soon evolved into a full band. Her brother Jeremy plays drums on many tracks and she’s collaborated with other local acts, including Mateo Briscoe (a solo artist who provides background vocals for Sara and the Devil) and rock duo Cities You Wish You Were From.

Kronenberg insists that while the pandemic hurt the music scene, it didn’t stop her from creating. In fact, she says, “It forced us to revisit what’s most important.” The only two shows she performed in 2020 were fundraisers, one for Black Lives Matter and another for the Sacramento LGBT Community Center.

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Civic Celebrations

PHOTOS BY SUSAN MAXWELL SKINNER INSIDE OUT

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1. Boy Scout Troop 328 and friends volunteer to paint a tennis pavilion in Carmichael Park. Adult supervisors are Braden Bill (left) and Mike Rockenstein. 2. Families flock to observe a herd of goats grooming undeveloped areas of Sutter Jensen Park. 3. Carmichael Kiwanis Club set a Big Day of Giving record of $22,000 in donations. Club members are (from left) Sheba Jackson, Virginia Stone, Michael Koerner, Judee Shoemaker and Jackie Delu.

4. Friends of Jensen Botanical Garden volunteers assemble for a second Saturday working bee. 5. Carmichael Parks Foundation leaders and DART Swimming School staff meet young swimmers at the El Camino High School pool. The partner organizations provide subsidized children’s swimming lessons for 3- to 17-year-olds. 6. The Ron Cunha Big Band—with bandleader Cunha (second from left)—performs jazz for a Carmichael street concert.

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