In The Neon Lane: Sara Berki’s Bold Detour Into A New Sound

It’s been a whirlwind year for rising Australian country star Sara Berki, and she’s still riding high on the momentum. Her sophomore EP In the Neon has just dropped, she’s fresh off a career-making trip to Nashville, and her single Cowboys Do It Better is climbing the charts.

“It feels amazing,” Berki says of the release. “This lot of music is what I’ve been working on for the past year, so to have it actually out for everyone to listen to, it’s always a really good feeling. But I think more so because it has been a bit of a different sound for Sara Berki.” The five-track EP signals a bold sonic shift for the singer-songwriter, diving into a more polished, pop-inspired sound without losing her lyrical depth. “I just wanted to show my diversity and that I’m stepping out and trying this new kind of sound.”

If her 2023 debut Heartline introduced Berki as one to watch, In the Neon confirms her as a fully formed artist with something to say, and we all know she has the songwriting chops to back it up. Working with producer Liam Quinn, Berki found a groove that was both creatively fulfilling and deeply collaborative. “We were absolutely bouncing it off each other,” she says. “There were times I’d be sitting in the lounge writing the next verse while he built the track. That kind of flow when you’re creating, it’s so helpful.”

Their chemistry is especially clear on Cowboys Do It Better, a boot-stomping anthem born out of a casual lunchtime idea. “I just thought of it that day,” Berki recalls. “I didn’t have lyrics or anything, just the title. And Liam was like, ‘That’s mad, let’s work on that!’” From the stomp-clap production to the clever, vivid lyrics, it’s country pop done right, polished but grounded, catchy without losing soul. “Even though it’s pop-inspired, I still wanted it to be very in-depth lyrics, still a very OG Sara Berki writing.”

In another whirlwind adventure for Berki her first trip to the United States part honeymoon, part songwriting sprint, was capped off with a performance at CMA Fest on the Spotlight Stage. “I have come back with like 25 songs,” she laughs. “My main goal for going to America was just… I needed to even just sit on the side of a road, watch how the air freshener was moving, or the broken lines in the road. I just needed to see it for myself and know what I’m writing about.”

That kind of emotional detail and curiosity defines Berki’s songwriting, and it’s what struck a chord with audiences at home and abroad. “I’m such a nervous bean,” she admits. “But just knowing that people were there to actually listen and not to watch me fail, it grounds me.” She’s already dreaming of a return to the USA, with a soft spot for its open roads and stadium stages. “I really do love Australia… but there’s something about the States. I write about it a lot. I picture my life there.”

While In the Neon marks a sonic evolution, it’s clear Berki’s foundation is only getting stronger. Whether it’s a another pop inspired record next year or a full-circle return to the heartland sound, she’s not putting herself in a box. “I’m doing what feels good for me,” she says. “And I just really loved working on this EP.”

A few more surprises are in the works but fans can be rest assured there’s much more to come from Sara Berki, and it’s sounding mighty mighty fine.