SPOTLIGHT LOUNGE: Five questions with Sara Bareilles

She burst onto the music scene with her unshakable single, “Love Song,” in 2007, and ever since, Sara Bareilles’ music career has been in an upward spiral. Her most recent labor of love, “Kaleidoscope Heart” was released in September and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and Bareilles has uniquely positioned herself as an artist with both authenticity and mass appeal.

The 31-year-old songstress is touring with country’s powerhouse duo Sugarland this summer, and Bareilles, her drummer, Josh Day, and guitar player, Javier Dunn, stopped by 98.5 KRZ’s Spotlight Lounge Friday, June 17 to perform semi-acoustic renditions of “Uncharted,” “King of Anything” and “Love Song.” Before that, though, Bareilles sat down with the Weekender to answer a few unconventional questions while she autographed a stack of photos.

WEEKENDER: “Uncharted” was kind of the song that got you out of your writer’s block, but what is another thing you needed to complete “Kaleidoscope Heart?”

BAREILLES: Neal Avron, my producer. He was really, really important to me and definitely was a catalyst for making things move forward, because I felt safe. So, yeah, I choose Neal (laughs).

WEEKENDER: How did your recent volunteering/performing in Japan change or affect you?

BAREILLES: It was amazing. We got to see sort of a whole spectrum of experiences there. Everything from having a day off in Osaka and running around, you know, sampling local food and beer — wink, wink — and heading into Tokyo and just seeing the city itself. And then heading up into northern Japan and doing some volunteer work. It really felt like a crash course in Japanese culture and lifestyle. And I definitely fell head-over-heels in love with it; I got a tattoo day one while I was there. I just felt really connected. The country itself is amazing, and the people are just spectacular.

WEEKENDER: Eddie Vedder released an entire ukulele album, and you play the instrument. Would you ever make an album with one?

BAREILLES: I would have to get a lot better at the ukulele. He’s a great player. I love the sound of the ukulele. I haven’t heard (his) record yet, but I would totally consider that! But I would want to get better at it first. I’ve got some practicing to do.

WEEKENDER: What are you listening to now?

BAREILLES: There’s a band called Elizabeth and the Catapult, and we just toured with them, and I can’t stop listening to her record, “Other Side of Zero.” Both of her records are amazing, but that most recent one has been my favorite record in a long time.

WEEKENDER: We know you did “An Ode to Jersey Shore” at a concert, so what do you think about the show’s cast going to Italy?

BAREILLES: I think it’s going to be a spectacle. I think that’s exactly what they’re aiming for. And I think it will be more of the same, but with more pasta.