All Of It with Alison Stewart

Guest: Sarah McLachlan on 'Better Broken,' Her First Album in 11 Years

Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)

Overview

This episode of All Of It features Grammy award-winning musician Sarah McLachlan in an in-depth conversation about her long-awaited new album, Better Broken—her first in 11 years. The discussion explores her creative process, the deeply personal themes embedded in her new music, collaboration, parenthood, the lingering impact of Lilith Fair, and the influence of wider cultural and political events. McLachlan also shares memorable moments from the album, notable collaborations, and speaks candidly about her journey as an artist and mother during a period of transformation and reflection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Journey Behind "Better Broken"

• Returning After 11 Years:

  • Contextualizing the gap before this album, McLachlan reflects on life changes, creative blocks, and the abundance of material accumulated over the years.

• The Title Track – A Song Nearly Lost:

  • McLachlan began writing “Better Broken” almost 14 years ago for her last record, but didn’t finish it in time. Revisiting old archives for the new album, she found and completed the song, adding only a bridge to the original structure.

    “When I was going through all those old records… I found it… and went, ‘Oh, this is actually pretty good. I gotta finish this.’” (Sarah McLachlan, 01:51)

• Evolution of the Song:

  • The lyrics barely changed; Benny Bach contributed a distinctive bridge—described by McLachlan as a “crazy weird kind of prog fusion thing.”

    “…he just turned it into this crazy weird kind of prog fusion thing. And I’m okay, yeah, that'll work.” (Sarah McLachlan, 02:35)

• Emotional Arc & Album Themes:

  • The album is thematically rooted in resilience, reclamation of self, and embracing a new chapter. McLachlan addresses personal loss, divorce, and parenthood, drawing inspiration from her life’s transitions.

    “This is a new chapter in my life… there’s been a lot of times over the last bunch of years where I’ve had to sort of think about how to redefine myself.” (Sarah McLachlan, 03:09)

Songwriting & The Creative Process

• Depth of the Vault:

  • Unlike artists known for prolific archives, McLachlan admits her “song vault” isn’t deep—though a few musical ideas may resurface in the future, lyrics tend to be her biggest challenge.

    “Lyrics are the things that I really struggle with.” (04:34)

• Song Length and Artistic Freedom:

  • While the industry pushes shorter tracks for radio play, McLachlan values the song’s natural length, prioritized by the content and message:

    “I have too much to say.” (Sarah McLachlan, 04:53)
    “…a song dictates what it’s gonna be, how long it’s gonna be, and I just kind of let that flow.” (Sarah McLachlan, 05:02)

• Knowing When a Song is Done:

  • She describes completion as an intuitive feeling—when she’s explored all creative avenues and feels proud to share the work. Studio collaboration then elevates the song.

    “It feels like I’ve… done the best possible job… and that’s the point at which we go into the studio…” (Sarah McLachlan, 05:52)

• Collaboration as Elevation:

  • She credits her producers and musicians with enhancing her music, expressing deep appreciation for collaborative processes:

    “I can take things to a certain place…but I love what other people will bring to… make it… even better and more interesting.” (Sarah McLachlan, 06:38)

Personal Stories in Song

• “Gravity” – A Love Letter to Her Daughter

  • Inspired by McLachlan’s complex relationship with her firstborn, “Gravity” addresses family struggles, reconciliation, and growth through therapy. She openly discusses realizing her daughter’s anxiety had been mistaken for other issues, and the significant transformation that followed.

    “It was this massive anxiety that was undiagnosed… Our relationship since has blossomed… I want people to know about family systems counseling and how beneficial it can be…” (Sarah McLachlan, 07:10)

  • McLachlan’s daughter encouraged her to share their personal journey publicly to help others.

• Parenthood’s Impact:

  • Parenting opened McLachlan “way beyond what I thought my capacity for love was”—but also made songwriting more sporadic due to life’s busyness. She describes being “joyfully distracted.”

    “Joyfully distracted by parenting… songwriting kind of took a back seat a little bit.” (Sarah McLachlan, 12:49-13:16)

The Return to Songwriting & Societal Inspirations

• Reawakening Creativity with “Rise”:
  • The song “Rise” was among the first she wrote post-pandemic, envisioning global unity that, regretfully, didn’t materialize

    “…a hopeful lament that… we need to remember that ultimately we need each other. And if we just keep…screaming at each other, nothing’s gonna move forward.” (Sarah McLachlan, 13:17)

The Legacy and Influence of Lilith Fair

• Empowering New Generations:

  • Lilith Fair’s impact is reflected today in how women dominate airwaves, champion other women, and create supportive networks in the industry.

    “…we have always been in competition…for this very small sliver of pie. If we want to change things…we have to start…lifting each other up…and I feel that I’ve seen that happen time and time again in the industry now.” (Sarah McLachlan, 16:56–17:53)

• Notable Fan Connection—Katie Gavin (MUNA):

  • Katie Gavin cites Sarah and Lilith Fair as major inspirations, and features on the new track “Reminds Me.”

    "Building a Mystery was like my... top. Listened to song for like a couple of years." (Katie Gavin, 16:43)
    "I’m a massive fan of her. She is hugely talented and a lovely human." (Sarah McLachlan, 17:55)

Working with a New Production Team

• Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone:
  • After 35 years with Pierre Marchand, McLachlan teamed with Tony Berg and Will McClellan for “Better Broken” to push herself creatively, likening the process to “blind dating.”
  • Tony Berg notably challenged her lyrics and arrangement, pushing her not to settle for “good enough.”

    “He really was like, yeah, the music is really, really great. This song… needs a little bit of help…he forced me not to settle, which is great.” (Sarah McLachlan, 21:23)

Addressing Political and Social Themes

• “One in a Long Line” – Speaking Up as a Woman
  • Marking a departure from her avoidance of political music, this track addresses the rollback of women’s rights in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s overturning, and McLachlan’s anger at seeing global regressions in gender equality.

    “I've never been political in my music, but… since Roe v. Wade… and watching this insidious erosion of the rights of women… anger and the frustration around that. I have two daughters… and I believe every woman should have agency over their bodies.” (Sarah McLachlan, 22:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On parenthood and humility:

  “They do not care unless I can get them tickets to shows. Then all of a sudden, I’m mildly elevated for a moment.” (Sarah McLachlan, 11:31)

• On artistic self-doubt and letting go:

  “There is no mathematical equation [for when a song is done]… it feels right… I feel proud of it… okay, I can now let this go to the world.” (Sarah McLachlan, 05:52)

• On why her songs are "normal" length:

  “I have too much to say.” (Sarah McLachlan, 04:53)

• On collaboration:

  “I love what other people will bring to something to make it… even better and more interesting.” (Sarah McLachlan, 06:38)

• On legacy and influence:

  “If we want to change things, ultimately, we have to start, you know, celebrating each other and lifting each other up and giving each other opportunities to create that change.” (Sarah McLachlan, 17:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:33 – “Better Broken” (title track excerpt)
• 01:42–04:21 – Songwriting history of "Better Broken" and rediscovery
• 07:07–09:42 – Story behind “Gravity” and family healing
• 13:17–14:08 – Writing "Rise" in response to COVID and societal division
• 16:04–16:43 – Katie Gavin (MUNA) on Lilith Fair and McLachlan’s influence
• 17:53–18:10 – Discussion of Lilith Fair’s impact on today’s music industry
• 19:59–22:46 – Working with new producers and the impact on her sound
• 22:54–23:39 – “One in a Long Line” and embracing political themes

Concluding Notes

Sarah McLachlan’s visit to All Of It illuminates the journey behind Better Broken: a record marked by personal reckoning, creative renewal, and a willingness to be vulnerable. She is open about struggles with family, the challenges and joys of motherhood, the importance of collaboration, and the responsibility she feels to speak out as a woman in today’s society. Through new partnerships, McLachlan reinvigorates her sound, bringing forward both fresh and long-held ideas, and embracing the complex world with humility and hope.