OMC: You are a newlywed, right?

SP: Yes. I married my music partner Doug Milks, two months ago at the First Unitarian Church in Madison. I met Doug at the University of Iowa eight years ago where we were friends both socially and musically. After college, I moved to Portland, Oregon for a while. Around this time, I started going to the Kerrville Folks Festival in Texas. One year, I met Willy Porter and his band and they got me thinking of moving back to the Midwest. After I returned to Portland, I called Doug up, who was still living in Iowa City, and asked him if he would like to move to Milwaukee and pursue music. He said, "Okay." Somehow, Milwaukee turned into Madison and in January 2000, we both picked-up and moved here.

OMC: What is it like working professionally in music with your husband?

SP: We attempt to approach playing together as something separate from our intimate relationship, which doesn't always work. Although we have a lot in common in terms of interests and music tastes, there is enough that is different between us to sort of balance each other out.

OMC: Is Madison a good place to be a musician?

SP: We are still in the process of figuring out that out. The only thing I can compare Madison to is Iowa City. Even though Iowa City is a lot smaller, I think there is a bigger community of people supporting and performing the kind of music we play. I do, however, think there is a great deal of talent here in Madison. And geographically, it's in good proximity to Milwaukee, Chicago, Minneapolis, Iowa City and Des Moines.

OMC: Are you going to school in Madison, or do you just like "college towns?"

SP: No, I am not going to school in Madison and I wouldn't say that Madison being a college town was a big draw for me either. Doug and I had friends in Madison and it seemed like it would be easier to adjust to a new place with some friends and familiar faces around. I think it was a good choice. From meeting Lance Ketterer, the engineer on our album, to meeting all the musicians who ended up playing on our album, I have no complaints in respects to how things are unfolding.

OMC: Do you plan to stay in the Midwest?

SP: At this point, there really isn't anything tying us here. Both Doug and I grew up in the Midwest and we enjoy being close to our parents and families, but if the right reasons to move came along, we probably wouldn't pass it up.

OMC: What are your hobbies, aside from music?

SP: My hobbies aside from music? This question sparked a new resolution for me: to get more hobbies! In the winter I like to hibernate. I enjoy writing and reading. I like watching movies. In the summer, I like to sit on porches or decks with friends and drink Coronas.

OMC: Would you call yourself a poet?

SP: Sometimes, when I am thinking a certain way.

OMC: When and where do you do most of your writing?

SP: I like early mornings and late nights. Those are the times when I get things flowing. Sometimes in the morning I go somewhere, like a coffee shop. At night, I am at home sitting at a desk or table.

OMC: What kind of stuff are you writing about right now?

SP: I've had a very active year. I planned a wedding, became an aunt, bought a home, finished the CD, got laid off, got married, and started a new job. I, myself, am always interested in seeing how the events in my life shape the songs I write. My life has taken dozen of turns since I started writing songs. At each new turn, I always wonder if I've left too much behind to continue writing songs. What I've learned is that as long as I accept my life as it is now, the songs come.

For more information about Sara Pace or to order her CD, go to www.sarapace.com.

Sara Pace is performing with Milwaukee's melaniejane, Stephanie Dosen and Heidi Spencer on Fri., Jan. 24, at Linnemann's (1001 E. Locust St.) Show starts at 8 p.m.