Sara Watkins drops new solo album and bids farewell to Garrison Keillor

I think there are these transitional pivotal movements in everyone's life. I think for me there was probably a big moment when I was in my teenage years, then early 20s and then probably mid-20s. I feel like I just have gone through another course correction. Sometimes it happens very quickly. A few weeks go by and you think, Oh my gosh, I can't believe I did that! Who was I? You relate to yourself in a totally different way or you see the world in a different way and you think, I was so young. You don't  relate to the world you did three weeks ago. Sometimes it takes a longer time to get to that point, but part of what I was trying to do deliberately as I was sensing this transition in life, was just to accept that disruption as a positive sign for moving forward and not getting stuck in ruts that I didn't intend to be in. 

I'll take that as a positive experience. 

I think that, particularly in the past, that's been something in my first record certainly. It was developing some kind of home base. In the second record I did, it was stepping off of that. But I hope that, even in some of these songs that might feel sad or not overtly positive, there's a hope that comes out. I hope that's what you're finding comforting — some kind of redemption. Or a there's-always-a-chance-to-turn-it-around kind of thing. I am a comfort person. I like to think that I'm in the right or that I'm doing the the thing that's the best option for me at the time. But I don't want to rest on something just because I have in the past. I really enjoy challenging myself. I enjoy being in new places. It just takes a little bit of effort for me to keep putting myself in those places.

Yeah, that's a common thought — A breakup? Aw, but I'll get some good songs out of it. But I think any story has to involve some kind of friction and some kind of conflict or challenge or fight. In these songs I'm talking a lot about friendships, other people's relationships, and my relationships to friends and to work and big picture stuff, and trying to be open to that conflict. There's one song called "Move Me" that was battling with feeling like there are a lot of relationships — old friendships, extended family — that needed to be tended to and that I felt ... you know, the holiday talk of just covering the same ground over and over again because you know that it's safe. You kind of just go through those motions and it feels like you might be keeping in touch, but you're not really digging in any deeper. You're getting straight to that bedrock and not getting into anything that seems like it might be a little dangerous. I needed to spur myself on and ask of others — these old friends — to be willing to dive into the murky waters in a dialogue rather than just people spouting off their monologues at each other, taking turns.

I've been doing it so long. When Nickel Creek started touring for real, I was probably 18. I'm 35 now. I don't know who I am without that because it has affected so many things, so many choices I've made, and so many people and friendships and good and bad decisions. It's just a part of me. It's kind of hard to imagine life without it. 

I'm so pleased and happy and grateful to be able to be on that show. I've learned so much. I grew up listening to that show. I watched it when it was on the Disney Channel. As a family we watched it. I have this clear visual of the set that they have, that house, the on-air light, every time the music happens and then the light goes on and Garrison jumps in. It's this really special ceremony. I have these vivid, vivid memories of singing "America the Beautiful" to these people, many of them might be of the generation [who've] lived through World War II and beyond. They're singing these songs that hold a whole different weight. They have 80-plus years of memories attached to these songs. That show is just one-of-a-kind in this country and I'm so grateful to have had some up close and personal experiences on "Prairie Home." 

Yeah, he takes over in October. I am so proud of him and so excited for him. I think there's no one else who could do a better job. The shows that he's done so far ... they're always hilarious, and musically they're just stunning. I'm really pleased and excited for him because I know he's such a fan of the show and of Garrison's. I think it's going to be a really exciting second act for the broadcast.