sarah macombee

My new musical work has been in development for the last year being performed as part of a Living Room Tour under the name Put Up and Shut Up! 

Inspired by my own mother’s story of being coerced into giving up a baby before I was born. Little did I know the impact it would have. Audiences have been compelled to share their own family secrets of teenage pregnancies, forced adoptions and loss of whakapapa. Even though the stories, now decades old, still held a lot of pain, the relief in speaking them out loud was palpable. So many people said to me ‘I’m Laverne.’ Or, that’s my aunt’s or grandmother or mother’s story. It’s been incredibly moving and humbling to be let into people’s lives.  

My deepest wish for this work is being confirmed over and over. By telling this powerful story through music and song we’ve found a beautiful and cathartic vehicle for people to explore this very difficult subject and begin to transform and heal this deep transgenerational trauma.