Although Sarah Siskind's rootsy, folk-based songs attracted more attention when performed by other artists, the North Carolina native enjoyed a recording career of her own, effectively straddling the line between musical ghostwriter and solo artist. Raised in the continental southeast by musical parents, Siskind was exposed to bluegrass and old-timey music as a toddler, an experience that fueled her songwriting from an early age. She began writing music at 11 and completed her first album three years later. Regional songwriting competitions began to recognize her marriage of rustic Americana and contemporary country, and Siskind moved to Nashville at the age of 21, where she continued to release albums while attracting attention from industry veterans.