Every so often, we take a little time on Mondays to pay tribute to the Muthas! That is, reprinting the adorable metal/maternal Q&As that run in the magazine. Today, enjoy Justin Norton’s chat with Dorothy Pendleton, mutha of SubRosa’s Sarah Pendleton.
Can you tell us more about yourself?
I have a wonderful husband to whom I have been married for 42 years. I have three incredible children, two daughters and a son, who never cease to amaze me with their talents and their capacity to love. I spent 20 years in the field of child welfare, helping abandoned and abused kids. That and my family are my passions.
What was Sarah like growing up?
Whatever Sarah envisioned, she made happen. She is very bright, and always made excellent grades, seemingly with little effort. Throughout grammar school, she was very competitive with her first crush, and made a point of besting him academically.
When did she pick up the violin?
She received her first violin as a gift 18 years ago, and began taking private lessons. Although we would have loved to give our kids music lessons, we couldn’t afford it, but Sarah found her own way to learn her favorite instrument.
Did you ever think she could use the violin to play heavy music?
She and her teacher began traditionally, doing everything by the book. Then one day, Sarah brought a CD of her favorite metal music that used violins and showed it to her teacher, and said: “This is what I want to do.” Her teacher smiled and said: “This is where we part ways, and you forge that path for yourself.”
I understand Sarah went to Catholic school? What was that like?
Sarah had a special relationship with the nuns that taught her, and we still talk about them.
What was she like as a teenager?
We can start with strong-willed. Sarah went nuts around the age of 13. She had specific ideas about what she wanted to explore, and she wasn’t about to let anything get in her way, not her parents, not the police, nor any sorts of social norm. Fortunately, she survived all of her experimentation. Because of who she is deep-down, she became a stronger, more intelligent person for having survived it.
What do you think of SubRosa?
I love it. I love everyone in the band, and I love the idea of it. It has been my daughter’s passion for nine years. It has been the constant through a lot of upheaval and chaos in her life.
