Sara Bareilles is a daughter to a funeral home worker and an insurance adjuster. Born on December 1979, she was raised as a Catholic and participated in high school choir as well as local community theater musical productions when she was young. During her time in UCLA, she joined a capella group named Awaken a Cappella and won twice in the annual student concert, UCLA Spring Sing.

Post graduating from the college, she performed at local bars and clubs in an attempt to build a fanbase for a bigger show. She issued two demos, sang in an indie film and self-released an album. Eager to go back to the studio and create a second full-length album, she started shopping her CD around and finally sealed a deal with Epic Records in 2005.

Three years after her debut, Bareilles dropped a sophomore set "Little Voice". Despite the title, the album was a big one. It led her claiming her fame as it shot to No. 1 on the list of most downloaded album in iTunes music store and reached No. 7 on Billboard Hot 200. Its first single "Love Song", meanwhile, peaked at No. 4 on Hot 100.

She was then busy with supporting gig for the likes of James Blunt, Maroon 5, Mika and more. In 2010, she returned with "Kaleidoscope Heart" and scored her best week sales as well as her highest-charting album. Released in United States on September 21, it debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. albums chart with 90,000 sold.