The song features Brandi Carlile
Sara Bareilles releases “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” via Epic Records. The song is a powerful, poignant original song featuring Brandi Carlile. The lyrics of the song come from an original poem written by acclaimed poet and activist Andrea Gibson.
The original song is featured in the Apple Original Films documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, which is in select theaters and streaming globally on Apple TV. The doc is a deeply affecting portrait of Andrea Gibson’s life, love and heartbreaking battles.
Bareilles, widely respected for her songwriting and powerhouse vocals, was first introduced to Gibson through their vulnerable and transparent social media posts detailing their diagnosis with an incurable ovarian cancer. After attending one of Gibson’s final live performances, Bareilles fatefully crossed paths with friends and filmmakers Abby Wambach and Glennon Doyle, who invited Bareilles to contribute to the documentary.
With the hope of bringing Gibson’s unique presence and community-building art even further, Bareilles crafted “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” from the seeds of an original Gibson poem. Writing the backbone of the music in just a day, Bareilles then connected with Carlile, and the two transformed the piece into a duet, their two voices singing Andrea’s words. Serving as the documentary’s emotional finale, the song encapsulates a message of resilience, love, and the full spectrum of human experience.
In another major recognition of its power and resonance, the song has been nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media Award. The honor underscores the song’s growing impact this awards season and its power as an original piece of music created for visual storytelling.
Come See Me in the Good Light follows Colorado Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson and their wife Megan Falley as they face an incurable cancer diagnosis with joy, wit, and unflinching vulnerability. Directed by Ryan White, the poignant and unexpectedly funny love story debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the Festival Favorite Award. Bareilles and Carlile also serve as executive producers on the project.
