Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlen Saraí Lane
Hi Marlen Saraí, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in Honduras, a country of breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture, I was surrounded by beauty but also by deep challenges. Honduras, like many places, is a land of contrasts—rich in community and natural resources yet marked by struggles with gang violence, poverty, and a history of corruption. Life there taught me to embrace strength, service, and gratitude, even in the most difficult times.
My family lived in a tight-knit neighborhood where everyone knew each other. Many of our neighbors were relatives or friends from our local community. Our lives were woven together by a sense of closeness, both due to necessity and by choice. My parents were a great example of this spirit of community and hard work; they’d climbed out of poverty, which meant a lot in Honduras. Yet even with these advantages, we lived simply, with my mom instilling in us a deep appreciation for everything we had.
The neighborhood we lived in was far from ideal in terms of safety. Within minutes of our home was the base of one of the largest gangs. Danger was close, but so was our community’s sense of togetherness. Our church, only a short walk away, wasn’t just a place to worship; it was a lifeline. My church community ran a health clinic and a children’s center, and from a young age, I learned to serve people in need—those whom society often left behind. My earliest years were shaped by this contrast: I saw violence around me but also witnessed the power of community to make things better.
My teen years were a mix of creativity and difficult experiences. I enrolled in a music school and for two years, I flourished there. I formed friendships and began writing songs—my first steps into what would become a lifelong passion. I also began serving at my church during these years.
At 18, I was offered a chance to sign with a record label. Releasing my first album in 2014 was transformative, opening doors that allowed me to share my story and faith through music. I traveled across the country, performing and connecting with audiences who resonated with my experiences.
By 20, I faced violent experiences firsthand, including gun violence and being kidnapped. Surviving these events strengthened my faith and deepened my commitment to share my story through music.
College brought a new sense of connection, and around this time, I began dating my now-husband, Jon. After two and a half years of long-distance dating, we graduated and decided to marry. In 2017, at the age of 22, I moved to the United States.
The move wasn’t easy. I had to adjust to a new culture, a new pace, and a new way of living. The things that used to ground me—my family, friends, and community—were now thousands of miles away. My faith in God continued to be a source of strength, but I also found myself exploring other creative outlets and growing in ways I hadn’t expected.
Today, I’m working toward my music career, and I’m committed to using my voice to tell stories that matter, sharing my faith with others and sharing my story through music. For the last year, I have been writing and recording new music and I just released my first single ahead of the full-length album coming in spring of 2025.
Looking back, I see a journey filled with moments of joy, resilience, and growth. My path hasn’t been easy, but each chapter has shaped me into the person I am today—a person ready to embrace whatever comes next.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As I mentioned in the previous question about my story, there have been a lot of challenges in my journey. When it comes to the music and art I create, one of the toughest obstacles was moving from Honduras to the United States. Back home, I had built connections with producers, churches, radio, tv personalities, and organizations over a number of years. When I came to the US, I didn’t have any of that. I had to start from scratch. I felt lost in so many areas of my life and was just trying to get my footing as I adjusted to a new country and way of life. Because of this, making music felt unattainable and to be honest, it was something that I didn’t think I would do again. Through lots of prayer and community, I was encouraged to dream and write music again. Having a reignited sense of passion for music, I began writing and recording music that expressed my journey and my faith in Christ.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When it comes to music, it’s about more than just singing and writing songs. My goal is to make something excellent, but it’s more than that. As I write original songs, I want to let the listeners into my faith, my life, my struggles, my triumphs, and my prayers. From the beginning (when I made my first album 10 years ago) my goal was that just one person would be impacted, encouraged, and resonate with what I created. I am always so encouraged by messages and stories I receive from people that a song I made helped them through a hard season or gave them hope. As a bilingual artist, I create music in English and Spanish – this is very important to me. So many times in this world, language is something that divides people. I want my projects to be something that unites people and includes people whether their heart language is English or Spanish. For my upcoming album, there will be songs in English, songs in Spanish, and songs that have both languages incorporated.
Outside of making my own music, I serve as a worship leader at my church. It brings me so much joy to serve my community in this way. Our church is a diverse community rich in language, culture, and ethnicity from all over Latin America and the US. My role is to help people connect to God and bring their praise, hopes, fears, and struggles into the sanctuary. Being a part of this church community has shaped and molded me in so many ways.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Likes – I love the diversity of cultures here that I experience through events, culinary experiences, and people I meet throughout the city. When I moved here I did not expect to find many Hondurans, but there are actually so many of my fellow “Catrachos” here and many great Honduran restaurants. Experiencing new cultures here has also been so great to broaden my understanding of the world.
Dislikes – While the city is very diverse, I think there is room for improvement for communities to be more connected to each other. I would also like to see more opportunities for underrepresented communities!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saraimusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlen_sarai/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlensaraioficial/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3orEr2BR9uXy69FIqGi1Ua
