Sarah McLachlan, as a “wealthy, middle-aged white woman,” struggled to find musical inspiration

Sarah McLachlan is making new music after a decade of searching in vain for new material because, as she herself puts it, she is “just another rich middle-aged white woman.”

In an interview published by The New York Times on Thursday, the “Angel” singer spoke about her path back to fame after leaving the spotlight in 2008 and becoming a single mother to two daughters, India and Taja.

“What do I want to talk about?” she told the Times, discussing a set of songs she wrote about a breakup a few years ago but later shelved. “I'm just another rich, middle-aged white woman.”

She told the magazine that she “gets so much energy from music now that I'm living and breathing it every moment” and that she has started working with singer-songwriter Aimee Mann and Phoebe Bridgers producer Tony Berg, adding that the potential comeback is “a completely different feeling.”

The founder of Lilith Fair admitted that age plays a role in popularity in music – but everyone is happy about a comeback.

“For the first 10 years of performing, I didn't talk. When the music was playing, I knew what I was doing. Put the music and my voice back in my head and I'm 12 again,” she told the New York Times. “But for the last 10 years, I say whatever comes to mind. I feel freer every day to be who I am.”

Sarah McLachlan celebrates “Fumbling” with new tour 30 years later: “I’m still pinching myself”

Last year, McLachlan celebrated the 30th anniversary of her third studio album, “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy,” with an eight-week tour that was featured in a New York Times article. She also spoke to USA TODAY last year about the album, her musical comeback and the 30th anniversary tour, which kicked off May 25 in Seattle.

“I'm in the middle of writing something right now. I can't tell you when a new record will come out, but there will be some new songs played on the tour,” she told USA TODAY at the time.

“Fumbling,” which featured tracks like “Possession,” “Good Enough,” and “Hold On,” launched McLachlan into the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts for the first time and helped her break out as a 90s music superstar.

Sarah McLachlan remembers being called “Medusa” as a child after kissing another girl

McLachlan also spoke about traumatic childhood experiences from her youth in Nova Scotia.

After kissing another girl in seventh grade, she became a pariah at home, she recalls. “I became poison. Then they started calling me 'Medusa' because I had long, curly hair,” she said. “There was also physical abuse. I thought, 'I'm on my own.'”

Music was Sarah McLachlan’s safe place

The trauma didn't end at school, as she was struggling with her relationship as one of three adopted children in her family. So she turned to music.

“I didn't have a relationship with my father because my mother didn't allow it. If I paid attention to him, she wouldn't speak to me for a week,” McLachlan said.

Contributor: Melissa Ruggieri

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sarah McLachlan talks about her music comeback and reflects on childhood trauma