B l u e P a r a d e - A S a r a h S l e a n F a n s i t e
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by Liam Dynes
A lot of the press you'll read about Sarah Slean refers to her as a "new sensation" on the Canadian music scene, but with a solid fan base on the Greater Toronto Area club/coffeehouse circuit (where she has been performing since 1997) two EPs and a full-length album already under her belt, the 25-year-old Torontonian is anything but a newcomer.
"Well, my first recording came out in '97," said Slean, "but the only thing I've really notice to have changed is that there are more people at the shows. But nothing else has changed, I keep making the music I love, and luckily the people who got involved with that as far as the record label is concerned, didn't want to get in the way of that."
The record deal in question came after the release of some of Slean's independent work, which includes the EP Universe, and the full-length Blue Parade, and was a rather unique one as far as the major-label record industry is concerned. It allowed Slean to continue working independently while at the same time having major label support all in an effort to allow her to work towards a major release under her own terms. The collaboration allowed Blue Parade to be released independently, but all the while working towards what eventually became Night Bugs, her Warner Music debut, released earlier this year, and an album that showcases all of the tremendous talent that Slean possesses.
Slean, who walked away from York University's Music department after her first year to pursue her music in her own way, is a classically trained performer, and those influences, along with many, many others, are evident in her music, which she composes and arranges entirely by herself.
"I started writing music when I was about nine," said Slean, "I'd write really cheesy, melodramatic musicals � but I was raised on classical music, it's really geared towards melody, and helping understand melody, and how to build one. A lot of my favourite artists have that sort of classical sound to them, and I think that's really important."
And while she is a gifted performer, one of the most impressive aspects of Slean's work is the songwriting. This feat of solo composing and arranging is made no less impressive by the fact that so many of the songs contain such a wide array of musical aspects, from piano/guitar, to vocal, to strings, to synths, all areas melding together into a harmonious whole.
"I originally wanted to be a composer," said Slean, "and there is still a strong, strong desire to do some large orchestral work, so I guess I get to indulge a little when I make recordings, since I get to use my very own string section."
To pursue this end of working with larger, more complicated groups, Slean has embarked on a path to continue her education on this type of composing, by enrolling in a course at University of Toronto in this very field.
"I'm totally not even supposed to be taking the course," Slean laughs, "but I said to the prof, 'I do writing, and strings, and horns on my albums,' so he just said 'oh, well come on in.' But it'll help a lot, because there are a lot of things about the orchestral setting that I don't know yet, like about working with some of the instruments, little idiosyncrasies that I'm not aware of that will really work to broaden the sound."
While the mention of a solo, piano-led female artist may immediately bring up images of Sarah McLachlan or Jann Arden; Slean's music is not easily pigeonholed into one genre. Much of the work on Night Bugs, and indeed of her entire discography, defies easy categorization. While some may be slightly Tori Amos reminiscent, there is easily as much (if not more) Rufus Wainwright, Hawksley Workman (who co-produced the album), and Radiohead to be found as well.
And what has the future got in store for Sarah Slean? More albums to be sure, on this she is adamant, but that's not all.
"Oh, there's a musical in the works. It's madness. Broadway thinks it's ready, but it's not�"
If this young lady's work so far is even a slight indication of her talent and capabilities, Broadway better get ready but quick, for this girl is-a-comin'.
Sarah Slean performs with her band the Night Bugs and special guest Danny Michel at Brock's Centre for the Arts on Thursday, Sept. 12.
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