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 James McGarry
There's a certain karmic influence at work and Sarah Hope Slean wants to take "the Universe to dinner." After a year of gigs with the likes of Emm Gryner and Noah Mintz (hHead, Noah's Arkweld) and an impressive showing at last year's North-by-Northeast music festival, Sarah Slean seems poised for something bigger. And why shouldn't she be? She has brains, talent and a strong, almost daunting faith in her music.
A lot of her inspiration comes from the world around her, from dreams and from her favourite authors. "In certain literature you can see where people have that sense of gratitude [for the beauty of the world]." It's that acknowledgement of beauty, in all its forms, that colours Slean's work.
"My best songs are the ones I sit and think about for a while," she says. "I consider myself writing more cerebral... than reactionary [works]."
Indeed there is a lot to think about in her lyrics and often much of the action happens in that place between the ears.
On her own, or with cellist Sharon Tiessen and a percussionist, Sarah paints little pictures in song, with explorations of magic realism more often found with mature Latin poets than with 20-year-old University of Toronto music students. It's obvious (especially after reading the liner notes on her debut cassette EP, Universe) that Sarah seems to think and write in pictures.
Despite the sometimes melancholy settings in the music, Sarah gives you a window into a soul that is both fragile and resilient. Above all, there is always a sense of hope--and Hope really is her middle name. Karma or what?
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