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 Zoe Gemelli
A few weeks ago I walked into a room to the sound of a cassette that immediately caught my attention.
Who is that? I asked.
It's Sarah. I was told.
Being a bit of a Sarah McLachlan fan I of course knew that this person singing away was not Ms. McLachlan but someone I wanted to know more about. This person was local chanteuse Sarah Slean.
Recently I had the chance to see Sarah perform at C'est What in Toronto. As I sat watching her perform I couldn't help but think that I was experiencing something that one day I could brag:
"I saw her perform way back in the day!".
She caught my attention and the attention of everyone else in the room. Her persona between songs was very naive and she had an almost apologetic appreciation for the audience. It would have been even more thrilling to see her perform to a room full of strangers as it seems that she was trying too hard to please her cronies. I don't think she could see how intense the mood was while she was performing.
Almost as soon as I pressed play to listen for the first time to Universe, Sarah's debut E.P., I could feel the passion in her performance. She plays piano and sings her own songs and is joined on this recording by some very capable musicians who provide a lush backdrop of percussion and strings.
My only disappointment is that the E.P. is only available on cassette. I have since learned, however, that the CD version is on it's [sic] way and should be available at HMV sometime in the near future.
I had a chance to sit down and talk with Sarah about a lot of things including her passion for music. I wondered first of all what artist's [sic] she admired.
"There are some people who deserve to have shrines built to them. Jeff Buckley's one of them, Glenn Gould is one of them and Radiohead is one of them".
I could tell immediately that I was going to like this girl.
We talked a bit about her recent performance and how impressed I was with her songs. I commented that she must have a suitcase full of others just waiting to be recorded.
"How did you know that"? She said "I have at least 25 more songs waiting to be recorded".
When asked when we might have a chance to hear some of these songs, and of course on CD, I was told that a second E.P. is currently in the works and is due for release in the New Year. This may be followed by a third before the expected full length CD.
"It's kinda hard", she tells me "when you have two shitty jobs and you have to pay rent".
Sarah would like to be portrayed as a kind of artist like Jeff Buckley who played his music as if no one was listening but himself.
"When I play I mean it. Jeff meant it with every cell in his body! Something transcends where he was, it becomes different and so much better. That's my goal".
We talked about the possibility of a Major Label signing down the road. I asked her if she thought that might be selling out or would she welcome the opportunity. Thankfully, Sarah seems intent on maintaining her individuality as an artist and would be careful to align herself with the type of label that would allow her the freedom to be herself first.
"Sometimes an audience is given somebody that a record company has constructed, and they're like- Her, go play!- then the artist is pushed out on stage. They're like, Dun-nun-nun (She simulates a tough looking rock star singing away) I'm supposed to be good, I'm signed to a major label".
We both agreed that some labels push their artists far too soon. Sarah, however, seems content to take her time and evolve at her own pace.
Sarah maintains that all she wants is a nice apartment, money to buy food, tokens, and a wicked piano. The rest of it, she says, does something to you.
I can't help but think that someone may have been sitting in a room years ago watching a young Joni Mitchell or Jane Siberry perform at the beginning of their careers. I wonder if they had the same feeling I had after watching Sarah Slean. This girl is going to make it one day.
At twenty years old Sarah see's [sic] herself as being involved in some aspect of the music industry in the future.
"I just can't function in any other area". She says.
I for one am very happy that she chose not to be a cardiologist as she had originally planned. Her music has inspired me and given time and maybe even a nice little record contract this girl will fly.
Sarah will be performing on Saturday Dec 6th at The Oasis on College St.
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