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 Sylvie Au Contraire
Published poet, painter and songwriter Sarah Slean hardly needs an introduction, she�s ubiquitous. Whether she�s playing lead vixen in 1940's film noir cinema Black Widow, spotted amongst the bookish literati at The Giller Prize, showcasing her peculiar yet playful artistry at Spin Gallery or living in France. Sarah Slean always seems to be making headlines.
Without further ado. Drum roll please�
SYLVIE AU CONTRAIRE: When you �took to the woods� so to speak, and wrote Day One it seemed you were experiencing an existential meltdown. How do you feel about your place in the universe these days?
SLEAN: Laughs, an existential meltdown! I take great comfort in the extreme smallness of everything. I love it, it�s so freeing. There�s nothing to fear. But I do have the odd moment where I lose those innocent eyes, whenever I am lost I return to childhood and I try to swing, play around, strum a toy guitar.
SYLVIE: In addition to your musical talents it seems you have a gift for literary musings and painting. Is there any plans for a sequel to Ravens? Maybe even a novel?
SLEAN: I love you for asking me that. I�m so in love with the art of words. My favourite writers and painters got their strife when they were in their 60�s. I hope I live a long life, there is so much I want to accomplish. I would like to write a novel, maybe when I�m in my 50�s.
SYLVIE: Speaking of additional endeavours, Black Widow recently premiered at the Calgary Film Festival. Are there similarities between acting and performing on stage?
SLEAN: Absolutely none. Music for me is something inside me, it flows through my veins. I�m friends with my instrument, it allows me to speak. Me and trying to act is not natural. It�s not my habit to be in another character, I wondered how I was going to pull it off. It's so difficult to turn yourself on and off, breaking your suspension of belief, to stay in the lie. Most artists I know their conscious is something that�s pretty loud, you have to kill your own self-conscience. It�s really one of the hardest things I�ve done. Music is much more natural, it�s an old shoe.
SYLVIE: You seem to have a profound effect on complete strangers. I realize this is the nature between the songwriter and a fan, how do you feel about being placed in this role?
SLEAN: Well we have to take it wherever we can get it. Music keeps my heart alive. These days things aren�t about a community, it�s somewhat ironic in terms of the internet. I grew up in the suburbs, the land of the car so I retreated to my imagination. A record that connects to other people, something that is invented in the mind is so important. I mean we�re not Europe, we don�t have people performing in the streets. Our culture is growing colder as people, if I can reach out to someone and connect to them than it�s an honour.
SYLVIE: What are you reading lately?
SLEAN: I love that question, Jane Jacobs, a philosopher who writes about the cultural meltdown, that we�re in a cultural dark age. It�s terrifying. Also, I just picked up Ondaatje's Coming Through The Slaughter, it�s beautiful, vivid and real. He�s one of the few author�s who can write poetry and stories. He�s the crown jewel of the Canadian writing world. And one more, then I promise I�ll stop, I am reading A Short Story of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, he�s a travel writer. His stories are of the science of our hypothetical beginning.
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