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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Singer-songwriter shies away from the pursuit of fame to find beauty and inspiration in the everyday world around her
Sarah Slean
�I don�t consider myself famous at all,� says singer/songwriter Sarah Slean. �I find that the most laughable concept, that people might think that about me.�
Of course, most musicians put forward a humble front, but now on her fourth album and her second with music giant Warner, Slean has every right to boast.
But she has her reasons for maintaining a modest exterior.
�I find the pursuit of fame really repulsive,� says Slean. �I lived in Los Angeles last July and all I want is to be far away from that world. It�s just people dying to be seen and envied, and they�re willing to climb over anyone to get it. They see people as avenues of self-interest rather than seeing other people as other people. That whole world doesn�t appeal to me at all; I just want to make great art.�
Creating great art isn�t easy, as it turns out.
And it was in the pursuit of creating great art that Sarah literally headed for the hills, spending time alone in the wilderness painting, composing, and finding herself.
�I was utterly lost before I had my �cabin-experience,�� says Slean. �It was my last-ditch attempt to save my sense of wonder. I was losing faith, and by going there, I was trying to find the strength to just let all the monsters come out and be terrified, but keep my eyes open and see what would happen.�
What happened was Slean emerged from the woods ready to create the follow-up album to her critically-acclaimed mainstream debut Night Bugs. Spending five months in Toronto, Slean recorded Day One, an album chronicling her personal highs and lows. The record features slightly ironic upbeat tempos that are combined with serious, thoughtful lyrics.
Finding inspiration from both the big city and remote woodlands, Slean is grateful that Canada offers such diverse hideaways.
�I find this country a refuge,� comments Slean. �We�re getting more influenced by America every day, especially in the world of culture, which is being affected by commerce. But Canada has maintained a sort of autonomy in that world, which allows us to create people like Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and Neil Young. There is so much intellect and fire. People are alive here and I think that people here aren�t trying to turn music into the next dollar as much as our neighbours to the south.�
What source of inspiration will command Slean next has yet to be seen, but given her tendency to take off on a whim and find her creativity anywhere and everywhere, chances are it will come from a place no one will suspect.
�When my eyes are working, and I�m not mired in worry or anxiety or self-pity, everything is amazing,� says Slean excitedly. �Leonard Bernstein, the prairies, little kids and the clothes they choose to wear, and fans that come up to me at shows and tell me, �I started playing music because of you.The beauty is everywhere; you just have to shine up your eyes.�
Monday, 25 October, 2004
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