BIOGRAPHY

Sara Melson grew up in a small town in Indiana in a house with books covering every wall from floor to ceiling. Fed a steady diet of Beatles, Stones, Dylan, The Band, Bowie, Neil Young, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash, Simon and Garfunkel, and Van Morrison, as well as a huge swath of classical and jazz, Sara grew up classically trained on piano and self-taught on guitar, wedding chords to the lyrics filling the pages of her many journals. She lives somewhere between genres, with timeless songs that blur boundaries between folk, rock, pop, and country. Insightful lyrics and her unique, distinctive voice - always solely her own - led Yahoo! Music to choose her as their "New Buzz Artist," calling her "one of the most fearless singer-songwriters on the planet."

Sara's self-produced debut full-length, Dirty Mind (Nettwerk Records, 2008) was selected for an iTunes "What's Hot" feature, and placed high on the iTunes pop chart. Her songs have been featured in numerous film & TV shows including Grey's Anatomy, and as the theme of a new Chevy campaign. She has shared the stage with Ben Folds, Juliana Hatfield, Ben Lee, Silversun Pickups, Jill Sobule, Inara George, Mojave 3, Neil Halstead, the BRMC, and Lissie, and sung backing vocals for Mojave 3 and the Dandy Warhols on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic and for Moby on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Sara is currently in the studio finishing her next record.

PRESS

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• Lyndsey Parker, Yahoo! Music

  "Sometimes, to expose oneself at one's most fragile and vulnerable is the ultimate act of courage. And if that's the case, then Sara Melson is one of the most fearless singer-songwriters on the planet. Her quiet strength shines through in her winsome space-balladry...[she] just rocks, plain and simple."

• Bob Leggett, Music Connection Magazine

  "Sara Melson is a diverse artist with depth in both AAA and alt-country genres. She has the raspy voice of Kim Carnes with the lyrical sensibilities of Patty Griffin and Kasey Chambers. "Anywhere Anytime" is a perfect pop piece in the style of the Bangles, while "Fall Down" has a more alt-country feel. Melson is a natural and possesses excellent skills on both keyboards and guitar. Her chemistry with the band is extraordinary... above board in all regards. Melson has a great sense of humor, which enables her to make a strong connection with the audience, capturing the attention of all... The music is very strong and tight. An excellent songwriter and performer with a penchant for catchy songs that have a wide appeal."

• Steven Mirkin, Daily Variety

  "Like Laura Nyro hooking up with Beggars' Banquet-era Rolling Stones...Something special."

• Keith Creighton, LiveMagazine.com

  "L.A. has plenty of attractive singer-songwriters who sing perfectly delightful ballads. Sara Melson amps-up her sound with a stellar backing band and an impressive batch of self-released rockers that crush you the same way Liz Phair's visceral debut and Neko Case's bone chilling Blacklisted did."

• farrakhanfaucet.blogspot.com

  "Feel it Coming" is as good an anthem as I've heard in years. I'd be shocked if one of the Presidential campaigns doesn't jump on it as their theme song. The rest of the album is packed solid with heart, rhythm, harmonies, monster hooks and attitude...it's all killer, no filler."

• mainstreamisntsobad.blogspot.com

  "Sara Melson shows wisdom seldom seen or heard in much of today's music."

• brewedfresh.blogspot.com

  "This LA-based singer/songwriter belts out the prettiest, most poetic and flowing tunes I have heard in a while...Listen to her now before everyone else discovers her."

• staergetaleht.blogspot.com

  "Luscious voice...Add it to your shopping list."

• herohill.com

  "Refreshing honesty...her songs stand out."

• Stereosubversion.com

  " 'Never Been Hurt' takes an opening Ben Folds would love and turns it into the perfect single for pop/country/Top 40 crossover success...Dirty Mind is full of such songs, and though when push comes to shove Melson tends to gravitate toward the sounds of country music, she maintains such a pop presence in her songwriting that it's almost a certainty that she'll receive radio recognition for her work. At least she'd better, if there's anything good about the music world today... A complete, aurally complex album, one worthy of repetitive listening by any self-respecting fan of well-developed alt-country music...(and) an artist with a great deal of choice as to where her career might go from here. If she leans toward country and focuses her career to that end, she could have a career to rival Kasey Chambers. If she spreads her sound further into indie-rock territory, she could take on Jenny Lewis or Sheryl Crow song for song a few years down the road. With such a bright and open future ahead, here's hoping this album gets the exposure it deserves."