WELCOME
Aloha Everyone, and welcome to my site. It's a work in progress. Isn't everything?
After a bit of a hiatus from playing out while hibernating in a recording studio, I'm happy to say that I am finally finished with at least this first stage of the recording process, and will be re-emerging from my shell. I'm coming to Boston first, next week on 11/5, to open for the wonderful BEN FOLDS! The next day I do my own show at the Middle East as well, so come to one or both if you're in the hood. Otherwise stay tuned as more dates get added.
Not sure yet what's going to happen to the new songs, so give me a moment to work that out. Thanks for your patience and support while waiting!!! Love, Sara
BIOGRAPHY
Sara Melson grew up in a small town in Indiana, the daughter of two college professors, in a house with books covering every wall from floor to ceiling. Her parents also had an impressive record collection. Sara spent hours after school memorizing every word and note of classics by the Beatles, Stones, Dylan, The Band, Bowie, Neil Young, Simon and Garfunkel, the Velvet Underground, Carole King, and Van Morrison. Classically trained on the piano, she taught herself to play the guitar, and began to wed her own words and poems from her journals with melodies to form her first songs. Sara performs both solo and with her band. Her timeless songs blur the boundaries between folk, rock, soul, country, and pop in a soulful voice that is at once tender and strong. At times soothing, at others chilling, that voice is, always, distinctly her own. Sara writes about love and lust, growth and change, and faith in a better future, both personal and global, in lyrics that are introspective, frank, witty and precise. Despite harsh realities, Sara's unswerving idealism and optimism shine through. While attending Harvard as a scholarship student majoring in writing, Sara worked as a dishwasher in the school cafeteria by day and as a waitress in a local bar by night. It was during these years that the Brit-pop sound of the Verve, Blur, and Oasis, as well as the Americana tradition of songwriters such as Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, and Jeff Tweedy began to shape her sound and songwriting into a unique blend of diverse influences. After graduation, Sara moved to Los Angeles, where she worked as a kids' music teacher, a yoga instructor, and a film and television actress. She continued to raise the bar on her songwriting and playing, crafting her songs and honing her recording skills. Her self-recorded and self-released Five Song EP was selected by Launch.com/Yahoo as a "Top Ten Pick" in its Cool as Folk Radiocast, along with Beck, Damien Rice, and Sondre Lerche, was aired on Indie 103.1, XM Satellite Radio, and KCRW, and featured in the ABC television show Men In Trees, the Viacom teen cult show South Of Nowhere, and in the independent films Spectres and Safe Harbour. Sara has shared the stage with Silversun Pickups, Inara George, Ben Lee, Jill Sobule, Neil Halstead, and Juliana Hatfield, toured as guest vocalist with Mojave 3, and was sponsored on an acoustic tour of Japan. Sara's self-produced debut full-length, Dirty Mind, came out in the spring of 2008 on Nettwerk Records. Dirty Mind was featured on iTunes' "What's Hot," climbing the iTunes pop chart upon its release. Episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Lipstick Jungle both used the album's first track in its entirety in climactic final scenes. Yahoo Music chose her as their New Buzz Artist, and featured her video in their Who's Next/User's Choice promotion. Songs from the record have been featured on American Airlines and on episodes of MTV's Exiled and the N Network's South of Nowhere. Sara is currently in the studio recording new songs.
PRESS
Click on the following links to view Online Press from the following sites:
iTunes
Yahoo
Myspace
Quarterlife
Zorpia
Various (Brewed Fresh/Allmusic/Herohill)
REVIEWS
"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...Sara Melson just rocks, plain and simple."
--Lyndsey Parker, Launch.com/Yahoo
"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."
--Bob Leggett, Music Connection Magazine
"Like Laura Nyro hooking up with Beggars' Banquet-era Rolling Stones...Something special."
--Steven Mirkin, Daily Variety
"Sara Melson's songs take you there via real stories, real life, and real emotion."
--Billy Zero, XM Satellite Radio
"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."
--Keith Creighton, LiveMagazine.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." - Read More
--farrakhanfaucet.blogspot.com
"(Sara Melson) shows wisdom seldom seen (or heard) in much of today's music." - Read More
--mainstreamisntsobad.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." - Read More
--brewedfresh.blogspot.com
"Luscious voice."
--staergetaleht.blogspot.com
"Refreshing honesty...her songs stand out." - Read More
--herohill.com
"Add it to your shopping list." - Read More
--staergetaleht.blogspot.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." - Read More
--Stereosubversion.com
Aloha Everyone, and welcome to my site. It's a work in progress. Isn't everything?
After a bit of a hiatus from playing out while hibernating in a recording studio, I'm happy to say that I am finally finished with at least this first stage of the recording process, and will be re-emerging from my shell. I'm coming to Boston first, next week on 11/5, to open for the wonderful BEN FOLDS! The next day I do my own show at the Middle East as well, so come to one or both if you're in the hood. Otherwise stay tuned as more dates get added.
Not sure yet what's going to happen to the new songs, so give me a moment to work that out. Thanks for your patience and support while waiting!!! Love, Sara
BIOGRAPHY
Sara Melson grew up in a small town in Indiana, the daughter of two college professors, in a house with books covering every wall from floor to ceiling. Her parents also had an impressive record collection. Sara spent hours after school memorizing every word and note of classics by the Beatles, Stones, Dylan, The Band, Bowie, Neil Young, Simon and Garfunkel, the Velvet Underground, Carole King, and Van Morrison. Classically trained on the piano, she taught herself to play the guitar, and began to wed her own words and poems from her journals with melodies to form her first songs. Sara performs both solo and with her band. Her timeless songs blur the boundaries between folk, rock, soul, country, and pop in a soulful voice that is at once tender and strong. At times soothing, at others chilling, that voice is, always, distinctly her own. Sara writes about love and lust, growth and change, and faith in a better future, both personal and global, in lyrics that are introspective, frank, witty and precise. Despite harsh realities, Sara's unswerving idealism and optimism shine through. While attending Harvard as a scholarship student majoring in writing, Sara worked as a dishwasher in the school cafeteria by day and as a waitress in a local bar by night. It was during these years that the Brit-pop sound of the Verve, Blur, and Oasis, as well as the Americana tradition of songwriters such as Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, and Jeff Tweedy began to shape her sound and songwriting into a unique blend of diverse influences. After graduation, Sara moved to Los Angeles, where she worked as a kids' music teacher, a yoga instructor, and a film and television actress. She continued to raise the bar on her songwriting and playing, crafting her songs and honing her recording skills. Her self-recorded and self-released Five Song EP was selected by Launch.com/Yahoo as a "Top Ten Pick" in its Cool as Folk Radiocast, along with Beck, Damien Rice, and Sondre Lerche, was aired on Indie 103.1, XM Satellite Radio, and KCRW, and featured in the ABC television show Men In Trees, the Viacom teen cult show South Of Nowhere, and in the independent films Spectres and Safe Harbour. Sara has shared the stage with Silversun Pickups, Inara George, Ben Lee, Jill Sobule, Neil Halstead, and Juliana Hatfield, toured as guest vocalist with Mojave 3, and was sponsored on an acoustic tour of Japan. Sara's self-produced debut full-length, Dirty Mind, came out in the spring of 2008 on Nettwerk Records. Dirty Mind was featured on iTunes' "What's Hot," climbing the iTunes pop chart upon its release. Episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Lipstick Jungle both used the album's first track in its entirety in climactic final scenes. Yahoo Music chose her as their New Buzz Artist, and featured her video in their Who's Next/User's Choice promotion. Songs from the record have been featured on American Airlines and on episodes of MTV's Exiled and the N Network's South of Nowhere. Sara is currently in the studio recording new songs.
PRESS
Click on the following links to view Online Press from the following sites:
iTunes
Yahoo
Myspace
Quarterlife
Zorpia
Various (Brewed Fresh/Allmusic/Herohill)
REVIEWS
"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...Sara Melson just rocks, plain and simple."
--Lyndsey Parker, Launch.com/Yahoo
"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."
--Bob Leggett, Music Connection Magazine
"Like Laura Nyro hooking up with Beggars' Banquet-era Rolling Stones...Something special."
--Steven Mirkin, Daily Variety
"Sara Melson's songs take you there via real stories, real life, and real emotion."
--Billy Zero, XM Satellite Radio
"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."
--Keith Creighton, LiveMagazine.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." - Read More
--farrakhanfaucet.blogspot.com
"(Sara Melson) shows wisdom seldom seen (or heard) in much of today's music." - Read More
--mainstreamisntsobad.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." - Read More
--brewedfresh.blogspot.com
"Luscious voice."
--staergetaleht.blogspot.com
"Refreshing honesty...her songs stand out." - Read More
--herohill.com
"Add it to your shopping list." - Read More
--staergetaleht.blogspot.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." - Read More
--Stereosubversion.com
