It
has taken this raven haired, bright eyed girl from Adelaide one solo studio album,
one live album, an EP, two dance releases and an international tour de force to
get here but there is no doubt that she is here with a sparkle in her eye and
a tale to tell. This is an artist who - fresh from the clubs of New York City
- is the embodiment of what happens when you mix a little dance, a little pop,
a strong serving of driving electro beats, a personal journey of gigantic proportions
and the ability to have the strength to admit that despite what you may have said
in the past: It's OK to finally admit that you are a pop girl at heart! What ultimately
defines Sarah McLeod is that she is undefinable. She likes it that way. Most importantly
she has embraced her inner entertainer and while it has not been an easy expedition,
is enjoying a new sound and newfound goal: To bring her message, music and attitude
to the fans with conviction and dynamic new show.
"So many people
dog on pop. I'm guilty of it too. I have always known that pop was my strength
but I shied away from it cause I thought it wasn't cool. But then I worked out
a way to make it cool, to make it mine." While the forthcoming album is yet
to be titled, Sarah's first single "Tell Your Story Walking" is a summer
anthem in celebration of overcoming personal doubt. Of taking risks and finding
personal peace with that. "This song is a metaphor for what I have been through
over the past few years and all the shit that I have battled and all the doubt
that I have swallowed in order to carry on and not let anyone chink my armor.
The music industry is a beast, but like any animal, it can be tamed with persistence.
This song is a journey of overcoming personal doubt to reach a place of pure self
belief." While Sarah has enjoyed an exciting experience with her new UK,
European and US fans. It is the ones back home that she is most grateful for and
bursting with excitement to be bringing home her new album.
"The grit
of Beauty Was A Tiger still remains with Tell Your Story Walking and the new album,
I don't think I could make a record without it, it's just not me. It may be less
'band heavy' but its no less attitude heavy. I'm still a hustler … in killer
heels".
THE JOURNEY
Sarah's first solo album 'Beauty Was A Tiger'
was released back in 2005. Essentially a ballsy rock record, she embraced a very
public persona of "The rock chick" and set about singing fiery rock
anthems to her fans. The hugely successful party song "Private School Kid"
became a radio smash and paved the way for Sarah to undertake a national tour
to support the release. Then came the international dance smash "He Doesn't
Love You". The Hook n Sling remix collaboration that fast became a worldwide
smash hit in the clubs and radio worldwide, leaping to the #1 spot on the ARIA
Club Charts. The single was the highest selling international release for the
Renaissance label that year.
It was at this point that Sarah decided it
was the right time to depart Australia for a journey that needed to happen. So
travel she did. In search of a covenant of gigantic proportions that even she
wasn't completely sure she would find. First stop was Miami. Sarah accepted an
invitation to record with the legendary Jimmy Douglass and cult urban pop guru
ill Factor. The recording sessions were fast and demanded more of this artist
than she could have ever imagined. It was about 2 days into the session when Sarah
first heard words from "The Senator" that motivated her to keep pushing
her limits: "You're really holding your own in here, I haven't seen anyone
write that well on the spot since Jay Z". She moved on from Miami but Sarah
still felt that she had more to say. It was as though a creative Pandora's box
had been opened and she couldn't fight the beast: "I suddenly found myself
writing better material than I ever had. I spent about 14 hours a day working
out of my basement flat in North London refining my songwriting and production
skills. I was the most focused I have ever been in my life. I wrote all the singles
during this period, back to back. Tell your Story walking was the first one I
wrote there."
For this artist it was now her duty to answer the call.
Sarah spent the most of 2008 touring and writing all over the globe. From NYC
to London to Paris, Spain, Italy and even Brussels she would play the clubs and
then go back to her flat and write. "When departing Brussels the customs
official wouldn't let me through. I'm listed as a singer on my visa, so he said
I had to prove it. I launched into a version of "Till There Was You"
by The Beatles, and as I sang I started to think, if I'm going to do this, I might
as well put on a show! So I stood up on a chair, turned to the customs queue and
sang at the top of my lungs. It was so strange but pretty funny, everyone applauded
and I was allowed to go through." Sarah felt a strong calling back to the
underground clubs and began embracing the UK live scene where she had developed
a whole new legion of fans.
Her 2008 UK dance promo release "White
Horse" went UK Official Club Chart #8 and was supported by Radio 1. Once
again Sarah received amazing support from international club DJs and new fans
alike, which packed out her London shows. The success of her recent US release
of "White Horse" was something that could never have been foreseen.
The dance single has enjoyed 19 weeks on the Billboard Dance Airplay chart. With
a HP of #14, Sarah McLeod and Kylie Minogue are the only Australian artists to
achieve this level of success in the history of the Billboard Dance Airplay chart.
Armed with a whole new catalogue of demos, attitude, performance and excitement
for her crusade... Sarah McLeod - poster girl for the hustle - was now ready to
complete her album. The one she truly wanted to make.
ENTER 2009
The
year where Sarah finally met her musical partners in crime in the Questionable
Intent boys from Brooklyn. Known to their families as Free and Jimmy James, Sarah
spent day and night in the Brooklyn studio in a complete creative nirvana. Sarah's
musical risks were paying off and she finally earned her cred as a producer in
her own right. In the city… New York word travels fast and Sarah was soon
asked to produce, write, play guitar and collaborate with the QI boys for hot
new and established artists alike, including Mike Posner, The Game, 3OH!3, Missy
Elliot. Sarah's goal as an artist with her new album is to deliver a classic pop
album with grit. To campaign her belief that pop music doesn't have to be faddish
or sugar coated. Rather that killer electro beats and driving production should
be supported by lyrics that stand for something and universally connect.
Her
regular MySpace posts and Twitters over the past few years have been integral
in the process, as she wanted to engage her fans to feel part of her musical crusade.
It was through the endless supportive messages and mail that Sarah felt driven
to unleash a more honest and musically experimental Sarah. Entertainer. Lyrical
stylist. Sorcerer of a juxtaposition of both empowering electro anthems and Heart
breaking ballads. This girl is hell bent in taking everyone on an electric touring
journey through 2010 that is all about embracing your inner attitude. Getting
dressed up. Pressing play and having a splendid time! This is not just a break
up single ladies and gentleman.. It's a message for everyone. "Tell Your
Story Walking" has many meanings, but most importantly: know that Sarah is
singing it for you.
Her forthcoming album is due out in Australia 2010 through
her own label (Roustabout Records).
'Tell Your Story Walking' is available
now.
