From:
Robin Merritt Publisher
ArtFRONT Artists' Presentations
 (423) 756-4827

www.ArtFRONT.com

 

Sarah Siskind

Performance on Saturday, May 24th

 8pm @ Barking Legs Theater

www.Myspace.com/sarahsiskind   www.myspace.com/oldblackkettle    www.SarahSiskind.com

 

In searching for the top notch talent that is available to come to Chattanooga to play and appear on WUTC radio there has not been many who have reached the top notch professional level of Sarah Siskind.  Apart from having her songs recorded by Alison Krause, having Bill  Frisell play guitar on her early solo recordings and working behind the scenes as one of the most intense creative presences in Nashville’s music scene, Sarah records and performs with others in the Nashville underground talent pool that gives real substance to the bigger industry and props it up with genuine artistic integrity.

Perhaps the only thing keeping Sarah Siskind from legendary status so far is her relative youth  (Sarah has been recording since she was 14,) and her behind the scenes, artistically focused approach rather than the flashy commercial style Nashville is known for.

Sarah Siskind is one of the foremost talents in the current Americana Movement, with genuine North Carolina Appalachian roots ingrained into her ultra sophisticated musical abilities.   Think if Joni Mitchell had been born in the rural southeast and had grown up with all the musical influences of the latter part of the 20th Century. Mix these influences with some of the most heart gripping vocals and harmonies with her collaborators such as Julie Lee then drop her into the professional arena of the Nashville recording industry.  But no one in the industry managed to muffle her highly creative, non-standard approach to writing haunting memorable songs the way the triple-A industry often does.  This is what makes Sarah Shine above most every other performer who has come our way recently.  Not to mention this is probably the best demo E.P. anyone has given me so far.

Sarah Siskind has several live music projects including the large Americana ensemble “Old Black Kettle” Her own indie rock style band and her duo team who will be performing at Barking Legs in Chattanooga on May 24th.

Every song on this disk is radio material with tracks #1., 6. &  8 being particularly  stunning.

 

Track

#1. Simple Love   (recorded by Allison Krause)

#2  Do You Love An Apple  ( traditional from “Covered,”)

#3  Knowing Only What I Know (from “Covered”)

#4 Lovin's for Fools (from “Studio Living Room”)

#5 Don't Put Your Horse Away (from “Studio Living Room”)

#6. Pine Tree  (Old Black Kettle live)

#7. Wildfire (Old Black Kettle live)

#8. Long Dark Road (Old Black Kettle live)

 

 ~R.

The Tennessean wrote “The independently released project “Covered” by Sarah Siskind exudes intelligent, emotional atmosphere and moody electricity. Indeed, it is one of the finest albums of any genre to emerge from Nashville this year."

 

From Sarah Siskind’s CD Baby Review:

Sarah Siskind grew up in a family of musicians. She recalls hearing endless genres of music piping through her parents’ record player in her North Carolina home; Bluegrass, Celtic, Appalachian, Gospel, Classical. It had a strong influence on her and at age 4, Sarah was singing and playing piano, and was writing songs at 11. By the time Sarah was 14, she released her first full-length album called Horizon Cries and went on to win numerous state-wide songwriting contests and appear alongside other North Carolina acts such as Doc Watson and Maya Angelou. The next project followed at 17, and after a brief move to Seattle, WA, Sarah settled in Nashville, TN and released her third CD at age 21.

After only a short while in Nashville, Sarah made a name for herself as one of the “most innovative voices on the outskirts of Americana” (Nashville Rage) and her forth project which was released in 2001 garnered wide acclaim, featuring one of the worlds highest respected guitarists, Bill Frisell. The Tennessean wrote “The independently released project (Covered) exudes intelligent, emotional atmosphere and moody electricity. Indeed, it is one of the finest albums of any genre to emerge from Nashville this year, and a genuine contribution to the singer/songwriter canon, thanks to its startling originality.” Performing Songwriter called it “utterly captivating.”

Sarah also began to establish herself as a riveting songwriter as well as a unique singer and artist. Tim O’Brien stated that "It's rare to hear anyone with such a strong vision" while Ron Sexsmith said that “Sarah has beautiful songs that resonate.” In 2004, Alison Krauss and Union Station solidified this when they recorded her song “Goodbye Is All We Have” on their CD Lonely Runs Both Ways and released it as a single in July of 2005. In January of 2006, Sarah inked a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog Music in Nashville, which is home to other acclaimed songwriters such as Mindy Smith, John Scott Sherrill, Shawn Camp and more.

In 2007, Alison Krauss recorded Sarah's song "Simple Love" on her new CD "A Hundred Miles or More", which is nominated for a Grammy for "Best Female Country Performance."