up & comer: sarah d
This week’s Up & Comer is Sarah D, originally from Adelaide, and now based in LA. If you would like to be featured as an Up & Comer on Lip, email Zoya at [email protected]!
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I am a Polish/Australian, pop/rock artist, born and bred in the humble city of Adelaide. I am currently living in LA, working as a DIY musician (for now!), with a number of great successes! I’ve been singing and dancing since I was nine years old and trained within the best performing arts school in my city at the time. Ironically shy as a child, by the age of 12, I was professionally performing for a number of prestigious events, football teams, functions, competitions and charity events where I gained a lot of knowledge about performing and entertaining an audience. I haven’t been off the stage since!
Tell us a bit about your journey as a musician so far.
My musical journey has been quite the experience! When I was 16, I really decided to take my singing much more seriously than my dancing and started working on vocally becoming a better singer. However, what was missing was the writing and the theoretical elements. Therefore, I decided to attend Musician’s Institute in Hollywood in 2010. I learnt all my basics and began to actually write my own material because I started to realise how important writing was. Since graduating, I collaborated with a producer I knew, Andres Torres and he assisted me with the production and writing of my debut EP, Over You which I released in October with a greatly successful release party!
Additionally, I was blessed enough to have won the 2012 VocalizeU Art Intensive scholarship where I spent a week learning from the best artists, writers and producers in the industry including: Mike Posner, Daniel Bedingfield, Terry Lewis, Ben Folds and more. I also recorded a song which was placed in an independent feature film called Starting From Scratch and recorded with newly signed DJ to Ministry Of Sound, Uberjack’d and renowned writer/producer, Jeff Silbar (Wind Beneath my Wings). It’s definitely been a journey and it continues to have a number of great opportunities unravelling.
Describe your music for a new listener.
My music can be best described as ‘edgy pop’. It contains elements of pop and rock enveloped in dance friendly beats, which are extremely radio friendly and contain a number of grooves. You can compare it to the new sounds of Kelly Clarkson mixed with Jessie J and Maroon 5.
Where would you like to see yourselves (as a musician) in two years time?
In 2 years time, I would really like to have a debut LP written and recorded and be ready to promote the album by going on a debut tour of the US. I know creating, producing and promoting is a lot of work but I believe it’s highly possible. I also hope to have a greatly extended fan base as for me, this is so important. Without your fans you are nothing because no one will be listening.
What’s the best gig you’ve been to recently?
I’ve been to a number of local shows being out here in LA but nothing compares to the greats. I saw Herbie Hancock and many other great musicians as my first Hollywood Bowl experience and it just blew me away!! Herbie is a great musician as well as individual and I love to listen to how he plays.
I also recently saw a GREAT band by the name of Echosmith at the Hard Rock Cafe and all I can say is, people better watch out for these young kids! They’re seriously awesome!
Anything else you’d like to add?
I have a number of links people can check out my works! Feel free to drop me a line and I’ll be sure to write back!
You can check Sarah out via her website, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or ReverbNation.
Image : Dan Collopy
