SARAH MCLEOD INTERVIEW
Sarah Mcleod wrote and record her debut solo album - Beauty Was A Tiger, in 2005, which marked the beginning of a new energy in her sound. She founded a new band and stepped out with a new groove. Beauty Was A Tiger (co-produced by ARIA award winner Matt Lovell & Chris Peters of Electric Six) scored nationwide radio play and major media support for its releases including Private School Kid, the heartbreakingly beautiful All But Gone, and the ARIA chart topping He Doesn’t Love You. National tours with sold out shows proved she was on the right track.
Soon after came the invite to perform at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. Sarah decided to strip back the set to a solo acoustic format and finally show a different, raw side of herself musically. The result was sheer brilliance... and caught the ears of legendary Jimmy Douglass.
Upon returning to Australia Sarah’s final single from Beauty Was A Tiger, He Doesn’t Love You, started to breathe a whole new life of its own. The commanding vocals on the track caught the attention of hot Sydney DJ / Producer, Hook n Sling. The result was a remix that fast became a smash hit in the clubs and radio and leapt to the 1 spot on the ARIA Charts. Signed to Renaissance UK, the Hook n Sling mixes of He Doesn’t Love You are the highest selling release for the label for 2006-2007.
Enter 2007. Sarah took time out to build a studio for her record label and commenced writing her heart out. It was a special time musically. And it was Grammy Award winner, Jimmy Douglass (Duran Duran, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Missy Elliot), that heard the tracks first. Jimmy took Sarah under his wing and had kept in touch with Sarah since they met. After hearing her new songs, he knew he had to get her into his studio in Miami to record her 2nd solo album. An extraordinary life changing experience awaited.
But first, Sarah had different shoes to fill – she was asked to host the music show Coca-Cola Live ’N’ Local. Sarah hit the other side of the microphone giving national audiences an up close and personal view of an artist talking with other artists. It was due to Sarah’s natural affinity with other musicians that catapulted Coca Cola Live ’N’ Local being voted as the 1 music show on Australian television.
In mid 2007, Sarah jetted off across the globe to Jimmy Douglass’ studio in Miami, The Spot, where they were joined by Grammy nominee, cult hip hop guru ill Factor (Roisin Murphy, Ginuwine, MatisYahu). Ill Factor and Sarah discovered they had a unique musical chemistry, and ill was instrumental in nurturing and drawing out an untapped side to Sarah’s compositions. Currently finishing up the mixes, the record is said to have her distinctive gutsy pop rock vibe mixed with the genius overtones of Jimmy’s globally respected production techniques and iLL’s edgy driving beats and is no doubt her finest work to date.
"We knew we were on the right track when everyone’s head would not stop rocking to the music!" ill Factor and Jimmy Douglass.
"I am so proud of this record. The experience was an extraordinary journey with these incredibly creative people who took me into their little family. I feel so completely humbled and grateful to have been given the opportunity" Sarah McLeod.
Watch Sarah’s Live session here
Sarah’s Artist Profile hereCheck out Jimmy Douglass (Sarah’s Top producer) discography credits here.
FEATURED ARTIST
The King Blues
The King Blues are one of the UK punk underground’s best loved bands, and they’re now primed for an assault on the wider world having signed to new label Field Recordings.
Their first break came in early 2006 when a demo of ‘Mr. Music Man’ made it into the hands of Mike Davies of Radio 1’s The Lock Up, who gave the band repeated plays. Support from Zane Lowe soon followed and The King Blues grabbed the attention of the UK’s biggest punk label, Household Name, who signed the band and released their debut ‘Under The Fog’ – recorded in their living room in the space of four days during June 2006.