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What I really want, above all else, is for the songs I write to communicate emotional honesty, Sarah Kelly explains. A song is a way to speak, a voice beyond what you can normally say in life. This music gave me voice when I had none, and my prayer is to do the same for others.
This is so much more that just a great sophomore release for Sarah Kelly. Where The Past Meets Today, releasing on Gotee Records this August 15th, is a collection of her most sincere longings, a musing about pushing through lifes hardest battles. The Grammy-nominated Kelly has now risen to the surface of the musical community as a singer-songwriter with determination on this record.
And it is this new level of sincerity that has proven to be the final piece in Sarahs puzzle, a puzzle that has been growing artistically since she learned to play piano at a very young age. When asked, she will tell you her niche on the new album is where Keith Green meets Led Zeppelin-earthy vocals with classic rock moments. As much as these two artists would have nothing in common at first thought, this is a great description of Where The Past Meets Today. It is raw, gritty, determined, and powerful. Her voice soars delicately over grand piano on select tracks (as Green would), and roars in moments where guitar, bass and drums drive songs with heightened energy (as Zeppelin did). The result is dynamic and transforming, and many outside the CCM community have taken notice.
Producer Mike Clink (Guns N Roses) is at the helm of the album, crafting songs with Sarah in the heart of Los Angeles. Janes Addictions Chris Chaney adds instrumentation. Slash even makes an appearance, to round out the all-star cast of players that includes Lincoln Brewster and Nick Lashley (Alanis Morisette). Writers include James Michael (Alanis Morisette, Meatloaf) and Marti Fredrickson.
Its so amazing to be able to work with all of these artists; its like a fantasy. They have been able to push me so far beyond my boundaries musically, and just being in this environment in L.A. has had a huge impact on the songs. I am truly proud of this work; I feel like I have a been a part of a record that is so much larger than just me.
Many of the tracks on Where The Past Meets Today were inspired by some very difficult experiences for Sarah, experiences which she had to confront in the process of creation of these songs. Out of Reach one of the focal tracks, was born out of a live show that ended with an amazing twist.
Sarah was performing with her band at a city festival in the midwest for a mixed audience of college students and young adults in 2005, one year after the release of her debut album Take Me Away. It seemed to be a normal show as she sang her songs, but something was restless inside of her. Then, in the middle of her set she stopped the show. Gripped by heavy emotions, she began to share the story behind this new song. As she spoke she reached down to her journal, which was lying next to her onstage, and ripped a page out of it. Sarah then began to read her most secret, haunting moments to the crowd. It was the first time she would ever acknowledge her abusive past to the public. Not one single person uttered a sound as she continued to tell her story. Moments passed. Her band just stood there in silence, not knowing what to do. When she had finished speaking, she asked the crowd one question: Is there anyone out there who has experienced these things as well?
This is so much more that just a great sophomore release for Sarah Kelly. Where The Past Meets Today, releasing on Gotee Records this August 15th, is a collection of her most sincere longings, a musing about pushing through lifes hardest battles. The Grammy-nominated Kelly has now risen to the surface of the musical community as a singer-songwriter with determination on this record.
And it is this new level of sincerity that has proven to be the final piece in Sarahs puzzle, a puzzle that has been growing artistically since she learned to play piano at a very young age. When asked, she will tell you her niche on the new album is where Keith Green meets Led Zeppelin-earthy vocals with classic rock moments. As much as these two artists would have nothing in common at first thought, this is a great description of Where The Past Meets Today. It is raw, gritty, determined, and powerful. Her voice soars delicately over grand piano on select tracks (as Green would), and roars in moments where guitar, bass and drums drive songs with heightened energy (as Zeppelin did). The result is dynamic and transforming, and many outside the CCM community have taken notice.
Producer Mike Clink (Guns N Roses) is at the helm of the album, crafting songs with Sarah in the heart of Los Angeles. Janes Addictions Chris Chaney adds instrumentation. Slash even makes an appearance, to round out the all-star cast of players that includes Lincoln Brewster and Nick Lashley (Alanis Morisette). Writers include James Michael (Alanis Morisette, Meatloaf) and Marti Fredrickson.
Its so amazing to be able to work with all of these artists; its like a fantasy. They have been able to push me so far beyond my boundaries musically, and just being in this environment in L.A. has had a huge impact on the songs. I am truly proud of this work; I feel like I have a been a part of a record that is so much larger than just me.
Many of the tracks on Where The Past Meets Today were inspired by some very difficult experiences for Sarah, experiences which she had to confront in the process of creation of these songs. Out of Reach one of the focal tracks, was born out of a live show that ended with an amazing twist.
Sarah was performing with her band at a city festival in the midwest for a mixed audience of college students and young adults in 2005, one year after the release of her debut album Take Me Away. It seemed to be a normal show as she sang her songs, but something was restless inside of her. Then, in the middle of her set she stopped the show. Gripped by heavy emotions, she began to share the story behind this new song. As she spoke she reached down to her journal, which was lying next to her onstage, and ripped a page out of it. Sarah then began to read her most secret, haunting moments to the crowd. It was the first time she would ever acknowledge her abusive past to the public. Not one single person uttered a sound as she continued to tell her story. Moments passed. Her band just stood there in silence, not knowing what to do. When she had finished speaking, she asked the crowd one question: Is there anyone out there who has experienced these things as well?
