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photo by Christopher Huang
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Seven Days, Vermont’s Independent Voice.
‘First Lady of Song(writers)’ 8/27/10
“Sarah Blacker is an old soul in a modern woman’s body… fans and music scribes up and down the Eastern seaboard swoon to her sultry, emotionally charged music. One crit even mused that Blacker is “the perfect blend of Ella Fitzgerald and Joni Mitchell.” …there are good reasons Blacker inspires fawning hyperbole.”
Jake Sorgen, WERS FM Boston [interview from 'Emerging Artist Series' 7/13/10
"Performing "Smitten" live on Tuesday, Blacker showed off her impressive dynamic range as much as her melodic reach. She moves from a breathy whisper to a commanding presence within one or two verses, and has a warm and full tone to her voice that brings the likes of Joni Mitchell... She picks and strums her black small-body acoustic like a painter personalizing a palette of colors; the individual sounds do not mean as much as the overall atmosphere her songs create."
Wellesley Townsman Front Page Feature
[click here to read the article]
‘Songstress Sarah Blacker on Verge of Stardom’
Jay Miller, The Patriot Ledger
“Blacker’s songs are arresting for their honesty and immediacy, not to mention her skill at turning a phrase, and those gorgeous pop melodies. Blacker’s voice is alto/soprano with an engaging childlike quality, yet she uses it with utter confidence, affecting sweet intimacy in places, strength and resolve in others, and quiet passion in tunes like “Bad I Been.” And her lyrics and unique and compelling; you have to love a line like “days like today are good for nothing but eating dark chocolate …” from “Smell of Caramel.” And the intriguing ambivalence behind “Story Song,” with its chorus “I know that you’re leaving, but still, you take my breath away” is only one reason it evokes the best of Joni Mitchell. In another place, “I Should Speak” is the type of dreamy pop that made stars of Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Maniacs.”
To read the rest of the article, [click here]
The Daily News Transcript:
Stories of the Decade 1/08/10 at 1:11pm, Jay Miller
“… Live music continued to struggle, record stores virtually disappeared, and clubs came and went. But local vets like Chris Pahud, Carla Ryder, Les Sampou, or the Swinging Steaks kept raising goosebumps with their sounds. And new talent like Scituate’s Girls Guns & Glory and Wellesley’s Sarah Blacker made it worth your while to explore the local music scene.”
Ben Tan, WERS FM Boston [interview from 'Live Music Week' 4/13/10
"No matter what form it takes, Blacker's passion for music has accomplished great things, and she and her top-notch band still have big plans."[click here to read entire feature]
Electric City, Scranton, PA
Randy Shemanski
“Her folksy rock sound brings to mind the music of Sarah McLachlan or Joni Mitchell with plenty of smooth, eloquent acoustic guitar and piano stylings.” To read entire article [click here]
The Noise, Boston
“I like Sarah’s disc; she certainly takes you on a ride. I started hearing a Natalie Merchant-type timbre… Another complimentary aside to Sarah’s voice, I might mention Dolores O’Riordan. Sarah has produced a quality work with a great understanding of what it takes to deliver a musical message.”
(Mike Loce)
To read the rest of the article, [click here]
‘The Night is Young,’
Aimsel Ponti, Portland Press Herald, Portland, ME – Jan. 7, 2010
“Singer-songwriter Blacker first flew onto my radar last June when I heard her record, “The Only Way Out Is Through.” I pulled it off the shelf last week and gave it another spin, and guess what? I still love it. Swoon for yourself with four songs at www.sarahblacker.com. “Sandpiper” is my current favorite.” [click here to read article]
‘The Night is Young,’
Aimsel Ponti, Portland Press Herald, Portland, ME – June 4, 2009
“You’ve taken the day off from work and driven for about an hour, hugging the coastline with the windows open. Then you find the sunniest spot and find you’re the only person on the beach. The wind is warm, the gulls dart and dance above and beside you. You close your eyes and smile for a good long time. Such an enchanting experience is what I liken to listening to Sarah Blacker’s debut album, ‘The Only Way Out is Through.’” [read original article]
Candy O’Terry, Magic 106.7, Boston
“I wanted to reach out to you [sb] and let you know…singer to singer…that your voice is absolutely unique…memorable...incredible.”…“I believe she’s a young artist that our listeners should know about, and I love the fact that she’s an artist with a social conscience. She’s a local singer to watch, that’s for sure.”
[Click Here to hear SB's live interview on Magic 106.7 FM]
as part of Candy O’s ‘Exceptional Women’ Feature
Candy O’Terry cont. Wellesley Weston Magazine
“The other girl I have my eye on is from Wellesley: singer/songwriter Sarah Blacker.” [original article]
Ryan’s Smashing Life Music Blog, writer: Nick Parker
‘Getting to Love Sarah Blacker’
“Blacker plays moving folk, often upbeat, always heart-warming. Listening to tracks on her album “The Only Way Out is Through” gives you a sense that you are stealing a chance to hear someone play just for you, before she rises from local star to national act.” [entire article]
Max Bowen, the Noise, Boston
chose Sarah Blacker, as his #1 artist from his ‘Top 10 of ‘09′ List, and said,
“A beautiful singing voice, with lyrics that touch the deepest of emotions”
WMFO 91.5 FM ‘Something About the Women’
“Sarah Blacker, an amazing singer-songwriter whose CD “The Only Way Out is Through” is destined to become an SATW favorite. Listen to SB’s interview [here]
the Fly Magazine, Harrisburg, PA
“While she compares herself in stature to a woodland fairy, Boston singer-songwriter Sarah Blacker employs guitar, mandolin and djembe to create a towering sound. A sunshiney folkster.”
Jeff Appleton, Marathon Entertainment, AAA Radio Promoter
“I receive a lot of music and have to turn down working many things because, while they may very well be wonderful cds, I just don’t feel passionate about them. They aren’t grabbing me. Your music did exactly what I hoped it would do…it grabbed me. I really am enjoying all the music you sent me. I think the songs are very strong, and just as important, with the many many women who release music to this format, your stands out. You do not sound like the many others I get every month. I think your vocals stand out as original and very engaging which is a big plus.”
Laurel Redington, WMVY, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
“Rob gave me your CD and it is fantastic. I really enjoy it and have enoyed it more with each listen, which of course is the sign of a great record! I want to hear you sing in person…you really know how to use your voice. It’s refreshing to be introduced to an artist that thinks outside the box and takes some chances. There are so many females out there that sound THE SAME… I feel a real identity with you.”
[click here] to hear SB live on WMVY
Barbara Dacey, WMVY
“I Should Speak” featured in Best of Unchartered Waters 2009. [click here to read]
‘Sandpiper’ (The Only Way Out is Through) ‘Song of the Day,’ WMVY 2/24/10
Chris Darling ‘Us Folk’ WMPG FM, Portland, ME
“I really like your vocal stylings, you have a powerful, powerful voice…you’re not a very large woman, but you belt it out like Aretha!”
Bob McKillop, mainefolkmusic.com
“Sarah Blacker’s voice is sweet, clear, sharp, and precise, supple, happy, and full of mischief. She sounds like a street-savy urban vocal busker with world-class voice training.
Mainers will hear a bit of local songstress Emilia Dahlin in her phrasing and timbre. Her record, “The Only Way Out is Through,” is full of great songs, built on rhythm, beat, and groove, with stories of people who are on the cusp of change, or who are in need of it. Sarah is lyrically very direct; she tells it like it is, but the love she has for people, and for the world, come through loud and clear. She plays very nicely executed fingerstyle guitar parts on most of the tracks, and the arrangements instrumentation are unique and surprising. But the focus is on her beautiful voice, as it should be. Sarah carries the promise of a bit of trouble, or at least excitement, in her voice; there is mischief and fun to be had when listening to these songs. I loved “Smell of Caramel” for it’s reggae beat, which made me want to get up and dance, but my favorite on the record is “Bad I Been”, a confession of irresponsibility, which is really an irrepressible love of life in the moment. I totally enjoyed the album, and can strongly recommend it to anyone looking for some great music and lots of fun!”
Ron Bowen, WXRV 92.5 The River, Boston’s Independent Radio
“The perfect blend of Ella Fitzgerald and Joni Mitchell.”
Gwyn McAllister, The Martha’s Vineyard Times
“Between songs, Ms. Blacker charmed the crowd with short intros and a little repartee with the audience. Her naturalness, sense of humor, and easy laugh gave the evening the feel of hanging out with a few close friends.”
[click here to read the entire article]
MV Times 5/27/10: “on the forefront of the folk rock circuit,” and called the music, a “pleasing mix of jazzy folk rock delivered in a voice that’s been called “a cross between Joni Mitchell and Ella Fitzgerald.””
MV Gazette : “smoky -voiced Sarah Blacker,” and “Joni-Mitchell-esque songstress.”
Macon Telegraph, Macon, GA
“Sarah Blacker, of Boston, has a fresh, crisp sound distinctive from the sea of a-girl-and-her-guitar acts. Blacker comes in a diminutive package but her skills on guitar, mandolin and djembe are anything but small. According to Blacker’s Web site, her entrance into the touring world of a musician came from her work in music therapy. Blacker specialized in working with autistic children. As if by divine intervention, her position at Boston Medical Center was cut due to financial strains, allowing her to hit the road to promote her first album, “The Only Way Out is Through,” which was released October of 2009. Get a fresh perspective Tuesday at Golden Bough Bookstore.”
Encore Pub, Wilmington, NC
“A prolific songwriter with a unique jazzy/folk-rock style.”
Star News, Wilmington, NC
John Staton
“Alanis inspired folk-rock.”
Carmelita, hostess of WAAF 107.3/97.7’s ‘Baystate Rock’
“A very, very gifted singer/songwriter.”
[click here to listen to SB on WAAF]
Anna Maria Tocci, Owner/Booking North Star music Café, Portland, ME
“Sarah Blacker is a bright light. Her performance is a wonderful combination of her varied musical talents and brilliant personality. She invites the audience in and treats them to an intimate musical connection.”
The Skinny Pancake, Burlington, VT
8/28/10 “…who can channel Joni Mitchell’s worldly wisdom and boldness? Tonight’s act, Sarah Blacker, gets pretty close in those respects. A beautiful, full voice with Joni’s occasional clear staccato, Blacker’s songs are all her own folk-rock combination with a poise and playfulness akin to beloved folk ladies of the past. Don’t miss this talented up and comer tonight … at The Skinny!”
10/09 ”We are thrilled to host this rising star’s CD release party.. Obscurely folkish, innately jazzish, all talent singer-songwriter. Sarah combines her signature voice with original, organic, guitar picking to deliver a diverse range of music that goes beyond the genre of singer songwriter.”
Fellini’s #9, Charlottesville, VA
“An event not to be missed!”
mainetoday.com
“There is a grace in Sarah’s laid-back, soulful flare and a great energy that really comes through in the slight turning of a phrase or a small change in vocal color that speaks volumes.”
MusicFest Committee, Dedham, MA
“A consummate professional and a crowd favorite!”
New England Open Mic Night, Monthly Spotlight/Dedham Times Interview, Dedham, MA
“Although Sarah still performs at area open mic nights on occasion She transisted from the open mic scene to paid gigs and is a favored Artist for select venues.” [read original article]
WRUV FM, Album Review ‘TOWOIT‘
“Very good folk singer and band. This album contains both cheery and melancholy indie folk rock.” [click here to read review]
Sarah Blacker: A Shining Light in the Local Music Scene
Kerry Cardoza, SouthCoast247.com
“Sarah Blacker isn’t just another girl with a guitar…” [read more]
Interview with Associated Content, the People’s Media Company
Sara Martin
[read more]
STONE SOUP COFFEEHOUSE
Bob Blue (BobBlue.org)
“Sarah Blacker, a singer/songwriter, performed in my living room on November 19. I try not to overuse superlatives, but she made it difficult
ADELINE’s CHRONICLES CRNI.net (internet radio)
“Oh my god! That is beautiful! I’m telling you, we might have a grammy winner in here. She’s got a lot of charisma, she’s gonna go places! This is fame right up here.” ~Tim Mello, producer of Adeline’s Chronicles, CRNI.net
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
The Valley Voice, Portland, ME
Concrete Circles, Richmond, VA
Indie Arts Blog, Providence, RI
and many more…
