Sara Masterson
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Music
Press
"Sara Masterson is, simply put, AMAZING!" - Hard Rock Cafe Chicago - Hard Rock Cafe Chicago
http://theindiehandbook.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/sara-masterson/
"I’m listening to Sara Masterson on myspace and loving iiiit. She just released a new EP called Hale Street Sessions, and I’m telling you all that you need to check out her myspace and then buy her E.P. She’s adorable, she’s coffeehouse, she’s acoustic/jazz, her voice is beautiful, and her lyrics are meaningful … so!… you have no reason not to love it. Plus, for those of you in or near Chicago, she’s a local, so check out her show schedule..." - The Indie Handbook
What makes your live show great?
Well, we love rocking out and having fun, so the shows are always a great time. But we also want to give people musical experiences that are meaningful. Not just a great sound, but something that digs in a little deeper and reminds you there is still beauty and hope in this crazy world.
Describe your sound in five words or less.
Rock with a dreamy edge.
Tell us something random about the band, and why that's significant.
Sara is married to one of her bandmates, and the rest of the guys have been best friends for years. When we all teamed up, it really felt like a musical family.
Who would you want to work with, and who would you never work with? Why?
T-Bone Burnett. Definitely want to write a song with him at some point in life! We would never work with anyone who has starred in a reality show. It's just too much.
If the band was a cartoon character, who would it be and why?
Sara could be a nicer version of Daria--pretty, but trying not to fit into mainstream. The guys are definitely Ninja Turtles. They are so fun and smart! They all have or are working towards masters degrees or doctoral degrees.
What's the best album you've heard recently?
Brooke Fraser: "Flags"
What song do you never want to hear again?
No offense, but Lady Gaga. All of her songs are just played too much.
What is Chicago's best music venue and why?
Definitely the Metro or the Vic for seeing live music. We love those intimate venues where you feel like you really get to know the performer.
Sara Masterson
When: 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8
Where: Uncommon Ground, 1214 W. Grace St.
Price: Free; 773-929-3680 - RedEye/Metro Mix Chicago Interview
Brightly illuminated with delicate ballads and folk-inspired dream-pop, We Don’t Belong is an achingly gorgeous, accomplished debut album from Sara Masterson. Softly nestled in Luna/Cowboy Junkies territory, “Comes Of Love” rings with waves of chiming guitar and glinting keyboards, echoing the passionate yearning in her angelic voice. “I Write Your Story” floats on gently cresting keyboards sandwiched between glimmering guitars and softly pounding drums. Masterson’s control of those sorts of contrasts makes We Don’t Belong mesmerizing.
– Patrick Conlan - Illinois Entertainer
She has the kind of “it factor” that will get her compared to such artists as Christina Perri and Ingrid Michaelson, but she has a warm, heartfelt vibe that is uniquely her own. With a reputation for being one of Chicago’s premier music songstresses, Sara has been steadily gaining recognition as a stellar songwriter and poetic lyricist. She crafts catchy pop melodies with startlingly intimate lyrics that are surprising in their depth and yearning. - Music Inform
Sara Materson self-released her latest album, Always Beautiful, this week. The album is, as the title suggests, beautiful from start to finish. There is something refreshing about a traditional singer/songwriter crafting warm and heartfelt songs. There is nothing abstract, experimental, or genre stretching on this album, but sometimes there doesn't need to be. Materson's vocals would standout no matter the backing. - The Deli Chicago
From the first time we heard Sara Masterson’s dream pop sound we knew she was a perfect fit for us at
the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel. From a warm summer night on our Terrace, to
an intimate setting in our Lounge, she’s vibrant! Sara has been a part of the RLife Live activation since
the start, performing at an array of events and we cannot wait to have her back! - RLife Live Renaissance Hotel Brand
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
The album is, as the title suggests, beautiful from start to finish with standout vocals and refreshing, heartfelt songs. (The Deli Magazine)
Sara Masterson is a Chicago-based singer/songwriter and one of the nations top emerging new artists. Her music is achingly gorgeous (Illinois Entertainer) Vibrant! (RLive LIVE Brand). Amazing (HRC Chicago) and Beautiful! (Indie Handbook). She has the kind of it factor that will get her compared to such artists as Christina Perri and Ingrid Michaelson, but she has a warm, heartfelt vibe that is uniquely her own. With a reputation for being one of Chicagos premier music songstresses, Sara has been steadily gaining recognition as a stellar songwriter and poetic lyricist. She crafts catchy pop melodies with startlingly intimate lyrics that are surprising in their depth and yearning.
The Illinois Entertainer coined the phrase folk-inspired dream-pop to describe her sound, calling her an mesmerizing and accomplished young artist. She was chosen by Metromix Chicago as a Chicago artist to know, describing her band as Chicagos dream rockers, and was a featured artist in RedEye Magazine. Sara has been Songwriter-in-Residence at Chicagos renowned Uncommon Ground and chosen several times for the Hard Rock Cafs highly selective Songwriter Showcases. Sara has been a featured artist for the RLIFElive Entertainment brand, performing in top cities throughout the country, including Columbus, NYC, Boston, D.C. and Nashville. Saras music has received attention from radio stations across the country, including UIC radio, the Artistic Freedom Collective Radio, Outside the Loop wluv 88.7, and the Cool Vibes Radio Podcast. Saras songs have also been heard on many different film and media soundtracks through her music licensing deal with Songfreedom. Most recently, Sara has been featured as a Noisetrade New & Notable artist. Sara has two previous releases; an independent EP Hale Street Sessions and her first full-length album called We Dont Belong.
Fresh off of a national touring circuit and a successful Kickstarter campaign, Sara released a brand new EP called Always the Beautiful, on September 3rd, available on iTunes and at Saras store. Produced by David Leonard, (All Sons&Daughters) these six new songs echo like a clear, bright beacon of beauty in a sometimes over-saturated culture of noise. This is a strong new release from the singer, highlighting gorgeous vocals and stories of beauty and struggle. It is shimmering with Nashville production and brims with sincerity and soul. Sara is a new talent whose indie-darling status you should hop on board with now, because she seems poised for a broader audience. With a title like Always the Beautiful, were excited to see what depths of sublimity this young artist will take us to next.
Band Members
Links
