Sarah Beatty

2012 Candy - October

Comments: Sarah described her music to Beehive Candy as 'live from the floor with her own added harmonies'. The featured song's harmonies remind me a little of Sweden's female duo First Aid Kit, a positive thing by any standard. Sarah tells stories and drives the songs with some funky acoustic guitar play. Excellent debut in our opinion.
Listen: To Be (player only) Web: Official HERE. - Beehive Candy

If you like your singer-songwriters to feature vocal harmonies and an emphasis on melody, then I may have something for you. Sarah Beatty is a native of Parry Sound, now residing in Hamilton. She recently released her debut album Black Gramophone.

Often I find that singer-songwriters, to put it bluntly, don't know when to shut up. They sing on and on in a monotonous tone with ham-fisted 'poetic' lyrics. Fortunately, Beatty proves to be an exception (much like Toronto's Shawn Clarke). She keeps her songs tight, ensuring they don't wear out their welcome.


The highlight of the album is the vocal work of Beatty. From the sweet harmonizing she does (with herself) on the opener "To Be", it is hard not to be charmed by the honest emotion that comes through in her singing. Her delivery on "What Do We Say", for example, is so intimate and vulnerable that you swear she was singing to herself in her living room.

Beatty keeps the arrangements interesting as well. They range from the bluesy strum of "Finer Things" to the chugga chugga train ride "Oil In the Ground", to the surprisingly groovy "The Mighty Molecule".

Lyrically, Beatty rarely approaches a subject from the obvious angle. Instead she tackles well-trodden grounds with a combination of humour and cute imagery that makes songs like "Hard Hearted Love (Right Next To Me)" stand out from a crowded pack.

Black Gramophone isn't perfect. "Dark Days" and "Close To Me" are a tad pedestrian. All in all though, this is a fine debut record, and one more singer-songwriters should use as a model for their own works.

Best tracks: "The Mighty Molecule", "Hard Hearted Love (Right Next To Me)"

Track listing for Black Gramophone:
To Be
Finer Things
The Mighty Molecule
Refrain
What Do We Say
Cans In The Sink
Hard Hearted Love (Right Next To Me)
Oil In the Ground
Dark Days
The Right Shoes
Close To Me
Autumn's Song

7.5/10 - Snob's Music

Aired August 5, 2012. Interview and CD plays with host, Deirdre Mallahe on Musically Yours. - Musically Yours with Deirdre Mallahe

Aired August 5, 2012. Interview and CD plays with host, Deirdre Mallahe on Musically Yours. - Musically Yours with Deirdre Mallahe

First Play Thursdays.

Live on-air performances of:
- What Do We Say
- The Right Shoes - Indi 101.5 - Andrew Bell

First Play Thursdays.

Live on-air performances of:
- What Do We Say
- The Right Shoes - Indi 101.5 - Andrew Bell

Go Programming > Lullabies in Razorland > May 25th download link > Segment starts @ 2:15:00

Live on-air performance of Autumn's Song, Gary White plays lead guitar - CFMU - Ric Taylor

Go Programming > Lullabies in Razorland > May 25th download link > Segment starts @ 2:15:00

Live on-air performance of Autumn's Song, Gary White plays lead guitar - CFMU - Ric Taylor

The sun is glinting off the water at Pier 4 park. Sarah Beatty and I are perched on the breakwater rocks, our feet dangling just above the gentle swells.Two swans wait silently for a handout: we have nothing, so they move along. A fishing boat purrs by, father and son casting in opposite directions, mom in the middle with a sun hat and a magazine. The park hums with life: roller-bladers, frisbee-tossers, sunbathers and dog-walkers. The day is perfect--simple, warm, and joyful. The same could be said for Sarah's new album, Black Gramophone, a collection of 12 beautiful original songs that feature her voice and her acoustic guitar.


She's doubly glad to be here talking about the album and the creative process: she's excited to share her first solo project with the world, but she's also glad to be taking a break from preparing for an upcoming soil science conference in Banff. Sarah's a busy woman these days, but her calm, relaxed demeanour makes it all seem effortless.

When’s the big conference?

June 10 to 15—it’s very soon. It’s exciting, because some of the leaders in the field are going to be there, and Banff’s a nice spot. It’s a little nerve-wracking presenting your work to a knowledgeable public. I feel a little like I’m on trial.

Do you feel the same way about the music, with the new album coming out?

Sort of; that’s more my neuroses coming out than anything else, though. I feel more like my music is a baby that I’m sending out into the world, and it’s going to experience all the things that are in the world: some great joy, and some challenge and criticism.

How long have you been working on this CD? Is this a lifelong project, or something new?

It’s not my first CD ever, but it’s my first solo project, where I’m doing everything, making all the decisions. I started writing songs a long time ago, but I never saw myself as a songwriter; I wasn’t really even aware of what that title meant. I moved to St. Catharines and was playing my songs, but the title “Songwriter,” the classification, was alien to me. Similarly, it took me a long time to call myself a soil scientist. It was just something that I did, not how I identified myself. But eventually I started studying the craft and language of songwriting, and looked at the job description, and decided “yeah, I’m one of those.” I resisted classifications, but they are a good way to communicate something about yourself to other people very quickly. So, I guess you could say that it’s been a lifelong project in accepting that I am a songwriter, but the actual CD came together fairly quickly once I was in the studio. I recorded two of the tracks in November, 2011 and the rest of the album was recorded mid-March, 2012.

In terms of these songs, ten of the twelve songs on this recording were written in the last two years. The other two are older, but they stayed around. One was written in 2004, the other in 2007 or 2008, but I hadn’t recorded them, and I still loved them, so here they are.

Did you consider singles or an EP? A full album is an ambitious undertaking in this fragmented digital market.


I considered a lot of things. I considered an EP. I also considered having a full band, a range of options. When it came down to deciding though, I thought about what I wanted to say with this record. My previous projects were very collaborative, built in a group environment. When it was just me, I had to ask “What do I want to say? And what’s going to achieve that?” Well, if I’m defining myself as a songwriter, I have to have songs. That was priority number one. And out of that, I decided to just go for it. There are advantages to doing an EP, but I made the decision to do a full length record because I had the material, it’s what I wanted, and I thought it was achievable.


Did you have to resist the urge to add? Black Gramophone has a very exposed sound—just your hands, your voice, nothing to hide behind, nothing to distract.

Yes, and als - Hundred Mile Microphone

The sun is glinting off the water at Pier 4 park. Sarah Beatty and I are perched on the breakwater rocks, our feet dangling just above the gentle swells.Two swans wait silently for a handout: we have nothing, so they move along. A fishing boat purrs by, father and son casting in opposite directions, mom in the middle with a sun hat and a magazine. The park hums with life: roller-bladers, frisbee-tossers, sunbathers and dog-walkers. The day is perfect--simple, warm, and joyful. The same could be said for Sarah's new album, Black Gramophone, a collection of 12 beautiful original songs that feature her voice and her acoustic guitar.


She's doubly glad to be here talking about the album and the creative process: she's excited to share her first solo project with the world, but she's also glad to be taking a break from preparing for an upcoming soil science conference in Banff. Sarah's a busy woman these days, but her calm, relaxed demeanour makes it all seem effortless.

When’s the big conference?

June 10 to 15—it’s very soon. It’s exciting, because some of the leaders in the field are going to be there, and Banff’s a nice spot. It’s a little nerve-wracking presenting your work to a knowledgeable public. I feel a little like I’m on trial.

Do you feel the same way about the music, with the new album coming out?

Sort of; that’s more my neuroses coming out than anything else, though. I feel more like my music is a baby that I’m sending out into the world, and it’s going to experience all the things that are in the world: some great joy, and some challenge and criticism.

How long have you been working on this CD? Is this a lifelong project, or something new?

It’s not my first CD ever, but it’s my first solo project, where I’m doing everything, making all the decisions. I started writing songs a long time ago, but I never saw myself as a songwriter; I wasn’t really even aware of what that title meant. I moved to St. Catharines and was playing my songs, but the title “Songwriter,” the classification, was alien to me. Similarly, it took me a long time to call myself a soil scientist. It was just something that I did, not how I identified myself. But eventually I started studying the craft and language of songwriting, and looked at the job description, and decided “yeah, I’m one of those.” I resisted classifications, but they are a good way to communicate something about yourself to other people very quickly. So, I guess you could say that it’s been a lifelong project in accepting that I am a songwriter, but the actual CD came together fairly quickly once I was in the studio. I recorded two of the tracks in November, 2011 and the rest of the album was recorded mid-March, 2012.

In terms of these songs, ten of the twelve songs on this recording were written in the last two years. The other two are older, but they stayed around. One was written in 2004, the other in 2007 or 2008, but I hadn’t recorded them, and I still loved them, so here they are.

Did you consider singles or an EP? A full album is an ambitious undertaking in this fragmented digital market.


I considered a lot of things. I considered an EP. I also considered having a full band, a range of options. When it came down to deciding though, I thought about what I wanted to say with this record. My previous projects were very collaborative, built in a group environment. When it was just me, I had to ask “What do I want to say? And what’s going to achieve that?” Well, if I’m defining myself as a songwriter, I have to have songs. That was priority number one. And out of that, I decided to just go for it. There are advantages to doing an EP, but I made the decision to do a full length record because I had the material, it’s what I wanted, and I thought it was achievable.


Did you have to resist the urge to add? Black Gramophone has a very exposed sound—just your hands, your voice, nothing to hide behind, nothing to distract.

Yes, and als - Hundred Mile Microphone

"Local singer/songwriter Sarah Beatty's new CD, Black Gramophone, is a spectacular mix of old fashioned folk/country blues with modern touches.

You can tell that this disc was recorded live off the floor. There's an acoustic, warm, organic feel as you hear Sarah's expressive voice and her great guitar work.

Actually, the CD is basically a solo showcase for the lady's talent with only Gary White brandishing his guitar for the final track.

This new collection will be available May 24, 2012. It can be purchased or downloaded at her web site. You may also pick it up at any of her upcoming live shows." - Hamilton Blues Lovers

"Local singer/songwriter Sarah Beatty's new CD, Black Gramophone, is a spectacular mix of old fashioned folk/country blues with modern touches.

You can tell that this disc was recorded live off the floor. There's an acoustic, warm, organic feel as you hear Sarah's expressive voice and her great guitar work.

Actually, the CD is basically a solo showcase for the lady's talent with only Gary White brandishing his guitar for the final track.

This new collection will be available May 24, 2012. It can be purchased or downloaded at her web site. You may also pick it up at any of her upcoming live shows." - Hamilton Blues Lovers

Sarah Beatty is comfortable behind a microphone and in front of an audience, although she says she has performed as a soloist only twice. Her experience in front of an audience includes about 200 gigs with a band. Her relaxed mood didn't dull her wit nor her musical impact. "Glad you're all here, getting folked up in Hammertown," she began, followed by a quick shout out to her fan who had travelled from Fort MacMurray to see her. Now that's dedication!

Doctoral studies in environmental studies at McMaster have brought Sarah to Hamilton. Music and songwriting will be a big part of her life going forward, although her academic pursuits will still exert some influence. When asked about her ties to Hamilton, she was very forthcoming:

I've been here for 2.5 years now, but I feel like I'm still discovering this city – which is great for the adventure. It's not a city that instantly reveals itself and requires a bit of inquiry, but really unique and wonderful things reside in its tucked-away places. E.G. Indi 101.5 is a great station – Had a great conversation with Andrew and Les, they were very helpful, The Pearl Company, The Artword Artbar, the Farmers Market & Library, Cootes Paradise, the Bruce Trail, Art Crawl, Ottawa Street fabric and antique shops, and most recently discovered - custard tarts from Ola on James St. North.

On Hamilton musicians:

I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of musicians in Hamilton, but I've received nothing but love from the McKenna brothers (Joel and Ryan), Alfie Smith and Nicole Christian, Gary White, Shawn Brush, Kim Koren, the Hamilton Folk Club and Guitar Geek communities, and some other people whose names I've since forgotten. I met most of these folks at open mic nights. I've always loved open mic nights because I feel like that's really where musicians have a chance to interact. Whether you're an ace or just starting out, open mics level the playing field for everyone and can generate surprise moments that can't happen in a more decided setting. That being said, finding an open mic with inexpensive beer has been a challenge for me. If you know of any…. Please do let me know!

As far as her music goes, she covered many bases of style and substance, from the lightweight and whimsical The Mighty Molecule, a song which cleverly compares human relationships to mysterious, serendipitous atomic forces to a number of more deeply felt and beautiful melodies. With lyrics like, "You can steal my thunder, but I can steal your rain," Beatty gets you thinking. She keeps her melodies simple and beautiful. Her voice is confident, uplifting and controlled. It's easy and good to sing along. Her music is a perfect match for this room and this time.

I'm not an optimist, but I do believe in dreams.


- Greater Hamilton Musician

Sarah Beatty is comfortable behind a microphone and in front of an audience, although she says she has performed as a soloist only twice. Her experience in front of an audience includes about 200 gigs with a band. Her relaxed mood didn't dull her wit nor her musical impact. "Glad you're all here, getting folked up in Hammertown," she began, followed by a quick shout out to her fan who had travelled from Fort MacMurray to see her. Now that's dedication!

Doctoral studies in environmental studies at McMaster have brought Sarah to Hamilton. Music and songwriting will be a big part of her life going forward, although her academic pursuits will still exert some influence. When asked about her ties to Hamilton, she was very forthcoming:

I've been here for 2.5 years now, but I feel like I'm still discovering this city – which is great for the adventure. It's not a city that instantly reveals itself and requires a bit of inquiry, but really unique and wonderful things reside in its tucked-away places. E.G. Indi 101.5 is a great station – Had a great conversation with Andrew and Les, they were very helpful, The Pearl Company, The Artword Artbar, the Farmers Market & Library, Cootes Paradise, the Bruce Trail, Art Crawl, Ottawa Street fabric and antique shops, and most recently discovered - custard tarts from Ola on James St. North.

On Hamilton musicians:

I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of musicians in Hamilton, but I've received nothing but love from the McKenna brothers (Joel and Ryan), Alfie Smith and Nicole Christian, Gary White, Shawn Brush, Kim Koren, the Hamilton Folk Club and Guitar Geek communities, and some other people whose names I've since forgotten. I met most of these folks at open mic nights. I've always loved open mic nights because I feel like that's really where musicians have a chance to interact. Whether you're an ace or just starting out, open mics level the playing field for everyone and can generate surprise moments that can't happen in a more decided setting. That being said, finding an open mic with inexpensive beer has been a challenge for me. If you know of any…. Please do let me know!

As far as her music goes, she covered many bases of style and substance, from the lightweight and whimsical The Mighty Molecule, a song which cleverly compares human relationships to mysterious, serendipitous atomic forces to a number of more deeply felt and beautiful melodies. With lyrics like, "You can steal my thunder, but I can steal your rain," Beatty gets you thinking. She keeps her melodies simple and beautiful. Her voice is confident, uplifting and controlled. It's easy and good to sing along. Her music is a perfect match for this room and this time.

I'm not an optimist, but I do believe in dreams.


- Greater Hamilton Musician

Sarah Beatty's Black Gramophone
McMaster University has helped attract a wealth of musicians to the area but few that might be dubbed singing scientists. For Sarah Beatty, the pursuits of music and science are inextricable in her life and while she's been focusing on getting her Masters and now PhD in soil physics and hydrogeology at McMaster, she's also been wood shedding her original music over the last few years. This week, Sarah Beatty offers her debut CD, Black Grammophone.
“Life, science, and my musical pursuits – for me, they’re all kind of inseparable,” notes Beatty. “I love learning and I love being creative. School happens to be one forum where I can do those things and music happens to be another. Hamilton is one of the most creative places I’ve lived – if not the most. When I moved to Hamilton, my approach to song writing changed and so did my sense of who I was as a musician; it made me a better songwriter. It made me think about how good songwriters become good. I saw too, how many good acts and technical folks were making really cool, original music here; they inspired me to make my own creative contribution.”
Recorded live off the floor for a very intimate and sparse performance, Black Gramophone features a snapshot of the singer and songwriter with a focus on just her voice and guitar. The song is given full focus and Beatty's roots in roots music shine brightly.
"I like all kinds of music, but I am probably most moved by roots music,’ explains Beatty. “Blues, folk, and old jazz has so much emotion in it. I think it just has to do with the expression of simple, yet profound truths. Generally too, I hear emotion in roots singers more than I hear it in other forms. Technical prowess is one thing, conveyance of the soul or human condition is another.
“I think a lot about how life is complex, complicated, and not always easy to figure out. So, that comes out in my song writing,” adds Beatty on her lyrical content. “I also like to sing about characters – real and imagined. Strength, struggle, nature, sexuality, relationships, and complexity are themes that keep me most preoccupied. I make music because it’s just part of my make-up. I want others to enjoy the creation. I play music live and record it for others, because my music isn’t just about me. If I can make a person’s day even just slightly brighter with my music, well, that’s where it’s at.”
Beatty's music evokes a passion of old and her penchant for the music of another era seemed to inspire the name and artwork chosen for this special release. A gramophone itself harkens back to the way music was recorded and shared a century ago (later called record turntables) and the name itself offers a glimpse into the music and mindset of Beatty.
"The title and artwork came to me somewhat randomly/organically,” offers Beatty on the Black Gramophone name. “I don’t recall the particular circumstances, but it just kind of made intuitive sense. After that, the idea expanded and I saw the artwork in my head, and how it represented visually, what I was trying to communicate with my music. My music is old, and new, natural, and made with my hands."
With her official debut complete, Beatty offers a release party in her adopted hometown with hopes of taking those songs to a newer regional and national level. Rest assured, while Beatty has spent years meticulously crafting her art in private, her creative muse, in music and science, will now be much more in the spotlight.
“I see this CD as part of a musical body of work that I plan to develop over my career,” says Beatty. “I also want to develop a body of work within my field of science research. Right now, I feel like it’s possible to do both things. How I manage to balance those two things will probably be a bit challenging at times, but my head and my heart are very connected, and operating in two different fields benefits both. Knowing very little of his life in whole, if I had a - View Magazine

Sarah Beatty's Black Gramophone
McMaster University has helped attract a wealth of musicians to the area but few that might be dubbed singing scientists. For Sarah Beatty, the pursuits of music and science are inextricable in her life and while she's been focusing on getting her Masters and now PhD in soil physics and hydrogeology at McMaster, she's also been wood shedding her original music over the last few years. This week, Sarah Beatty offers her debut CD, Black Grammophone.
“Life, science, and my musical pursuits – for me, they’re all kind of inseparable,” notes Beatty. “I love learning and I love being creative. School happens to be one forum where I can do those things and music happens to be another. Hamilton is one of the most creative places I’ve lived – if not the most. When I moved to Hamilton, my approach to song writing changed and so did my sense of who I was as a musician; it made me a better songwriter. It made me think about how good songwriters become good. I saw too, how many good acts and technical folks were making really cool, original music here; they inspired me to make my own creative contribution.”
Recorded live off the floor for a very intimate and sparse performance, Black Gramophone features a snapshot of the singer and songwriter with a focus on just her voice and guitar. The song is given full focus and Beatty's roots in roots music shine brightly.
"I like all kinds of music, but I am probably most moved by roots music,’ explains Beatty. “Blues, folk, and old jazz has so much emotion in it. I think it just has to do with the expression of simple, yet profound truths. Generally too, I hear emotion in roots singers more than I hear it in other forms. Technical prowess is one thing, conveyance of the soul or human condition is another.
“I think a lot about how life is complex, complicated, and not always easy to figure out. So, that comes out in my song writing,” adds Beatty on her lyrical content. “I also like to sing about characters – real and imagined. Strength, struggle, nature, sexuality, relationships, and complexity are themes that keep me most preoccupied. I make music because it’s just part of my make-up. I want others to enjoy the creation. I play music live and record it for others, because my music isn’t just about me. If I can make a person’s day even just slightly brighter with my music, well, that’s where it’s at.”
Beatty's music evokes a passion of old and her penchant for the music of another era seemed to inspire the name and artwork chosen for this special release. A gramophone itself harkens back to the way music was recorded and shared a century ago (later called record turntables) and the name itself offers a glimpse into the music and mindset of Beatty.
"The title and artwork came to me somewhat randomly/organically,” offers Beatty on the Black Gramophone name. “I don’t recall the particular circumstances, but it just kind of made intuitive sense. After that, the idea expanded and I saw the artwork in my head, and how it represented visually, what I was trying to communicate with my music. My music is old, and new, natural, and made with my hands."
With her official debut complete, Beatty offers a release party in her adopted hometown with hopes of taking those songs to a newer regional and national level. Rest assured, while Beatty has spent years meticulously crafting her art in private, her creative muse, in music and science, will now be much more in the spotlight.
“I see this CD as part of a musical body of work that I plan to develop over my career,” says Beatty. “I also want to develop a body of work within my field of science research. Right now, I feel like it’s possible to do both things. How I manage to balance those two things will probably be a bit challenging at times, but my head and my heart are very connected, and operating in two different fields benefits both. Knowing very little of his life in whole, if I had a - View Magazine

On air performance and brief interview - Breakfast Television (Calgary)

On air performance and brief interview - Breakfast Television (Calgary)

I love that Sarah Beatty's Twitter bio reads "Music and science. Science and music". I completely get that. Being a recovering neuroscience nerd, I find nothing odd about having two loves in two seemingly opposite universes.

I've been listening to Sarah Beatty's debut album, Black Gramophone, lately, and if it weren't for me bamboozling my schedule, I would have headed down to Mikey's Juke Joint this weekend to catch her set with Ralph Boyd Johnson.

Black Gramophone is a sweetly acoustic offering. Beatty's got this great blues sensibility, with a little jazz twist thrown in for good measure. Songs like Finer Things, which had a real olde time blues feel, and The Right Shoes, that conjures up a Billie Holiday meets Feist vibe, really showcase her impressive voice.

I would have liked a bit more instrumentation on the album, to compliment the guitar strumming. The final track, Autumn's Song, does feature a lovely electric guitar that cries oh so sweetly. Its addition truly enhances the mood of the song and I would have loved to hear more. Conversely a completely a capella album would have been very powerful and would have been a really bold move to showcase Beatty's voice.

Black Gramophoneis a really fine first album, and Sarah Beatty can be proud of her efforts. She's currently on tour, making her initial foray into the wild west, so look for her to swing through your town. Definitely go to her show.

sarahbeatty.ca - No Depression

I love that Sarah Beatty's Twitter bio reads "Music and science. Science and music". I completely get that. Being a recovering neuroscience nerd, I find nothing odd about having two loves in two seemingly opposite universes.

I've been listening to Sarah Beatty's debut album, Black Gramophone, lately, and if it weren't for me bamboozling my schedule, I would have headed down to Mikey's Juke Joint this weekend to catch her set with Ralph Boyd Johnson.

Black Gramophone is a sweetly acoustic offering. Beatty's got this great blues sensibility, with a little jazz twist thrown in for good measure. Songs like Finer Things, which had a real olde time blues feel, and The Right Shoes, that conjures up a Billie Holiday meets Feist vibe, really showcase her impressive voice.

I would have liked a bit more instrumentation on the album, to compliment the guitar strumming. The final track, Autumn's Song, does feature a lovely electric guitar that cries oh so sweetly. Its addition truly enhances the mood of the song and I would have loved to hear more. Conversely a completely a capella album would have been very powerful and would have been a really bold move to showcase Beatty's voice.

Black Gramophoneis a really fine first album, and Sarah Beatty can be proud of her efforts. She's currently on tour, making her initial foray into the wild west, so look for her to swing through your town. Definitely go to her show.

sarahbeatty.ca - No Depression