Artist of the Week- Sara Bareilles

I’m not gonna write you a love song
’cause you tell me it’s
Make or break in this
If you’re on your way
I’m not gonna write you to stay
If all you have is leaving I’m gonna need a better
Reason to write you a love song today

Anyone who reads my blogs on a regular basis knows that I’m a sucker for female singers with a piano. This week’s Artist of the Week, Sara Bareilles, is no exception. Sara is a California native and grew up with the boys of Maroon 5. What makes Sara one of the freshest young artists? It is her ability to write songs that connect with her audience.

By all accounts, Sara led a rather normal life. Upon graduating from UCLA, Sara began her musical career like most singer/songwriters: by playing in local clubs and bars. Sara became a regular of the highly successful Hotel Café, for which she toured with such bands like Cary Brothers, Laura Jansen, Meiko and Ingrid Michaelson. In 2004, Sara released her first album, Careful Confessions independently. Then in 2005, Sara got her big break when she signed with Epic.

In July 2007, Sara released her sophomore album and her first with Epic Records, Little Voices. Sara’s album gained some interest prior to its release when iTunes released “Love Song” as the Free Single of the Week. It was one of the most downloaded songs in iTunes history. That song created a buzz for Little Voices. Sara was also featured on VH1 and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Sara was getting the exposure that many artists dream of.

Sara’s popularity had largely to do with the album Little Voices itself. The album is a perfect mixture of Pop with an Indie feel to it. Sara’s pop sound was a breath of fresh air to hear on the radio. Although Sara is considered to be relatively known, she still remains an “A-List” Indie artist. Sara isn’t an “Indie” artist in the true definition, but she still writes her own music and has much control over her sound. Like any true Indie artist, Sara also remembers her fans and gives them many goodies. In 2008, Sara sent a 7-track Ep to all her fans on her mailing list for Christmas.

With her third release, Kaleidoscope Heart Sara has taken a different direction in her music. Her songs still rely on the mostly piano driven/singer-songwriter anthems, but they have a bigger Pop sound. Sara enlisted the help of such producers like the very popular Quest-Love, Pharell Williams and Weezer. Some would argue that Sara and her record label have delivered more of a Pop-friendly album, but Sara’s music has always contained a very Pop sound.

Whatever Sara touches turns to gold. It is easy to see why this talented singer/songwriter done everything that she’s set out t accomplish and more. So this week we salute Sara and only wish that she could take her ambition and luck and “Bottle It Up!”

Top 5 Songs

1. Bottle It Up

2. Love Song

3. King of Anything

4. Gravity

5. Uncharted

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