Fleur-Revell posted on February 28, 2012 15:16
Media release; The New Zealand music industry celebrates another huge talent as singer and songwriter Sarah Brown robs hearts with sophomore album. The album titled ‘The Great Heart Robbery’ is to be released in May through Boomusic - Sarah’s own label - and incorporates a blues and gypsy Americana style to create a unique sound. Sarah says the album is a collection of songs about love; encompassing all forms of love from past love to love of a family member.
New Zealand songstress Sarah Brown is preparing to celebrate New Zealand Music Month in true style by releasing and touring her latest offering The Great Heart Robbery.
The Marlborough-born blonde bombshell, who now calls the Hawke’s Bay home, will release her sophomore album through her own label Boomusic, with funding from NZ On Air.
At 28, Brown is no stranger to the New Zealand music scene – her eclectic style of blues mixed with gypsy Americana has seen her win a multitude of awards and tour with famed Kiwi musicians such as Greg Johnson, Tim Finn and Jamie Cullum.
The Great Heart Robbery was written over several years when Brown took time out in an isolated cottage in the Marlborough Sounds, accessible only by boat, and in a sleepy village in the south of France.
Brown says as the title of the album suggests, The Great Heart Robbery is a collection of love songs.
“Each song on the album is a song about love in some way,” she says. “Whether it be about a past love or the love of a family member, there’s that strong theme that runs its way through it.”
Recording of the album took Brown to Sydney, where she worked with celebrated music producer Tony Buchen, as well as a collection of experienced session musicians and the strings section of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
“I love Gin Wigmore, I love her sound, so I did some research and found that Tony did her first EP, so I got in touch with him to see if he was keen to work with me,” says Brown.
“He came back and said that he was which was really exciting. It all happened really fast – it was an incredible experience and quite surreal at times.”
Recording took six weeks at Electric Avenue and 301 Studio and resulted in 11 tracks that take listeners on an eclectic yet cohesive journey. It was then sent to New York City to be mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound, who has worked with acclaimed artists such as Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Joss Stone and Jewel.
Now the fully completed album is back in Brown’s hands as she prepares for its full release in May – all while she manages herself, organises her upcoming New Zealand tour along with her five-piece band and juggles being a first-time mum.
“It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience,” says Brown. “I’ve always tried to maintain creative control over my music - I prefer recordings where you can hear their rawness and nothing is too over-produced – so releasing The Great Heart Robbery under my own label has allowed me to maintain all of the elements I’m passionate about as a singer and songwriter.”
Sarah Brown has already won multiple awards – including first place in the Juice TV Music Video of the Year award for her song Hands in 2006, and another first place in the nationwide Ovation/Rockshop Songwriter of the Year competition in 2001.
As well as managing herself and raising her daughter, Brown can also be found teaching music at a local country school one day a week.
The Great Heart Robbery tour will be visiting Auckland, Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Blenheim, Nelson, Westport and Ashburton with more locations and dates to be announced soon.
