Sarah Lentz
When you hear Sarah's music for the first time, her voice absolutely commands your attention. Sarah's deep, rich and broad-ranged voice sinks like a cello and drives her melodies. Strengthening these vocal qualities, her song's rich chords and broad progressions create a sound grounded in urban rhythms. Her late 1999 release, No Going Home, benefits from overlaid and distorted tracks, giving the music a range from trip-hop to folk ballad. It is her live stage presence which seems to be her best asset, however; her astonishing voice is obviously no studio production trick.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Sarah's been singing and writing since she was a wee little one in Pittsburgh, PA. Following her 1996 graduation with a classical piano degree, she packed her VW Bug and headed for Nashville, TN to see where her songs would lead her. Gigs at pubs and open mikes earned her entry to the songwriting circles of a unique and rich musical world not at all like her own. After steeping two years in the alternative country writing scene, she was lead back to her northern territory and landed in New York City. Now she can be regularly heard in East Village bars and Greenwich Village clubs performing solo and with her band.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
My favorite life activity is playing out live. Right now I play mainly in New York clubs like The Bitter End and FEZ. My band is amazingly talented and that makes everything so easy. I'm left with only having to focus on the audience, on them and I having fun and sharing the musical experience, and on singing and playing my little heart out.
Your musical influences
Sting, Bruce Hornsby, Jonatha Brooke, Tori Amos and Rachmoninoff
What equipment do you use?
I try to keep things simple. Piano, drums, upright bass and guitars.
