Bio

Soulful Folk Rock

With her smoky vocal style and signature blonde curls, Sarah Dashew has rapidly carved out her own niche in the independent music scene. Her music is highly relatable – balancing strength and vulnerability, depth and whimsy – and exudes Dashew’s spirit and personality in every lyric and melody. Drawing upon influences as diverse as James Taylor and Prince, her unique style walks a fine line between folk, pop, country and soul.

Dashew most recently completed her third solo album, eponymously titled. It is her most personal work to date, and to emphasize that intimacy Sarah played every instrument on the album’s ten tracks. Co-producing with Los Angeles-based Chris Zerby, who encouraged her to leap outside all comfort zones, she enthusiastically strapped on an accordion for one track, and played drums on several others, along with keys, guitars, harmonica and bass. The result is a stark, clear emotional journey that makes the leap from ear to heart in one fell swoop.

Sarah grew up sailing the high seas with her family (her dad is a boat designer), listening to the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Van Morrison, and Janis Joplin – references recognizable in Dashew’s voice today. Inspired by song since her early childhood, Dashew acknowledged music as her calling after watching a soulful gospel performance in college. From there, she moved to Austin, TX where she learned to write and perform alongside local favorites.

Dashew’s first album, Jealous Girl, debuted in 2006 and was produced by Chuck Plotkin (of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan fame). Jealous Girl was applauded by reviewers, who called her work “rhythmic and super fresh,” and said it was “full of content, passion and sweetness.” Two singles off the album were featured on the hit NBC show My Name Is Earl and another was included on the celebrity playlist of ABC’s Ugly Betty.

In 2010, Sarah released her follow up album Where I Belong to unanimous critical praise (The Huffington Post wrote, “When I heard this singer’s voice, chills ran down my spine. I thought to myself, My God, what a great voice. Why haven’t people heard about her?”) and successful tours throughout the Western United States.

Dashew has toured throughout the U.S. and Europe, and continues to play local gigs in the Los Angeles area. A tour is in the works for summer 2013 to spread the news about her new album.

Sarah is also well-known for her eclectic baking skills…With a lifelong sweet tooth, and an allergy to refined sugar and wheat, she has honed her own recipes for gluten-free treats a la the Swedish Chef from the Muppets–a lot of singing and slinging ingredients about in search of the perfect dessert.

Sarah currently resides in Los Angeles with her beautiful, goofy standard poodle, Luca.