Sarah Bettens
Encyclopedia
Sarah Bettens is the lead singer of the Belgian
band K's Choice
. Sarah and her brother Gert Bettens
are the two popular faces of the band. She is known for her enigmatic, smoky voice. The band is popular in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, and had toured in the U.S. with The Verve Pipe
, Tonic
, Alanis Morissette
and the Indigo Girls
, as well as on their own. Sarah has maintained a successful solo career as well by providing vocals for music soundtracks, including Underworld
, Wild Things
, Zus and Zo and more recently Leef!.
In 2003 K's Choice decided to split up, with siblings Gert and Sarah exploring solo projects. Sarah made a mini-album of her own, called Go
. Her first full-length solo album, Scream
, was released in Europe on 14 March 2005, and in the USA on 23 August 2005. K's Choice reformed in 2010.
In March 2007 she released an EP through online music label Fuzz. Her second full-length album, Shine
, including new mixes of the tracks from the Fuzz EP, was released in 2007. It was produced by Brad Wood
. The full CD was distributed for free with the 13 October edition of the Flemish newspaper De Morgen
in Belgium
, which sold 180,000 copies. Normally this newspaper sells 95,000 copies.
In late 2008 Sarah released the album Never Say Goodbye
, consisting of recordings of live performances of old K's Choice and Sarah Bettens songs, covers, and new songs which had been played during previous tours. The album is only available at concerts and from her online shop.
There were plans to license the single Come Over Here from her LP Scream for episode 409 of the American series The L Word
. However, the plans fell through due to problems involving the songs' co-writer and record label. The song also appears on the premier Music With a Twist compilation (Sony).
After having played Michigan Womyn's Music Festival
in 2006 solo, she organized an all female band for a performance in 2007.
Sarah currently lives in Tennessee
, USA with her partner, 2 step-children, and 2 adopted children.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
band K's Choice
K's Choice
K's Choice is a Belgian rock band from Antwerp, formed in the mid-1990s. The band's core members are siblings Sarah Bettens and Gert Bettens . They are joined by Eric Grossman , Thomas Vanelslander , Reinout Swinnen and Koen Liekens...
. Sarah and her brother Gert Bettens
Gert Bettens
Gert Bettens is the lead guitarist of the Belgian band K's Choice. He, with his sister Sarah Bettens, is the face of the band....
are the two popular faces of the band. She is known for her enigmatic, smoky voice. The band is popular in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, and had toured in the U.S. with The Verve Pipe
The Verve Pipe
The Verve Pipe is an American rock band from East Lansing, Michigan. It was formed in 1992 by Brian and Brad Vander Ark, Brian Stout and Donny Brown.-History:...
, Tonic
Tonic (band)
Tonic is an American rock band that has earned two Grammy nominations to date. The band was formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo. Later members have included Dan Lavery, Kevin Shepard, and Dan Rothchild. Signed to a recording contract in 1995, the band released its debut album Lemon Parade...
, Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
and the Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, as well as on their own. Sarah has maintained a successful solo career as well by providing vocals for music soundtracks, including Underworld
Underworld (film series)
Underworld is a series of vampire/werewolf films directed by Len Wiseman and Patrick Tatopoulos. The first film, Underworld, was released in 2003, and the second film, Underworld: Evolution, was released in 2006. A prequel, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, was released on January 23, 2009...
, Wild Things
Wild Things
Wild Things is a 1998 erotic thriller film starring Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Kevin Bacon, Denise Richards, Theresa Russell and Bill Murray. It was directed by John McNaughton. In some countries the film was released as Sex Crimes...
, Zus and Zo and more recently Leef!.
2002 - present
Sarah has had a large lesbian fanbase since the beginning of her career with K's Choice, but it wasn't until May 2002 that she officially came out to the public. She discusses this on FaceCulture.nl, as well as on AfterEllen.com.In 2003 K's Choice decided to split up, with siblings Gert and Sarah exploring solo projects. Sarah made a mini-album of her own, called Go
Go (Sarah Bettens)
Go is solo debut of Sarah Bettens. This album is more quiet and poppy than her work for K's Choice. The CD includes two versions of the music video of the single Fine.In 2005, four tracks from Go were released on Sarah's full-length album Scream....
. Her first full-length solo album, Scream
Scream (Sarah Bettens)
Scream is the first full-length solo album from Belgian rock musician Sarah Bettens. In 2004, Sarah released a five-track EP called Go. Four of the songs from Go were included on Scream; only "Grey" did not make the cut....
, was released in Europe on 14 March 2005, and in the USA on 23 August 2005. K's Choice reformed in 2010.
In March 2007 she released an EP through online music label Fuzz. Her second full-length album, Shine
Shine (Sarah Bettens album)
Shine is the follow-up album from Belgian musician Sarah Bettens. It was released in Europe and North America on November 23, 2007 by Universal Music Group/Cocoon Records.- Track listing :#I Can't Get Out...
, including new mixes of the tracks from the Fuzz EP, was released in 2007. It was produced by Brad Wood
Brad Wood
Brad Wood is a record producer from Rockford, Illinois. He served as a drummer for the band Shrimp Boat. Brad records, mixes and produces records and is based in Los Angeles, California. He began his career in earnest in 1988 with the construction of Idful Music Corporation- a recording studio in...
. The full CD was distributed for free with the 13 October edition of the Flemish newspaper De Morgen
De Morgen
De Morgen is a Flemish newspaper with a circulation of 53,860. It originates from a merger in 1978 of two socialist newspapers Vooruit and Volksgazet ....
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, which sold 180,000 copies. Normally this newspaper sells 95,000 copies.
In late 2008 Sarah released the album Never Say Goodbye
Never Say Goodbye (Sarah Bettens album)
Never Say Goodbye is the live album from Belgian musician Sarah Bettens. It was released in 2008 by Universal Music Group/Cocoon Records.-Track listing:# I Can Do Better Than You # Slow You Down...
, consisting of recordings of live performances of old K's Choice and Sarah Bettens songs, covers, and new songs which had been played during previous tours. The album is only available at concerts and from her online shop.
There were plans to license the single Come Over Here from her LP Scream for episode 409 of the American series The L Word
The L Word
The L Word is an American co-production television drama series originally shown on Showtime portraying the lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their friends, family and lovers in the trendy Greater Los Angeles, California city of West Hollywood...
. However, the plans fell through due to problems involving the songs' co-writer and record label. The song also appears on the premier Music With a Twist compilation (Sony).
After having played Michigan Womyn's Music Festival
Michigan Womyn's Music Festival
The Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, called "the Original Womyn's Woodstock" and often referred to as MWMF or Michfest, is an international feminist music festival occurring every August since 1976 near Hart, Michigan...
in 2006 solo, she organized an all female band for a performance in 2007.
Sarah currently lives in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, USA with her partner, 2 step-children, and 2 adopted children.
Albums
- 2004 GoGo (Sarah Bettens)Go is solo debut of Sarah Bettens. This album is more quiet and poppy than her work for K's Choice. The CD includes two versions of the music video of the single Fine.In 2005, four tracks from Go were released on Sarah's full-length album Scream....
(EP) - 2005 ScreamScream (Sarah Bettens)Scream is the first full-length solo album from Belgian rock musician Sarah Bettens. In 2004, Sarah released a five-track EP called Go. Four of the songs from Go were included on Scream; only "Grey" did not make the cut....
- 2007 ShineShine (Sarah Bettens album)Shine is the follow-up album from Belgian musician Sarah Bettens. It was released in Europe and North America on November 23, 2007 by Universal Music Group/Cocoon Records.- Track listing :#I Can't Get Out...
- 2008 Never Say GoodbyeNever Say Goodbye (Sarah Bettens album)Never Say Goodbye is the live album from Belgian musician Sarah Bettens. It was released in 2008 by Universal Music Group/Cocoon Records.-Track listing:# I Can Do Better Than You # Slow You Down...
Singles
- 2002 "Someone To Say Hi To"
- 2002 "You Always Know Your Home"
- 2004 "Fine"
- 2005 "Not Insane"
- 2005 "Stay"
- 2005 "Leef"
- 2006 "Come Over Here"
- 2006 "I Need a Woman"
- 2007 "Daddy's Gun"
- 2007 "I Can't Get Out"
Video
- Sarah Bettens in backstage http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4bb3p_sarah-bettens-en-backstage_music
- "I can't get out" http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4l6ye_sarah-bettens-i-cant-get-out-acoust_music
- "It's alright" http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4l6yf_sarah-bettens-its-alright-acoustiqu_music
- "Put it out for good" http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2o1kt_sarah-bettens-put-it-out-for-good_music
- Sarah Bettens in live at l'Elysée Montmartre in Paris_Part 1 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4jvdc_sarah-bettens-live-lelysee-montmart_music
- Sarah Bettens in live at l'Elysée Montmartre in Paris_Part 2 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4kbst_sarah-bettens-live-lelysee-montmart_music