Sarah Masen
Encyclopedia
Sarah Masen is a singer/songwriter originally from the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan
, but has for several years lived in Nashville
, Tennessee
with her husband, author David Dark
, and their three children. Initially signed to Charlie Peacock
's re:think
label, and subsequently to Word, she is now independent. As a songwriter, she's collaborated with Bela Fleck
, Julie Lee
, and Sam Ashworth.
She began her music career as the singer for acoustic folk-pop band The Art Institute, which released one album, The Holding, on TAI Records. Her self-titled debut
in 1996 won considerable attention and its breakout single "All Fall Down" was included in the soundtrack for the TV show Party of Five
. Subsequent albums have not received similar mass media attention but have continued to earn critical plaudits.http://www.pristinamusic.com/story.htm
After the release of The Dreamlife of Angels in 2001, Masen did not release her own new material for six years, but in 2004, she contributed two tracks to Stars and Sirens, an album by Pristina, a collective of female artists teamed with producer Joey B. of The Echoing Green
. She also continued to give occasional live performances, and offered new recordings through her website.
In 2007, she self-released three new EP
s, containing a total of 15 songs http://www.myspace.com/sarahmasenmusic. The new works debuted at the Festival of Faith and Music at Calvin College
when she shared the bill with Sufjan Stevens
, Emmylou Harris
and Neko Case
, among others.
, of the band Switchfoot
, is Sarah Masen's brother-in-law (Foreman is married to her sister Emily) She performed back-up vocals with her sister Emily on the song "Love Isn't Made" by Jon Foreman on his EP "Spring." Her other sister, Rachel, thought to be the prettiest, has appeared on a Switchfoot release, also.
Sarah also sang on "Deep in your eyes" & "The House of God, Forever" by Jon Foreman on his EP "Summer."
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, but has for several years lived in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, 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...
with her husband, author David Dark
David Dark
David Dark is an American writer, the author of The Sacredness of Questioning Everything, Everyday Apocalypse: The Sacred Revealed in Radiohead, The Simpsons, and Other Pop Culture Icons and The Gospel According To America: A Meditation on a God-blessed, Christ-haunted Idea, which was included in...
, and their three children. Initially signed to Charlie Peacock
Charlie Peacock
Charlie Peacock is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, record producer, session musician and author. While growing up in California Peacock was inspired by John Coltrane and began playing the piano. After completing his education, Peacock formed a band and began a career as a professional...
's re:think
Rethink (record label)
Re:think was an imprint label of under EMI. It signed several acts, including This World Fair, The Colour, Sarah Masen and Switchfoot. Re:think is well-known for supporting the ONE Campaign as well as the lowercase people Justice Fund.-History:...
label, and subsequently to Word, she is now independent. As a songwriter, she's collaborated with Bela Fleck
Béla Fleck
Béla Anton Leoš Fleck is an American banjo player. Widely acknowledged as one of the world's most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, he is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.-Early life and career details:Fleck was born in...
, Julie Lee
Julie Lee
Julie Lee is a singer/songwriter originally from Maryland now living in Nashville, Tennessee. She is also a member of the band Old Black Kettle, with Sarah Siskind, and has collaborated with Sarah Masen...
, and Sam Ashworth.
She began her music career as the singer for acoustic folk-pop band The Art Institute, which released one album, The Holding, on TAI Records. Her self-titled debut
Sarah Masen (album)
Sarah Masen is the first major-label studio album by singer/songwriter Sarah Masen, released on June 25, 1996.-Track listing:#"All Fall Down" – 3:40#"Break Hard the Wishbone" – 5:02#"Flames of Truth" – 4:30...
in 1996 won considerable attention and its breakout single "All Fall Down" was included in the soundtrack for the TV show Party of Five
Party of Five
Party of Five is an American teen drama television series that aired on Fox for six seasons, from September 12, 1994, until May 3, 2000.Critically acclaimed, the show suffered from low ratings and after its first season was slated for cancellation...
. Subsequent albums have not received similar mass media attention but have continued to earn critical plaudits.http://www.pristinamusic.com/story.htm
After the release of The Dreamlife of Angels in 2001, Masen did not release her own new material for six years, but in 2004, she contributed two tracks to Stars and Sirens, an album by Pristina, a collective of female artists teamed with producer Joey B. of The Echoing Green
The Echoing Green (band)
The Echoing Green is an electronica/synthpop band. It began as a duo between Joey Belville and Aaron Bowman in 1992, and has since released eleven major albums....
. She also continued to give occasional live performances, and offered new recordings through her website.
In 2007, she self-released three new EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s, containing a total of 15 songs http://www.myspace.com/sarahmasenmusic. The new works debuted at the Festival of Faith and Music at Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
when she shared the bill with Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
, Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
and Neko Case
Neko Case
Neko Case is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers....
, among others.
Albums
- The Holding (1995, independent)
- Sarah MasenSarah Masen (album)Sarah Masen is the first major-label studio album by singer/songwriter Sarah Masen, released on June 25, 1996.-Track listing:#"All Fall Down" – 3:40#"Break Hard the Wishbone" – 5:02#"Flames of Truth" – 4:30...
(1996, re:think) - Carry Us Through (1998, re:think)
- The Holding (1999, re-issue, REX)
- The Dreamlife of Angels (2001, Word)
- Women's Work Is Alchemy (2007 EP, independent)
- A History Of Light And Shadow (2007 EP, independent)
- Magic That Works (2007 EP, independent)
Trivia
Jon ForemanJon Foreman
Jonathan Mark Foreman is the lead singer, lead guitarist, main songwriter and co-founder of the alternative rock band Switchfoot. He started Switchfoot in 1996 with drummer Chad Butler and bassist Tim Foreman ....
, of the band Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
, is Sarah Masen's brother-in-law (Foreman is married to her sister Emily) She performed back-up vocals with her sister Emily on the song "Love Isn't Made" by Jon Foreman on his EP "Spring." Her other sister, Rachel, thought to be the prettiest, has appeared on a Switchfoot release, also.
Sarah also sang on "Deep in your eyes" & "The House of God, Forever" by Jon Foreman on his EP "Summer."