London, Ontario’s rising country music sweetheart JESSICA MITCHELL and world renowned singer-songwriter SARAH SMITH kick off DRESDEN KINSTOCK on Friday, July 14! Tune in all week to check them out on the LOCAL SPOTLIGHT, heard daily at 3:40 pm!
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After signing a publishing deal with Slaight Music Publishing, Mitchell embarked on several writing trips to Nashville where she found herself inspired by the raw honesty and storytelling nature of the country music genre. Having found a new voice, Mitchell has spent the last few years travelling between Toronto and Nashville collaborating with top-notch songwriters including Stephen Kozmeniuk (Jennifer Hudson, Kendrick Lamar), Todd Clark (Phillip Phillips, Tim Hicks), and John Goodwin (Brad Paisley).
After losing her mother to a long battle with cancer, Mitchell had her own epiphany about what kind of artist she wanted to become. As she puts it, “You’ll never see the light until it’s completely dark, and it got DARK for a while.” Staying true to who she is as a songwriter Mitchell believes that at the heart of every relatable piece of music is pain and loss. Her hope is that sharing these personal experiences will forge genuine bonds with her audience.
Produced by Grammy nominated producer Dave Brainard (Brandy Clark, Jerrod Niemann) and co-written with Luke Sheets (Plumb), her lead off track “Grown Up Things”, is a soul-searching song about loss and change, of not wanting to deal with the curve balls that life throws at us – a feeling that most people have had a some point in their lives. It showcases her powerful and pure voice as well as her considerable song-writing skills. “I want to connect with people,” she says, “and create something that sounds real to someone. Something that might change someone’s life or help that person through a difficult time.”
When listening to Mitchell’s music, she makes it very easy for you to latch onto her inviting melodies and the genuine, soulful nature of her words. The rich tone and hopefulness in her voice grabs you and pulls you in – and once the song is over, you can’t help but feel as though you have personally connected with her on a deeper level.
Sarah Smith is exactly where she needs to be.
As she shares her third full-length CD, 11, with the world, the London, Ontario pop/rock singer-songwriter is reflecting on lessons learned and dreaming of a bright future.
“This album sums up the last few years of my life,” Sarah says. “Searching for happiness, I came across misery. Wanting to succeed, I discovered how to fail. Trying to balance, I ended up falling. Looking for answers, I found them here all along. And, in all of this, I was able to continually grasp on to hope that life was putting me exactly where I needed to be.”
Produced by Juno-winning engineer Kevin Doyle, 11 is Sarah at her insightful and vulnerable best. The record features 17 new songs about love, life, and seeing the good in things – even the dark things.
“Life isn’t always easy,” she explains. “Sometimes there’s pain. Sometimes we make mistakes, but there are always things we can learn about ourselves and the world. It takes courage, but there are always reasons to have hope. Writing this record helped me get perspective, again, on how beautiful the world can be.”
11 follows Sarah’s previous full-length CDs, Stronger Now (2012) and The Journey (2014). Like her previous work, the CD weaves through a variety of styles, from rock (Changing My Mind, Runaway Stay) to pop (The Dark, Girl, Undertow) and country (Lay It On The Line, Sunrise). Also like her previous work, 11 features her honest lyrics, memorable hooks, and absolutely unmistakable voice. The album introduces some new sounds to her music as well, with different songs including horn arrangements, cello and steel drum.
A seasoned road warrior whose full-time touring schedule dates back to her days in Canadian rock band The Joys, Sarah continues to feel most at home on-stage. She plays nearly 300 shows per year, primarily in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Along the way, she has shared the stage with artists including Melissa Etheridge, Sass Jordan, Emm Gryner, Craig Cardiff, Joel Plaskett, David Wilcox, and many others. Whether it’s just her and her acoustic guitar or her full band, she is a mesmerizing performer. The 2015 DVD Sarah Smith: Plugged and Unplugged captures Sarah and her band in peak form, both live and in the studio.
Sarah has won and been nominated for many awards throughout her career. Her video for Into the Light, directed by Stacy Poulos and shot in California, won both a 2016 Telly Award and a 2016 Akademia Music Award for Best Video in the Pop Rock category. In 2015, she won the Toronto Independent Music Award Best Adult Contemporary honour, plus the Best Rock Artist at the London Music Awards, and Best Rock Artist at the Jack Richardson Music Awards. Music from The Journey has been featured on shows including CBC’s Cracked and the movie Anatomy of a Love Seen, directed by L.A-based director Marina Rice Bader.
While the accolades are appreciated, Sarah says for her it’s still all about the music.
“In the end, 11 is about blessings,” she says. “Sometimes you have to take a step back and appreciate the blessings in your life. Music is one of mine, and I’m excited to share these new songs with people all over the world!”
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 2016 – #1 song of 2016 (SW Ontario) – Max Ink Radio
- 2016 – Best of Festival, Adult Contemporary Music Video at the Berkeley Video and Film Festival for Into The Light
- 2016 – Best Video and Pop/Rock Song at The Akademia Music Awards
- 2015 – Best Adult Contemporary at The Toronto Independent Music Awards
- 2015 – Best Rock Artist at the London Music Awards
- 2015 – Best Rock Artist at The JRMAs
- 2014 – Fan Favourite at The JRMAs
- 2014 – Best Singer/Songwriter at The London Music Awards
- 2014 – Best Rock Group at the London Music Awards
- 2014 – Top-10 Album by The London Free Press
- 2013 – Best Singer/Songwriter at The JRMAs
- 2012 – Best Singer/Songwriter at The London Music Awards
- 2012 – #1 Album by The London Free Press