Sarah Loren

Sarah Loren dwells here in London and has been songwriting since the age of 13. Her mother and father are classic-rock and classic-country musicians, respectively, and she has melded the two styles in her recent debut album, Mesh. She gained the oppurtunity to produce her music by winning the mindyourmind Independent Youth Day's Judge's Award. She has completed 150 compostions at the age of 19 and has been nominated for a Jack Richardson Music Award which is a local program that recognizes the great talent in London.

Her music encourages two different impulses in me. On the one hand, I feel like I could ride a mighty steed across the rolling fields of Ontario. On the other hand, if someone did me wrong I would not hesitate to blast a few of these tracks with a box of tissues, stretched out across my duvet. Not all artists like to be compared to the superstars, but if you like T-Swift, this is your girl. However, she's way more poetic, and less angry too.

Personal persuasions aside, Miss Sarah certainly has a sweet voice. Occasionally, she throws in some overlapping vocals that intertwine wonderfully. Her guitar chords twinkle over a humble, steady base. It's very comfortable listening.

Here's her adaptation of James McHaerny's "Crying in the Rain". I enjoyed the reverse footage she used to narrate the song with paper. - CHRW Radio

Sarah Loren dwells here in London and has been songwriting since the age of 13. Her mother and father are classic-rock and classic-country musicians, respectively, and she has melded the two styles in her recent debut album, Mesh. She gained the oppurtunity to produce her music by winning the mindyourmind Independent Youth Day's Judge's Award. She has completed 150 compostions at the age of 19 and has been nominated for a Jack Richardson Music Award which is a local program that recognizes the great talent in London.

Her music encourages two different impulses in me. On the one hand, I feel like I could ride a mighty steed across the rolling fields of Ontario. On the other hand, if someone did me wrong I would not hesitate to blast a few of these tracks with a box of tissues, stretched out across my duvet. Not all artists like to be compared to the superstars, but if you like T-Swift, this is your girl. However, she's way more poetic, and less angry too.

Personal persuasions aside, Miss Sarah certainly has a sweet voice. Occasionally, she throws in some overlapping vocals that intertwine wonderfully. Her guitar chords twinkle over a humble, steady base. It's very comfortable listening.

Here's her adaptation of James McHaerny's "Crying in the Rain". I enjoyed the reverse footage she used to narrate the song with paper. - CHRW Radio

At 19-years-old, singer/songwriter Sarah Loren is prepared to explore her career options outside of her comfort zone in the Forest City. But before she does, there’s one more thing on her to-do list.
“I’ve never actually played a show that was just for me,” Loren said.

She’ll have top billing at the London Music Club’s Cellar Lounge July 19 though, and while she’s at it, Loren will release her debut album Mesh at the same time.

“I’ve always opened for someone, or shared a bill with someone — it’s kind of weird to have a show that’s just for me,” she said. “I think at first it will feel a little different, but usually once I get playing I kind of just go with the flow.”

In some ways, Mesh has been a long time coming for the London native. It started with musical theatre and poetry when she was younger, but by the time she was 13, Loren had already found her knack for songwriting.

Three years ago, Loren was selected to join the music and performance education group Young Americans at their arts school in California, but she turned down the offer determined to make her own way in London.

“It was such a great opportunity they were providing me (but) I think at that time in my life it seemed like too big of a move,” Loren said. “It was like a triple-threat kind of school and I just wanted to focus on songwriting.”

Not long after, Loren was doing just that. She competed in the Western Fair District’s Youth Talent Search in 2011 with two separate vocal acts, including an original song. Loren also has a local Jack Richardson Music Award nomination to her name in the folk/roots category, but her first opportunity to record a full album didn’t come until she was noticed by the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology in London.

After singing in another local talent competition, Loren was introduced to OIART’s Mark MacDonald, who agreed to produce Mesh. And for a debut album, the nine-track CD hits a lot of the right notes.

Ring Finger’s Full is cool and bold; Crying on the Kitchen Floor is sensitive and emotional, while Itty Bitty is a little more loose and playful. The album puts on display Loren’s songwriting range and the South Collegiate Institute graduate seems comfortable skirting the line between country and folk rock.

“I really wanted the album to be all about a coming of age,” Loren said. “To really show my process of growing up. Because they’re songs I’ve been writing since I was 14. That was kind of a theme in the back of my mind as I was choosing them.”

Now that she has an album to call her own, Loren has decided the time is right to look for opportunities outside of London. She’ll be part of SongStudio’s songwriting workshop in Toronto next week and soon after, Loren will be travelling to Nashville to promote her CD and take in the world-renowned music scene there.

“It feels awesome,” said Loren, also an aspiring journalist who will take her story telling abilities in a new direction at Humber College in September.

“It’s just really exciting to finally have that (debut album) I didn’t ever imagine having one. It’s just going to be really nice to let people finally hear the songs I’ve written.”
- Londoner

At 19-years-old, singer/songwriter Sarah Loren is prepared to explore her career options outside of her comfort zone in the Forest City. But before she does, there’s one more thing on her to-do list.
“I’ve never actually played a show that was just for me,” Loren said.

She’ll have top billing at the London Music Club’s Cellar Lounge July 19 though, and while she’s at it, Loren will release her debut album Mesh at the same time.

“I’ve always opened for someone, or shared a bill with someone — it’s kind of weird to have a show that’s just for me,” she said. “I think at first it will feel a little different, but usually once I get playing I kind of just go with the flow.”

In some ways, Mesh has been a long time coming for the London native. It started with musical theatre and poetry when she was younger, but by the time she was 13, Loren had already found her knack for songwriting.

Three years ago, Loren was selected to join the music and performance education group Young Americans at their arts school in California, but she turned down the offer determined to make her own way in London.

“It was such a great opportunity they were providing me (but) I think at that time in my life it seemed like too big of a move,” Loren said. “It was like a triple-threat kind of school and I just wanted to focus on songwriting.”

Not long after, Loren was doing just that. She competed in the Western Fair District’s Youth Talent Search in 2011 with two separate vocal acts, including an original song. Loren also has a local Jack Richardson Music Award nomination to her name in the folk/roots category, but her first opportunity to record a full album didn’t come until she was noticed by the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology in London.

After singing in another local talent competition, Loren was introduced to OIART’s Mark MacDonald, who agreed to produce Mesh. And for a debut album, the nine-track CD hits a lot of the right notes.

Ring Finger’s Full is cool and bold; Crying on the Kitchen Floor is sensitive and emotional, while Itty Bitty is a little more loose and playful. The album puts on display Loren’s songwriting range and the South Collegiate Institute graduate seems comfortable skirting the line between country and folk rock.

“I really wanted the album to be all about a coming of age,” Loren said. “To really show my process of growing up. Because they’re songs I’ve been writing since I was 14. That was kind of a theme in the back of my mind as I was choosing them.”

Now that she has an album to call her own, Loren has decided the time is right to look for opportunities outside of London. She’ll be part of SongStudio’s songwriting workshop in Toronto next week and soon after, Loren will be travelling to Nashville to promote her CD and take in the world-renowned music scene there.

“It feels awesome,” said Loren, also an aspiring journalist who will take her story telling abilities in a new direction at Humber College in September.

“It’s just really exciting to finally have that (debut album) I didn’t ever imagine having one. It’s just going to be really nice to let people finally hear the songs I’ve written.”
- Londoner