Sharona Clarke

There is something inside each of us that recognizes GENIUS and world class ability, when someone finds their life niche and purpose. I recently had the unique experience of dropping by the Martini Bar in St. John's Newfoundland to hear Sharon Clarke and Dave Broderick perform at Hot Piano Tuesdays. I made a few requests and was glad I had dropped by to check out some of our local talent, as Newfoundland and Labrador is loaded with so much talent in many domains. If you had to be there with me on this night, you would have recognized what I did: Sharon Clarke's unique voice combined with her Piano distinctiveness is WORLD CLASS. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. This professional musician has "it"...and lots of it: talent, ability, ingenuity!

What a gift to be able to move people with words...and music. Words are powerful as we know but when combined with the right spark of musical emotion, something goes off inside of every human being that says "Wow, that is creative intelligence at its best." My request for "In This Life" by Chantel Kreviazuk, from Canada, was such a time that brought cold shivers and powerful "feeling" to the moment. You just had to be there to experience it. The people in the bar were chatting as I noticed but when Ms Clarke started in, all lips were sealed in awe of the performance. Incredible! Words cannot describe such performances and life experiences. Whether you are a fan of music or not, you would have said after hearing that song, "This is world class talent; the sky is the limit for her!"
- Paul Michael White, paulwhite.ca

Sharon Clarke is one of the most versatile, fluid and engaging artists I've had the privilege of working with. Her sense of composition, melody, mood and structure is that of a seasoned industry professional. She has an eloquent luncheon of musicality, crowd-pleasing presence and humility. Her lyrics come straight from the heart and her melodies are soulful, diverse and inspiring.

I've worked with her in numerous environments. In the time we have spent recording, arranging and mixing together, I am of the opinion that she is one of the most promising aspirants I've ever encountered. With borrowed inspiration from Gwen Stefani, Imogen Heap, Coldplay and Pink Floyd, Sharon Clarke weaves together a beautiful embroidery of musical multilingua; recognizable yet strikingly original, attention-stealing and intense.

After just having released her debut album in November 2008, I am looking forward to hearing what fresh musical narratives she has to offer.
- Justin Merdsoy, Stagehouse Studios, NL

ITunes pegs this disc as "easy listening" -- likely at the behest of Sharon (Sharona) Clarke -- but in some circles that may be doing this disc a disservice. With lots of hooky tunes and some thought-provoking lyrics, this debut disc is hardly elevator fare. There are a couple of cuts that might fit that genre, but there are just as many that you could drop a distorted guitar into on stage and have a lot of fun with. “She” already has that guitar, stuffed into the background for the disc, but the flavour is there if Clarke ever needs to add extra spice.
Not that it’s lacking anything as it stands.
My first impression, for good or for bad, was not the content so much as the production. Deeply layered and smoothly mixed, it’s as professional a recording as has ever come out of this province. Raw recorded in Springdale, with a bunch of names and locations associated with it, you know the final product comes down to Clarke; her ear, her music.
That said, everyone here is doing a first-class job -- special shout to writing partner and back-up singer Tsitsi Wight -- but no-one shines more than Clarke. Favourite track: “Dreams.”
One thorn on the rose: whose idea was the original “bonus track”? I find nothing more distracting and annoying on a CD, and I have an attention span. I’m not sure how many of today’s kids -- who can’t wait out a decent fade before hitting “next!” -- are going to stumble upon the last two-plus minutes of “Dreams.” Which will be their loss, mind you. “Everything Happens” is a gem.
You just have to dig to find it.

--Ken Simmons
The Telegram, December 12, 2008

- The Telegram