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Sarah Hart
 "Music
is one medium that consistently draws people
together. In light of that, my vision now is
to sing wherever I am given an opportunity
to share." So says Sarah Hart whose music
welcomes and delights listeners from every
age and background, by virtue of its utter
musicality and embracing lyrical vision.
As a writer, she begins by sharing her own
experiences, expanding her life to include
ours; as a performer, she shares her love of
melody, and delivers her evocative words to
us in clear, true notes. This is music that
is simultaneously life-affirming and
thought-provoking, a rare and welcome
combination. Like the varied songwriters,
poets and writers who have influenced
her--Nancy Griffith, James Taylor, David
Wilcox and Thomas Merton, Sylvia Plath and
Flannery O'Connor--Sarah's lyrics explore
what really matters, and expose how the
mundane can lead us to the sublime, how the
sublime can transform the mundane.
Instructed and supported by her faith, awed
by the natural world, her eye, too, on the
sparrow, she sees "darkness colored by
flickers of light", acknowledging the dark
and the difficult but leading herself and
her listeners on the path into the light and
the restorative.
Sarah's mother, a professional musician,
cultivated and encouraged her talents;
at the age of six, she began her studies of
piano, organ and flute, supplementing these
with a few guitar lessons from her mother.
 She
graduated from The Ohio State University
with a
degree in music composition and theory.
Sarah moved to Nashville to pursue a music
career, immediately landing session work as
a demo singer and flute player and as a
backup singer for several acts, work she
continues to enjoy. Inspired by the talent
surrounding her, her own interests were
awakened; she has found a voice and style
that allow her to cover her broad range of
interests with passion and intelligence, and
her skills as a quick study--with both ear
and theory at her command--are evident in
the polish of each tune she sings.
Although Sarah loves the intimacy of a small
audience, she's comfortable performing
anywhere; she bounces easily on stage from
piano to guitar, chatting as she goes,
whether she's at such places as The Bluebird
Cafe in Nashville, the Bitter End in New
York City, or opening with touring acts such
as Kathy Troccoli and Wes King. Sarah was a
1997 finalist in the Sisters Folk Festival,
and a 1998 finalist in the Three Rivers Folk
Festival. Sarah has written and worked with
an array of producers, performers and
writers.
In These Rooms – Released November 29th!
 Sarah's latest
collection is an intimate self-portrait,
a
musical window offering glimpses
into the
rooms of her life, each of them containing,
she says, a little part of me. It's a rare
and wonderful opportunity
to get to know
this charming,
spirited, gifted artist and
sister in Christ. Featuring Sarah's joyous
folk-pop style and poetic, introspective
lyrics,
Into These Rooms
is impressive for its spiritual depth and
sophisticated, multi-layered, tightly
produced sound.
Highlights include "For a Little While," a
hauntingly tender piano-ballad/lullaby that
captures the bittersweet pang every mother
experiences while holding her sleeping
newborn. Co-written by Texas rocker Curtis
Stephan, who also provides edgy harmony on
the song, "Be with Me, Lord" is a poignant
duet pleading for Godıs help and a superb
new setting of Psalm 91. Featuring ethereal
guitar work by the legendary Phil Keaggy,
"The Hillside" is an eerie, fantastic
musical depiction of the soul's restless
journey through the clouds, shadows and
contrary winds of this world. Other special
contributors include Scott Dente (Out of the
Grey), Mark Hill, Jerry McPherson, Dave
Cleveland, Jeff Roach and Ken Lewis.
Listeners who enter into the rooms of
Sarah's music can't help but feel like part
of the family, like an unexpected guest
received with generous hospitality. After
visiting and hearing her shared stories and
songs, we all leave a little more sure we're
not alone on this spiritual journey.
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