Sarah Harmer

Sarah Harmer

Electronic Press Kit

Sarah Harmer is a Canadian singer and songwriter born in Burlington, Ontario. She got exposed to a musician’s lifestyle when she older sister brought her to the ‘Tragically Hip’ concert. When she was 17, she was invited to join a Toronto band called The Saddletranps. She stayed in this band for three years until she formed her own band with other musicians from Kingston, Ontario. Their name was Weeping Tile. They released their first independent cassette in 1994. After that they signed to a major label and the cassette was re-released in 1995. Their band quickly became popular with the rock circuit and on the campus radio. She recorded some pop hits originally meant for her father as a Christmas present, but once her family and friends heard it they convinced her to release it as an album. This became the Songs for Clem album. After this she released You Were Here. After more and more records she began to be known. Her fourth album I Am a Mountain got nominated for the Polaris Music Prize in 2006. Her fifth album Oh Little Fire got nominated for three Juno Awards. The album is probably her best so far. The first thing you will hear is a high pitched noise like the sound of a ghost on a winters night or a phone left unattended. Then her band begins to play with the drums beatings and them playing a more rockier style that hasn’t been heard out of Sarah Harmer since she was in the band Weeping Tile. Sarah recorded Oh Little Fire in a studio in Toronto’s east side run by producer Gavin Brown. They also recorded it on Wolfe Island near Kingston. The style of this album is more relaxed pop / rock. “This album shows some of my little wounds,” says Sarah. “My hurt feelings. My reverence for natural beauty. My relationships and love for people. There are a lot of ‘you’s’ in these song. Most of them are people I know. Or knew.” The music in Oh Little Fire is like a refreshing morning walk in a clear country like landscape. This album is quite beautiful, no wonder it was nominated for three Juno awards!The genre of some of her songs is folk but then some is pop / rock or a mixture of both. Folk music is music with lots of acoustics and has a traditional feel. Rock and pop music usually uses guitars and drums and is upbeat. Some of Harmer’s songs are like this while others have a little more of a folky feeling. Her style is very relaxing and free, it’s great for summertime and walks in the country.

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Requirements

  • Requirements for Performing
    • Three microphones and mic stands
    • Two Amplifiers
    • Power Source

Awards

  • Adult Alternative Album of the Year (Nominated)
  • Jack Richardson Producer of the Year (Nominated with Gavin Brown)
  • Recording Engineer of the Year (Album Recorder Nominated)
  • Polaris Music Prize (Nominated)

Media

    Photos

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Press Coverage

  • Sarah Harmer "Oh Little Fire" Album Reweiw

    "Barring the reunion of Weeping Tile that I've been so desperately craving, the next best thing I can expect is a new studio album from the band's former frontwoman Sarah Harmer. We got that this week with the release of Oh Little Fire.

    I've always thought Harmer was at her best when she's playing midtempo rockers or songs with big juicy hooks. Over the last couple of albums though, it's been the introspective songs she's been focusing on. Thankfully that changes this time around. Sure we still get tracks like the mundane "New Loneliness", but those are in lesser abundance.

    Tracks like "Captive" and "Careless" show more energy from Harmer than we've..."

    Snob's Music
  • Sarah Harmer

    "The refreshing serenity of a clear country morning...the dreamy bliss of infinite love...the ethereal wonder of a moonlit encounter by the water's edge...Such images take shape when listening to the pure vocals and thought-provoking music of Sarah Harmer.

    Blessed with one of the most natural, distinctive voices of the decade, this multi-talented, down-to-earth singer/songwriter offers a rich fusion of roots, pop and folk.

    The facts are: Sarah Harmer is currently on break as the lead singer and songwriter of Weeping Tile, the Kingston, Ontario-based band who released an EP in 1994 and two full length recordings in..."

    MuchMusic
  • Sarah Harmer Plays Cannington this Summer

    An iconic Canadian songstress will take the stage in Cannington later this summer to help fundraise for a pair of charities, including a local one.

    Proceeds from Sarah Harmer's show at the Cameron Street Co-op Cafe on July 22 will benefit environmental group PERL (Protecting Escarpment Rural Land), which she helped found, as well as Brock Township's Healthy Harvest program and the Maple Tree Community Garden.

    "She's a friend of the Co-op and we've been trying to get her to do a show here for a while," said Kelly Stacy of the Co-op.

    "We're almost in disbelief that she's actually coming. Our members are absolutely thrilled. I'm sure I'll have no problem finding staff to work that night -- they'll be volunteering."

    Ms Harmer has played shows to benefit PERL in the past and Co-op members had no problem identifying a local cause to support.

    "Healthy Harvest and the community garden are two causes we're very passionate about," Ms Stacy said.

    Billed on Ms Harmer's web site as an "intimate show for great causes," only 25 tickets are available and will be sold in an auction format. Bidding opens June 6 at 9 a.m. and runs until Sunday, June 12 at 4 p.m.

    MyKawartha.com
  • Sarah Harmer in her own Words

    The eco-activist and graceful Ontario singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer, who plays Massey Hall this weekend, speaks about her song Washington, a thoughtful track from her critically-applauded album Oh Little Fire, released this summer. The song concerns her regret over the decision not to attend the Obama presidential inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2009.MEDIASarah Harmer sings 'Washington'I didn’t go to Washington; instead I swept the floor.“A couple of friends of mine decided to make the cold trip down, overnight, so they could be there in the morning for the big day on the mall. It was indecision on my part not to go with them – not feeling spontaneous. I woke up the next morning and regretted not accompanying them. I wrote some of the song that day; I got the melody right away. It took a day or two, on and off, to finish it – which was quick compared to some of the other songs on the album.”Cause the fire needed tending and the windows are so wide/ Sometimes I feel I’m in the world when I’m looking from inside.“I think the song kind of mirrored my reluctance to kind of get out there in the world. President Obama talked about idle hands during his speech. That spoke to me, even though, from a public perspective, I do get out there. But there are times when I feel that I’m just an observer.”I hope you don’t need snow tires through the Pennsylvania night.“It’s in C, a pretty tried-and-true key. An A minor is in there as well – that’s the reflective minor chord that makes an appearance quite frequently. There’s no chorus to the song, which is unique for me. It wasn’t intentional; it just came that way. There is an instrumental, so that breaks up the three verses a little bit.”

    The Globe and Mail
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