Present Magazine: Sara Swenson at Lilith Fair
By Pete Dulin
Sara Swenson sits at a table in Mildred’s Coffee House, where it is mildly busy with a dozen customers, to discuss her new music and upcoming show. A small word appears on her colorful print T-shirt, but the word is a mighty one. Awe. A feeling of respect or admiration mixed with a sense of fear or wonder. When Swenson performs before thousands of people on Lilith Fair’s third stage at Capital Federal Park in Bonner Springs on Thursday, July 15, 2010, she might experience, and even inspire in young music fans, awe.
Swenson will be part of a bill that includes Sarah McLachlan, an artist she saw a decade earlier headlining the concert. Others scheduled to appear include Heart, Emmylou Harris, Ingrid Michaelson, local band Vedera, and former Kansas City singer/pianist Julia Othmer, now based in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, Swenson won an online contest sponsored by OurStage to earn a performance spot for Lilith Fair’s Kansas City tour date.
“I entered the contest in late January,” she says. “Sometimes I’ll try things just because. I forgot about it for a few months.” In early May, she checked her ranking against other artists that had also uploaded a song and self-portrait for the open nomination. Thousands of people had listened to and voted for her song “Be Not Far,” placing her in the Top 10 listings.
“It was a boost of confidence to have an unbiased audience beyond my friends, family, and people in the Kansas City music scene rate the music so highly. It was really nice,” she said. “The comments on the site were positive and encouraging.”
Swenson began emailing her friends and fan base to encourage them to vote and spread the word of the contest. That push led to her earning a coveted spot on the Lilith Fair stage.
She chose “Be Not Far” because it was written more recently than songs from her 2008 self-titled debut album. However, the single will not appear on her forthcoming All Things Big and Small, due to be released this September. “‘Be Not Far’ represents where I am musically,” says Swenson. “My songwriting is more intentional lyrically and melodically. Performing live for a year-and-a-half has helped me be more confident and to develop my style.”
Swenson’s music appeals to a wide audience, but she doesn’t create music with a popular style in mind. “I’ve tried to retain a simple, honest aspect that’s easy to connect to,” she explains, “but I don’t want to lock into a sound. I’m still trying new things. I don’t want to stick to a formula.”
All Things Big and Small demonstrates the growth of her voice and music. Backed by a full band, the arrangements are rich and full of texture on some songs. The sparseness of her voice and a piano or guitar capably fills the space on ballads.
The 11-song album, recorded in Nashville, was titled after the sessions were completed. “Producer Don Chaffer and I thought about the trend in my songs – to stop and reflect on what’s going on around you,” says Swenson. The last track became the title of the album. “It seemed to fit and encompassed everything on the record.”
Don Chaffer and his wife Lori, former Kansas City residents that relocated to Nashville and perform as Waterdeep, sang background vocals. Additional support came from singer Katie Herzig, a Nashville transplant from Colorado, and Boulder, Colorado folk musician Gregory Alan Isakov. Billy Brimblecom, Jr., another Kansas City musician now based on Nashville, drummed on the record. Longtime KC-based collaborator Jeff Larison also performed pedal steel and guitar on seven tracks. Greg LaFollette, another Nashville transplant from KC, also played on the record and was the assistant engineer. This superb support cast aided Swenson in creating songs that would slide comfortably into a playlist next to music by Kathleen Edwards, Emily Jane White, Neko Case, and Tift Merritt.
Swenson chose to work with Chaffer, who produced her debut recording, based on their strong rapport. “We’ve developed a great studio relationship and friendship,” says Swenson. “He has the capacity for taking a song in its raw form and blowing it out of the water. Plus, he’s been supporting me since my early days as an artist.”
All Things Big and Small is set for a September 18, 2010 release with a show scheduled at The Living Room in the Crossroads. When Swenson learned that she had secured a spot onstage for Lilith Fair, she placed a few phone calls to hasten production of the CD. “It’ll be available for Lilith Fair and a few shows in late July,” says Swenson. “I’m excited for people to hear it.”
Regarding her Lilith Fair debut, Swenson has no expectations when she takes the stage for a thirty-minute set backed by Larison. “I don’t want to paint a picture and be let down,” she says. “I’ll have a good amount of nerves. You never know who might drop in and listen.”
Link to article on Present Magazine