Sarah McLachlan

Canadian Singer, Canadian

Famous Canadian from Halifax, Nova Scotia

 Singer, songwriter, guitarist

Sarah McLachlan's road to musical stardom has not been the long, arduous one travelled by many of her peers. Already "discovered" at age 17, signed to a recording contract by age 19, and with a respected album to her credit at age 20, McLachlan bypassed much of the starving artist's dues-paying that typically accompanies a rise to recognition. She has also been deliberate and decidedly non-trendy in her recordings, with only four original releases spanning nearly a decade. Along with her ambient music, McLachlan's trademark vocal style--a banshee soprano accented by a wailing falsetto and tempered with dark, mellow tones--allows her to bridge styles and has made her a crossover hit on alternative, popular and adult contemporary radio. Elysa Gardner in Rolling Stone commented on her voice of "astonishing strength and clarity (that) may drift at any given time from a sirenlike middle range to a ghostly soprano."

Born January 28, 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia; daughter of Jack (a marine biologist) and Dorice McLachlan; married Ashwin Sood, February 1997.

Trained in classical guitar, piano, and voice; worked as a dishwasher and counterperson in Halifax; discovered by Nettwerk while playing with a new wave band in Halifax; signed a contract with Nettwerk at age 19; moved to Vancouver; released debut album, Touch, 1988; organized Lilith Fair, touring festival of female musical acts, 1996.

Selected awards: CASBY Award, 1991, for Most Promising Female Vocalist; CASBY Award, 1992, for Female Vocalist of the Year; Juno Award, 1992, for Best Video of the Year ("Into the Fire"); MuchMusic Video Awards, 1994, for Best Adult Contemporary Music Video and People's Choice - Favourite Female ("Possession").

Addresses: Record company--Nettwerk Productions, 1250 W. 6th Ave., Vancouver, B.C., V6H 1A5; phone: (604) 654-2929; fax: (604) 654-1993; e-mail: info@nettwerk.com. Sarah McLachlan Fan Club--Box 330, 1755 Robson St., Vancouver, B.C., V6G 3B7; phone: 1-800-764-3472.

Sarah McLachlan Home Page, http://www.sarahmclachlan.com/