Sarah J. Hyland

Biography

“Sultry stylings of Melody Gardot mixed with the jazz sensibilities of Norah Jones”

Australian jazz singer Sarah J Hyland has newly returned to Sydney from New York City, having brought her original debut album, “A Girl Like Me”, to a roundup of prestigious jazz and live music venues around Manhattan in order to make her first inroads into the US market. Notable appearances included packed-house performances at Greenwich Village’s legendary The Bitter End, the Lower East Side’s Rockwood Music Hall and Washington Square’s Zinc Bar. At Nolita’s Eight Mile Creek, she took advantage of a visit by award-winning Australian bass player and Thirsty Merc band member Phil Stack, who joined her on stage in a unique trio, which also included The Hipstones’ singer-piano player Mark Palmer. Sarah is currently working on new songs she plans to debut this July 2010 so stay tuned to this spot!

Sarah J Hyland: Betty Boop meets Billie Holliday! Melding traditional jazz influences with pop and blues, folk storytelling, jive and subtle R&B beats, Sarah J Hyland is bringing a new twist to jazz music with her release of “A Girl Like Me”. The album recounts Sarah’s exploration of relationships and the ups and downs that stem from each experience. The resulting songs take the listener on an emotional journey that ranges from despair to irony, frustration to self-effacing silliness.

“The album covers serious experiences, but does it in a very playful way musically,” says Sarah. The Hunter Valley native launched her professional career in Sydney and then broadened her repertoire in New York. “It’s serious fun because I wanted it to be musically light-hearted, even though some of the topics were quite painful for me at the time. The songs cover difficult topics that anyone can relate to, especially love and loss, but there’s always humour that comes out of the carnage.”

Sarah is available to perform with her own jazz quartet or as vocalist in The Groove Academy

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