Press

Sarah McLeod has completed her second solo album in Miami with Grammy award winner, Jimmy Douglass, and hip hop guru, Ill Factor. After the sessions (she baked cupcakes for the studio staff!) she moved on to stay in New York to talk to execs from a number of labels in NYC and LA — and a rumoured secret musical collaboration. We hear among those who've heard the tapes are Timbaland's right hand man, Danjahandz. McLeod then heads to Paris and London for showcases and meet and greets with industry and media. There's interest there as the club remix of her rock song He Doesn't Love You remains at #1 spot in Europe after 16 weeks at the top. McLeod will return to New York but is planning a secret Sydney show for the end of the year.

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Excitement is mounting in the US over Sarah’s incredible recording of her yet to be titled 2nd solo album. Sarah finished up the mixes with her producer, Jimmy Douglass, and cult hip hop guru, Ill Factor, and is now in talks with a number of labels in NYC, LA and London. The record is said to have her distinctive rock sound mixed with the genius overtones of Jimmy’s production techniques.

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Sarah’s Goes Hip Hop Sarah McLeod is making a name for herself in the US, where she’s working on her second solo album. Confidential hears Sarah’s gutsy sound now has a hip hop edge thanks to multi Grammy award winning producer Jimmy Douglass and cult hip hop guru Ill Factor. Rumour has it the rock chick has attracted the attention of Timbaland’s right hand man Danjahandz, who dropped in at Jimmy’s studio. Sarah’s also heading to Europe, where her remix of He Doesn’t Love You has spent 16 weeks at the number one spot on the charts.

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Continuing her global adventures, Sarah McLeod is currently recording her 2nd solo album with legendary multi Grammy award winner, Jimmy Douglass. Douglass is producing and mixing the album with Sarah and Grammy nominee, Ill Factor in the Miami Beach studio, The Spot. His passion for Sarah’s music and belief in her talent came after he saw her perform at Canadian Music Week last year. The album, yet to be titled is due for release next year.

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Hungary For More

Sarah McLeod is one of the first Australian artists to score big time in the emerging music markets in Eastern Europe. McLeod, who is currently recording her second solo album in Miami, has been riding high on the charts for 12 weeks with her ARIA Club Chart No.1, He Doesn’t Love You.. McLeod’s producers are legendary Jimmy Douglass and.. Ill Factor, who between them have worked with everyone from Timbaland and Justin Timberlake and Rolling Stones.

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Sarah McLeod Takes Up Role As Host of Channel 7’s new show Coca Cola Live and Up Close!

A music show with compelling content and a different twist on the fan/artist relationship has just begun on the Seven Network. Mediaweek spoke to Clive Burcham, Executive Producer of The Conscience Organisation (TCO), which co-produces Coca-Cola Live n Local. “It was voted the number one music show in FTA last week,” he said. “I think what has been created here is compelling viewing… Program host is solo artist Sarah McLeod.. “Sarah’s great, the thing about having someone like her is that she has a natural affinity with artists. It’s not contrived, she’s having a conversation with a fellow music artist. People do enjoy the nature of the conversation, but often in other music shows the TV hosts overshadow the artists,” Burcham said.

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Sarah Finds The Answers – iconic Aussie rock chick Sarah McLeod shares her interviewing techniques..

Rock chick and former Superjesus frontwoman Sarah McLeod is used to being asked questions. But her new role as host of Channel 7’s Sunday morning music show Coca Cola Live ‘n’ Local Up Close, she’s doing the asking. She has counted Wolfmother, Ziggy Marley, Gomez, Ben Kweller and Little Birdy among her interviewees at various Live ‘n’ Local gigs… The girl who reckons she’s a bit of a “Harry Havachat” was asked by producers to host the show after they saw how natural she was with audience questions at last year’s Blues and Roots show.

Being a musician had its advantages when talking to the stars for example when interviewing Wolfmother she asked frontman Andrew Stockdale about his double neck guitar. “I’ve always wanted to know how he can play one of the arms on it but the other arm is not feeding back and I could see his face lit up straight away and he started smiling and said ‘ah yes, there’s a mystery switch’, then we went into peddles and amps and things and went on from there”…. “I kind of went in as the underdog. Before I went in to interview anyone, I’d have a bit of a word on the side, ‘hey my name’s Sarah, I’m not actually an interviewer at all, I’m a musician, so run with me on whatever it is we’re gonna talk about’. So from the get go they were really gentle with me which was really nice”. Extra footage, fan blogs and other interactive material can be accessed on the show’s website, including Sarah’s video blogs.

Between shows, she took her camera home and filmed her dog Chachi, who always goes on tour with her and is herself a performer. The Border Collie Kelpie cross attracts crowds during harbourside walks in Sydney’s Balmain where Mcleod lives. “She leaps off these walls into the water chasing these giant sticks. Every single day people gather around and watch, it’s like a side-show. And I’m like, Chachi it’s embarrassing man, I’m trying to have a quiet incognito walk with the dog and everyday people gather around to watch and marvel in the splendor of my dog’s gutsiness”…. The remix of her sing He Doesn’t Love You which made #1 on the ARIA Club Chart has been doing well in the US…

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Beauty Turns Out A Fox

It aint easy being rock n roll but some people make it look as simple as smashing guitars. Take Sarah McLeod for example the woman with the supermodel looks and rock n roll vocal chords is the former frontwoman for hard working Australian band The Superjesus, released her first solo album Beauty Was A Tiger in 2005, is the token rockstar interviewer on new music show Live n Local Up Close and is about to jet off to the US to record her new album. And she does it all while looking effortlessly rock.

Since the Superjesus split in 2004 to allow its members to pursue independent projects, McLeod has pursued life as a solo artist, and will record her 2nd solo album in Los Angeles. “I’m off to the States in 3 weeks so I’m trying to jam in practice between every interview and every other thing on my schedule,” McLeod said. “It’s going to be nothing like Beauty Was A Tiger, I can’t wait, I’ve never been so excited about making an album in my life, I’m really pumped”.

The life of a solo muso is a change for McLeod…. Having given many interviews during her career McLeod has recently been getting a taste of life on the other side of the microphone as a host on Channel 7 and Yahoo! 7’s Live n Up Close music show. “I played on the Coca Cola Live n Local stage at the Blues and Roots Festival last year and I just really enjoyed it and I spoke to the producers a lot about the experience and how much I loved it.” McLeod said. “Then they decided to do it again this year and they asked me to host it. “It’s a new experience for me and I’ve always wanted to try something like it”. McLeod said her music background allowed her to approach interviews from a different angle, talking to bands on an artist to artist level….. So far McLeod has had the opportunity to chat to bands such as Wolfmother, Gomez, and Little Birdy on the show but doesn’t hesitate when asked which musician she would most like to interview. “Billy Joel,” she said.. “Cos I love Billy Joel, I love Billy Joel more than any other artist in my lifetime, he’s my absolute hero.” And when she says it suddenly The Piano Man just seems that little bit more rock n roll.

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Sarah Revs It Up at Formula One Grand Prix Celebrity Challenge!

Melbourne may have stolen our race but there will be a distinct Adelaide flavor to this year’s Formula One Grand Prix. Local girls Laura Csortan and Sarah McLeod will compete in the Celebrity Challenge. “I’m going to win or I’m going to die trying” Sarah says jokingly. At least we think she’s joking. More than 25 celebrity drivers from a range of fields, including sport, fashion and the arts, will get behind the wheel of a BMW One series. This car is capable of reaching speeds of more than 215KM per hour. “My first car was an orange Datsun 180b so I’m busting to get into the car”. The singer is trying to make friends with one of the other drivers “so I can do the Malachi Crunch.” The term refers to a signature move by the Malachi Brothers on the TV series Happy Days and involves 2 cars ramming an opponents car simultaneously. “I have absolutely no apprehension in doing this move” Sarah laughs.

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The Rock and The Beauty

It was all change for Sarah McLeod last year. The rock chick famous for fronting The Superjesus was now out on her own. She recorded and released a debut solo album, Beauty Was a Tiger, and made a promise to herself: To rock harder than she’d ever rocked before. And embrace the lifestyle that comes with it: To party harder than, well, anyone else.

“I turned everything completely upside down,” Sarah explained at the time. “Destroyed my safety net, and removed every creature comfort that had kept me swimming. I wanted to break myself apart and then build back up again.”

A year on, Sarah’s got that out of her system. She’s spent much of this year performing acoustic shows in clubs around the Australia. It’s the first time in her career that’s she’s ever taken to a stage completely on her own. And she’s loving it. So are her loyal fans across the country.

“It’s something that I always wanted to do but didn’t have the courage to do before because I didn’t think I’d be able to hold the stage alone,” Sarah says. “I always thought it would be really scary. I finally got the courage to do it and I’m really enjoying it.”

Sarah has a new single from Beauty Was a Tiger. It’s called All But Gone and it’s one of the most beautiful and personal songs Sarah has ever written and performed. Personally, All But Gone represents something of a bridge between Sarah’s old world and the new, which explains why the single comes with a selection of acoustically recorded songs.

Also keeping Sarah busy is her wonderful collaboration with Paul Mac – a track on his new album titled Never Been Before. Sarah has joined Paul on stage several times since late last year performing the song live.

While most music fans still know Sarah McLeod as the singer of The Superjesus, Sarah herself is now completely focused on forging her future on her own terms. The partying isn’t completely over, don’t worry about that. The rock chick inside her is still strong and she’ll be back on stage with her band – The Black Diamond Express - any minute now, but Sarah also feels there’s some serious work to get done outside the group.

“Everything I do these days is trying to prove to myself that I’m good enough to do it alone,” she says. “Even now with the whole going solo thing, and now I’m doing these acoustic solo shows, I’m constantly trying to prove to myself and everybody else that I’m good enough to do this.

“If I’ve had some hardships along the way, it just makes me stronger. It’s good for my songwriting. If I get there I’ll know that I earned every bit of it. I don’t mind the ups and downs, I think that they’re good for you. They add layers to your character, which can’t be a bad thing.”

After everything Sarah McLeod has been through, all the success with The Superjesus and all the traumas that came with it, this is the start of something important for Sarah and her fans. A new approach, a new attitude to life and music.

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Rock Diva Is happy To Unplugged

Rock singer Sarah Mcleod said doing her live acoustic shows had improved her singing and playing because there was nowhere to hide. The former Superjesus front woman and now solo artist said playing acoustically forced her singing/playing hand and that performing every night had been the best practice. “I used to write around my abilities,” she said… McLeod doesn’t see there is a use-by date for female rock musicians.. “I can’t see why you can’t keep going if you’re writing good songs” she said. “It’s the music that drives things..”

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Sarah Sings Own Tune

Former Superjesus lead singer Sarah McLeod has made quite an impression since striking out on her own.. McLeod has been notching up sell-out shows for much of the year alongside drummer Mick Skelton.. Her latest single He Doesn’t Love You… from her debut solo album Beauty Was A Tiger.. McLeod said the single was probably the most raw and powerful track on the album. It showcases the vocal ability and rock solid songwriting that keeps her sitting comfortably upon Australia’s Queen Of Rock throne. He Doesn’t Love You is described as a gutsy song that everyone can relate to. It’s been a huge hit in Australia and overseas..

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Sarah McLeod made over club style? Who’d a think it? Well that’s what happened – Australia’s first lady of rock has been given remix treatment by Hook n Sling to devastating effect. He Doesn’t Love You began life as a track from her record beauty was A Tiger, Sarah’s first solo album since departing from her frontwoman role in the Superjesus. Her distinct smoky vocal made the track instantly identifiable and perfect for a club make-over. So successful has the remix proven that it’s now sitting at #2 on the ARIA Club chart…. DJ”s love it and so do the punters. This record screams anthems.

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Sarah McLeod “My Style”

Sarah shares her fashion tips on being a rock chick. “I’m pretty basic – skinny jeans, cowboy boots, belt, singlets. I funk it up with a scarf, rings or bracelets… I’ve been a rock chick my whole life, but lately I’ve embraced my feminine side by adding colourful scarves to soften..”

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Sarah McLeod performs at the Pantene Yen Young Women Of The Year Awards. Sarah is an ambassador for the Young Women Of The Year Awards and in doing so has reached out to many young women via radio, print and online interviews.

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Australia’s Queen Of Rock Sarah McLeod chats about the Music, the Madness.. Sarah McLeod rocks and we’re not just talking about when she’s on stage. When OK! Invaded her home for our photo shoot, we discovered one of the most honest, fun and downright cool people we’ve ever met.

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Surrounded by her new band while talking up the virtues of wearing sunglasses during photo shoots, Sarah McLeod is every bit the classic rock chick… a mix that lets everyone know she is destined for the stage. Hitting the stage that afternoon to a room full of keen kids… she feels like she’s cheating a crowd if she doesn’t give the best show possible… McLeod abandons her barely used stool and leaps onto the bar.. – to the delight of the young crowd.. it’s that.. take it or leave it attitude that’s seen McLeod survive in the business where others haven’t.

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Right now a Sarah McLeod song is being concocted. Maybe not right now, but she’s being pro-active. If there isn’t a guitar in her hands she’s playing with record-ey things on her laptop, or cooking dinner and listening to AC DC. Maybe even napping. It’s all part of the process… Not only can she wail like a banshee and softly sing like an angel, she goes hard on stage with a guitar while she’s doing it. It’s a sweaty and energetic affair… being one of the most familiar female faces in Australian rock music has come after years of hard work, writing and touring…. “The best time is having a song before anyone else has heard it. It seems so pure when it’s just me and the song; with no outside opinions whatsoever, it’s the best feeling in the world. I will listen to it to death and then I won’t be able to stand it anymore but them’s the breaks. We can’t wait to hear what she’s got to say. It’s not everyday a hot rock chick plays guitar… is reputed as a lovely person and takes boys for private ‘tunnel’ adventures in the school playground. Oh yeah, in case you needed any more reason to fall in love with her, she rides a Ducati Motorbike.

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