Welcome to the World of Contemporary Sophisti-Pop, Where 90s pop meets 80s grooves!
SharaLee is a vocalist and songwriter that sings like a breath of clean ocean air. Her interpretation of contemporary sophisti-pop creates a magic- like experience. The music is a sophisticated brand of 90s R&B with an 80s pop groove. Her voice is intuitive. She uses only real instruments. It is like a fine wine with no rough edges. Her lyrics paint vivid and emotive pictures of love, life and loss. Sophisti-pop is emotionally carried. It gives warm hugs or slaps in the face. The melodies and lyrics are sticky in a very personal way. In SharaLee’s music you don’t have to go searching for meaning. These are real stories relating to real life. Time travel to the days of tapes and Walkmans happens with every sophisti-pop beat. For fans of Sade, Simply Red and Anita Baker, SharaLee’s band is the next step. It’s as if Teena Marie, Diana Ross, Seal and George Michael are all in the studio together.
Musical Evolution
The Early Years
I have always been surrounded by music. My earliest childhood memories are of family gatherings where it seemed like everyone played an instrument. Gospel music may have been the first sound heard in the womb. And a good four-part harmony still moves my soul today. I
t was the influence of this church music that initiated my desire to sing and, as often the case is, my introduction to the stage. My other early musical exposure was to classic rock. As a child of the 80’s the musical tastes of my parents from 60’s and 70’s also contributed to my own musical preference. Even in naming me, they drew from the artists of their day referencing Sharalee Lucas, the contemporary Christian Artist.
The Discovery Years
I’ve always loved to sing. It allowed me to express my emotions. I was involved with choir in high school and played around with karaoke and artist mimicry. I sang the latest country, pop and contemporary Christian songs of the 90s and recorded cover demo’s. Those experiences pushed me to explore the uniqueness of my own voice and artistry.
In the early 2000’s I decided to record Christian Contemporary music. I worked with Producer Michael Nowak from Saga Recording Studio in Vancouver, BC. This short album featured original songs from American independent songwriters. It received recognition and radio play on Christian and Gospel Stations across the USA. I knew my Gospel roots were an undeniable part of my artistry, but I still felt like something was missing.
The Songwriter
It was at this point that I decided I needed to be writing my own music. I am an intuitive singer and songwriter, with no official music education. Being primarily a lyricist has its own set of struggles. While I had no problems creating a melody and writing lyrics, my lack of knowledge regarding music theory has lead me to work with some great producer/composers. My first full length album “Postcards” was written and produced with Norman Robidoux, a Canadian music veteran who worked with Celine Dion in her early development years.
As I continued to explore my identity as an artist the one question that has always been a challenge to answer is “who do you sound like?” I have a sound that is uniquely me. But as I have trained my voice and found new musical influences, I continue to hone my sound. 2016 was a big year of investing in my music career. After a trip to Toronto to record the Gospel influenced pop song I wrote called “Together Again” with Producer Mark Zubek, my husband Nathan decided it was time to set up our own home studio in an effort to be able to work on more collaborations.
It was also at this time that I discovered sync licensing and took additional songwriting training on how to write music for film and TV. This musical collection is my journey of self-discovery, life, love and loss reflected by the nostalgia of music from a bygone era. My songs can be heard on Prime TV, Discovery Channel and Young & the Restless.
My songwriting is articulated in an uncommon way, often referencing Biblical values and yet remaining accessible to general listeners. I know there will be a song that will speak to nearly everyone in my collection. Have a listen, if you like what you hear please let me know!
PlayList
Testimonials & Appearances
