At the age of thirteen, the boy next door asked Sahra if she wrote music. "I write songs all the time," she replied, eager to impress her neighbor. Sahra sat down and wrote her first song. "It was very bad...," the songwriter laughs. Hundreds of songs later, Sahra's writing has deepened in meaning, experience and sensuality. But the original spark of inspiration has remained fresh...

Sahra spent her twenties enjoying what she calls the designer life. " I moved to London, worked in advertising and led the life of the ex-pat. Lots of money, shopping trips to Milan, trips to the Countryside in my BMW convertible...very comfortable, but I was selling my own soul to buy an image." At 28, she turned her life upside down, leaving her marriage and starting over. Her song, Forgive Me My Beige, is about that period in Sahra's life. "Each color mentioned in that song-beige, gray, red-represents part of the price we pay when we live in denial about who we really are. Comfort is often the booby prize."

The artist's soulful reaction to life is often played out through her music. "To me, writing music is my meditation, my therapy. It's a constant in my life and it's my release. Tears for the Living is the song Sahra wrote after her father died. "That song did not come easily," she recalls. "The first versions were very romantic. My Dad was my favorite human being. But in the end I discovered what was real-loving him enough to let him go, to set him free.

The songs on her first CD cover a diverse spectrum of colors: shades of sensual rock, vivid pop hooks, blue notes and hues of country, folk, cabaret and jazz. Naturally, her influences are as eclectic as her music: Kurt Weill, Leonard Cohen, Madredeus, Greg Brown and Joni Mitchell. "I appreciate intensity. I love music that gets in the blood, lyrics that cut the heart."

As an original, Sahra rebels against easy musical classifications. "Sahra is post-forty, not top forty," says Tim Mulligan, recording engineer at Broken Arrow Ranch. "Sahra" is a triumph for a first CD" says Jane Heaven, DJ at Berkeley's KPFA radio, "spellbinding, quirky, and penetrating, this CD is a pleasant surprise for even the most jaded listener."

"A friend of mine used the analogy that my CD is like a collection of short stories rather than a book with chapters," Sahra recalls. "It's true. I don't have a style that makes all the songs sound similar. Why be pinned down when you're creating your dream? I hope everyone finds a bit of themselves somewhere in the CD."

Although Sahra has written hundreds of songs, until now, she has performed very few, coaxed to the piano and microphone for friend's parties or benefits (My Wish for You she wrote to benefit children in an orphanage in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and it eventually became the score to a film about their plight.) "I'm a songwriter first, and a reluctant performer," she explains, "but performing is a necessity, still it's frightening for me. That's why I had to create this CD. I could sit alone in a room and write another hundred songs but if they aren't heard, what is their value? I keep moving forward because I know that this is what I was meant to do. It's been a great journey."

Now you can join in Sahra's journey-an expression not only of music but of living life bravely.

Songwriting is a gift. I don't know where it comes from but for some reason, it's what I'm supposed to do. I write music for my own sanity and I'd like to say that's enough, but I want more. I want my music to be heard by others, sung by others, and touch souls as often as possible. It's my way of sharing myself in an anonymous fashion. I want everyone to feel the inspiration of what I've experienced, but I don't need to tell the stories.

Provocative songwriting is my form of meditation. There's no room for distraction or being in the head. These songs are straight from the heart. The mind is only allowed in for final edits. I also enjoy writing humorous songs. My fun songs are mainly performance pieces (they work best live) and cover subjects like love letters from the insane asylum and religious zealots. These songs are remnants from living in England for a few years. Picked up the dry humor instead of the delicious accent.

Sometimes I forget this CD is a dream come true. This state of mind causes sleepless nights and blemish outbreaks. Luckily, life keeps reminding me that I can do what feels impossible with the help of others. One great gift I've received by doing this CD is I've learned how to ask for help. I tend to give the human race mixed reviews, but I think I've met some of the coolest people on the planet.

You may like some songs and dislike others. If you do enjoy my music, please buy some CDs, turn it on to friends and let your lips move because it's all about making a buzz. The current marketing budget only covers groceries, so word of mouth helps greatly.

This site is a work in progress. I'd love to see it turn into a community of sorts, so, feel free to communicate. If there are sites you think would link well with mine, please let me know. Leave a message if you're so inclined. Share any info you may think is useful. Also, I enjoy playing at benefits and writing music for causes I believe in, as it's a way I can help out a bit.

Last thought: Say yes, make music, make love, live life fully. Forget but then remember again...it's all good.

This CD was made possible courtesy of numerous giving souls whom I can't begin to name. I feel blessed that this project has happened and the best I can do is say thank you in what feels like a whisper in a roar of beauty....so thanks...

Website photo credits:
Gravity.....photo by Frank Clare @ www.yogimage.com
Pull of the moon.......painting by Steve Brumme @ www.brummestudios.com
Rainbow Girl......... background painting by Michael Grbich @ www.michaelgrbich.com
My Wish For You.........photo by Ray Gatchalian
News and Events...........all photos by Ray Gatchalian except China Town image & Michael Grbich with his art, Capra J'neva
All other photos courtesy of Capra J'neva @ www.sonicinema.com

Special thanks to Sally Lornie @ www.foxlorniejewelry.com for the use of her beautiful jewelry (check out the Peruvian opals on my neck in the Precious Few photo & the crystal necklace on the home page).

A thanks too big to fit in cyberspace to Jimmy and all of the musicians on "Sahra" for the gift of their talents...

Publishing Co:   Used Poetry

Record Label:  curiouSound

Credits: 

Produced by Jimmy Hobson
Engineered and mixed by James Stevens
Recorded and mastered at Proformance Recording, Walnut Creek, CA

All songs written by Sahra, c  2003
Horn and String arrangements by Lorn Leber 

Musicians:
Piano, synthesizers and vocals: Sahra
Background and Harmony Vocals: Capra J'neva except Shame On You, harmony by T.J. Politzer
Guitar: Lorn Leber
Drums: Jimmy Hobson
Violin: Alan Lornie
Bass: Lorn Leber except
Steve Evans, (Pandora's Box, Pull Of the Moon, Sister Goodbye)
John Augney, (Shame On You )
Trumpet: Chris Grady
Cello: Joseph Herbert
Trumpet: Mike Kuntz

Cover Design, Art Direction, Web Design and Photography by soniCinema
Stylist: Rice Brewer
Hair: Pepe
Makeup: Cory Laycock