Sarah McLeod (musician)

Sarah Yvette McLeod (born 1 February 1973) is an Australian singer-songwriter known primarily as front-person of Australian rock band The Superjesus.

Sarah McLeod
Mcleod at One for the Road benefit concert. Enmore Theatre New South Wales 23 November 2015
Background information
Birth nameSarah Yvette McLeod
Born (1973-02-01) 1 February 1973
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Genres
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, piano.
Years active1994–present
Labels
Associated actsThe Superjesus, Sarah McLeod,
Websitesarahmcleodofficial.com.au

McLeods first solo release Beauty Was a Tiger, was released in September 2005 and peaked in the top 40 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album's first single, "Private School Kid", a duet with The Living End's Chris Cheney (July 2005) also reached the top 40, on the related ARIA Singles Chart.

McLeod's 2017 album, Rockys Diner showed a departure from the familiar rock persona by exhibiting her song writing versatility and allowing her favoured rock and roll influence to shine through.

In 2018 McLeod launched her own lifestyle clothing line Bad Valentine describing the brand as being “dedicated to the celebration of self confidence, empowerment and freedom of speech.”

During the initial stages of COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne Victoria, March 2020, McLeod performed a live-streaming solo set on her social media. The set was from her “Killin It Till I’m Dead” tour which was cancelled due to social distancing restrictions. Sarah McLeod utilised this performance to formally launch “McLeods Wolfpack” an online community and social club.

McLeod relocated to Queensland during Victoria, Australia’s COVID-19 lockdown of 2020, allowing her to be one of the only Australian artists to continue touring live during the back half of 2020. McLeod is currently slated to undertake her One Electric Lady solo tour across Australia in February 2021 where Sarah will perform sets on both guitar and piano for live audiences.

Early life and family

Sarah Yvette McLeod,[1] was born on 1 February[2][3] 1973, to parents Don and Rosemary. She grew up in Adelaide with her older sister Leah McLeod (born 1971), a former television presenter.[2][4]

McLeod attended St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School and began singing in her late teens. In 1990 she commenced a university course, doing a bachelor of arts at Flinders University in Adelaide.[5] 3 months into the course she went on a holiday with friends to Bali, where she was invited to join a Balinese band. She enjoyed playing on stage and performed with the band every night during her visit.[5] McLeod later remembered "I could already play a bit of guitar by then but did little more than sing and play to my buddies at home."[5] Upon her return to Adelaide, armed with a new passion for performing, she quit university and formed her first group, Fallen Down Monster.[5] She displayed her vocal and guitar skills, and fun-loving, energetic stage presence. Fallen Down Monster performed indie band covers,[5] and McLeod wrote original tracks which were not recorded.

Career

The Superjesus
Main article: The Superjesus

Late in 1994 she joined Chris Tennent to form an indie guitar rock band, Hell's Kitchen, which later became The Superjesus.[6][7] Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane described McLeod's "captivating voice and melodic rhythm guitar."[6] In May 1996 the group issued their debut four-track extended play, Eight Step Rail, with all the tracks co-written by McLeod with her bandmates.[8] Jonathan Lewis of AllMusic noticed McLeod's singing: "Sounding like a cross between Liz Phair and Catatonia's Cerys Matthews, McLeod's voice was a major drawcard; strong, confident and rarely lapsing into the girlishness that characterized some of The Superjesus' contemporaries."[9]

At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997 the Superjesus won Best New Talent and Breakthrough Artist – Single for Eight Step Rail.[10] Then released their first full-length album, Sumo (June 1998). The group released two more albums, Jet Age (October 2000) and Rock Music (May 2003), before they split in 2004.[7]

First album: Beauty Was a Tiger

In 2005 Sarah McLeod launched her solo career, she signed with Festival Mushroom Records,[11] releasing her first single, "Let's Get Together", in May.[12] Her debut solo album, Beauty Was a Tiger, followed in September that year;[12] it was co-produced by McLeod with Matt Lovell.[13] All the tracks on the album were written either by McLeod or with Chris Peters, bass player from the Detroit band, Electric Six.[13] It peaked at No. 31 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[14] For touring her backing band, the Black Diamond Express, consisted of Patch Brown (guitar), Grant Fitzpatrick (bass guitar), Stu Hunter (keyboards) and Mick Skelton (drums).

Following the release of another single, "Private School Kid" (July 2005) – a duet with Chris Cheney from The Living End – McLeod parted ways with Mushroom Festival Records. It peaked at No. 33 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[14] During 2006 she released two more singles, "All But Gone" as an independent EP, and "He Doesn't Love You"; both included remixes.

Live & Acoustic

During 2006 McLeod performed acoustic gigs with drummer Mick Skelton, which led to an Australian tour, playing tracks from Beauty Was a Tiger, some Superjesus material and several cover versions.[11] This resulted in the release of the live album Live & Acoustic.[15]

Madness

In October 2006, the Hook n Sling remix of "He Doesn't Love You" reached No. 1 on the ARIA Club Charts.[16] It was also released in the United Kingdom and the United States.[11] She spent much of 2007 and 2008 first travelling in the US and then living in London, where she recorded songs for various projects. In November 2009 she released a single, "Tell Your Story Walking", a song influenced by the new wave sound of the 1980s, which became a surprise hit in the club scene. The second single, "White Horse", was a hit in clubs both in Australia and around the world.

In 2009 Sarah McLeod posted further material including "Love to Last". In August 2010 she released a single, "Double R", with remixes by John Roman, Autoerotique and Grandtheft. It was followed by a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark".[17] Her third album, Madness, appeared in November that year, which included both "Double R" and "Dancing in the Dark".[18]

Screaming Bikini

McLeod, using the pseudonym Sammie Scream, started a new group, Screaming Bikini, featuring KJ from The Art, which issued a single, "Easy", followed by their debut self-titled album in May 2011.[19] "Dirty Beats/ Disco Bass" and "Dancing Alone" were also released as singles.

The Superjesus reformation and 96% Love Song Book

From November 2012 the Superjesus reunited, initially for a concert in Adelaide in the following February; it was followed by an Australian tour in May and June 2013.[20] In 2013 McLeod released an EP, 96% Love Song Book, under her own name. It was influenced by her love of 1950s and 1960s music and included an a cappella, barbershop quartet track, "The Greatest Pretender". In 2014 McLeod and Jeff Martin (of the Tea Party) released a duet single, "Man the Life Boats"; they toured Australia to promote it. This collaboration was followed by a Tea Party / The Superjesus national tour in 2014.

In 2015 The Superjesus teamed up with Baby Animals for a co-headlining tour, She Who Rocks, during May to June.[21]

The Superjesus issued their first single in 12 years, "The Setting Sun", in June 2015.[22] They followed this with the Love and Violence EP, released in 2016.

In September 2018, McLeod joined Scott Darlow, Adam Brand, Jack Jones and Todd Hunter to re-record Dragon's "Rain" with all net proceeds from the sale to go towards to the Buy-a-bale program in support of Australian farmers suffering from the Australian drought.[23]

Discography

Albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[14]
Beauty Was a Tiger 31
Live & Acoustic
  • Released: December 2006[15][24]
  • Label: Naughty Mouse Ink
  • Format: CD
 —
Madness
  • Released: 22 November 2010[18]
  • Label: Roustabout, Universal Music Australia
  • Format: CD
 —
Rocky's Diner
  • Released: 18 August 2017
  • Label: Revolution
  • Format: CD, digital download
 20
[25]

Extended plays
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Extended play details
Untitled
  • Released: 3 December 2010[26]
  • Label: Roustabout Records
  • Formats: Digital download
96% Love Song Book
  • Released: 24 February 2013[27]

Singles
Year Song AUS
[14]		 AUS Club Album
2005 "Let's Get Together" —— Beauty Was a Tiger
"Private School Kid" 33—
2006 "All But Gone" ——
"He Doesn't Love You" 991
2009 "Tell Your Story Walking" —— Non-album single
2010 "White Horse" —— Untitled EP
"Double R" —— Madness
"Dancing in the Dark" ——
2011 "Love & Honour" —12
"Falling Out of Love"(EDX feat Sarah McLeod) —— Non-album single
2012 "The Real Thing" (I Am Sam feat Sarah McLeod) — Non-album single
2013 "Hurricane" (Dzeko & Torres feat Sarah McLeod) — Non-album single
"Magik" (Patrick Hagenaar feat Sarah McLeod) — Non-album single
2014 "Man the Life Boats" (by Sarah McLeod and Jeff Martin) —— Non-album single
"Scouts Honour" —— 96% Love Song Book
2018 "Rain" (with Scott Darlow, Adam Brand, Jack Jones and Todd Hunter) —— Non-album single

References
  1. "'Private School Kid' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 14 September 2015. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Private School Kid; or at 'Performer:' Sarah McLeod
  2. Grant, Sarah (29 December 2009). "Superjesus's Sarah McLeod: I Just Wanted to Grow Up". Yahoo7. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  3. Gibbs, Ed (19 January 2014). "How I unwind: Sarah McLeod". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  4. "Series 1: Episode 6 Under Achieving Garden". LifeStyle: Home. Foxtel. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  5. Jay Beaumont, ed. (26 February 2015). "Interviews: Sarah McLeod". Greater Port Macquarie Focus (112): 15. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  6. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Superjesus'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 28 August 2004. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  7. Holmgren, Magnus. "Hell's Kitchen/The Superjesus". hem.passagen.se. Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  8. "'Ground' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 14 September 2015. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Ground; or at 'Performer:' Superjesus
  9. Lewis, Jonathan. "Eight Step Rail EP – Superjesus". AllMusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  10. ARIA Music Awards for the Superjesus:
  11. Gutierrez, Evan C. "Sarah McLeod | Biography & History". AllMusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  12. Cashmere, Paul (18 April 2005). "Sarah McLeod signs with FMR". Undercover News. Paul Cashmere, Ros O'Gorman. Archived from the original on 18 May 2005. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  13. McLeod, Sarah; Lovell, Matt; Peters, Chris; Hunter, Stu; Melder, Shane; Peters, Drew; Cheney, Chris (2005), Beauty was a tiger, Naughty Mouse Ink: Festival Mushroom Records, distributor, retrieved 26 September 2015
  14. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Sarah McLeod". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  15. McLeod, Sarah (October 2006), Live and Acoustic, Naughty Mouse Ink. National Library of Australia, retrieved 26 September 2015
  16. "The ARIA Report: ARIA Club Tracks" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 23 October 2006. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  17. Padgett, Ray (3 August 2010). "Song of the Day: Sarah McLeod, 'Dancing in the Dark' (Bruce Springsteen cover)". Cover Me. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  18. "Madness / Sarah McLeod [sound recording] / – Version details". Trove. Roustabout Records. National Library of Australia. November 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  19. Williamson, Brett (23 August 2011). "Sarah McLeod's new Screaming Bikini". 891 ABC Adelaide. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  20. Egging, Kiel (7 March 2013). "The Superjesus Announce 'The Resurrection Tour'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  21. Pinnegar, Shane (22 May 2015). "Interview: Sarah McLeod, The Superjesus". 100% Rock Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  22. Culpan, Troy (4 June 2015). "The Superjesus have signed with Social Family Records and announce their new single, 'The Setting Sun'". May the Rock Be with You. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  23. "Welcome To The Drought Breakers- Australia's Newest Band Raising Money For The Farmers". Triple M. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  24. "Sarah McLeod: Live & Acoustic Sarah McLeod". iTunes. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  25. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  26. "Untitled – EP: Sarah McLeod". iTunes. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  27. "96% Love Song Book – EP: Sarah McLeod". iTunes. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
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