Sarah June

Rank #49 San Francisco, CA Alternative / Indie Pop

50% of sales go to the charity Keep a Child Alive.

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About

Members: Sarah June

Sounds Like: Mazzy Star, Ani DiFranco, Amy Winehouse, Neil Young, Elliott Smith

Label: Silber Records, Silber

Manager: Brian John Mitchell

Bio: Sarah June is a sharp-as-a-tack lyricist, prodigal guitarist, with a haunting, soulful, and almost child-like voice. Sarah presents as a waif-like tattooed girl, but behind the distinctive appearance, Sarah is a stunningly talented guitarist, wordsmith, songwriter, and creates an unmistakably uni... See Full Bio

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Status

: #StopTalkingToMeIf you talk about your ex all the damn time. Means you're not over them. Maybe you should call your Ex instead!

Press

“To hear Sarah June sing for the first time is to never forget her; she’s got the kind of voice that sounds like the wind when it howls through door locks and window panes, the high-pitched and breathy wail of a drowned child’s spirit calling your name from the underworld. It’s the kind of voice you run from in your nightmares—not so much haunted as it is chilling—and the moment it raises a hair on your neck or a goose bump on your arm is precisely the moment June’s songs live in. The songs on In Black Robes, a record that made it into Culturespill’s “Best Albums of 2010″ series, are no easier to get out of your mind than the name of the one who first broke your heart. Here, June talks about how she developed her distinctive sound, the many rock ‘n roll pioneers that influenced her music, what other young bands to look out for, the work she’s doing on her third album, and much more.”

— Gianmarc Manzione, Culture Spill

“Great songwriting and a unique voice of this talented songwriter.”

— Yair Yona, Smalltown Romance

“In Black Robes is the work of an authentic American voice whose originality cannot be overstated. No one is making music like this–nobody. Her stripped-down delivery reveals a confidence in her craft that puts In Black Robes on par with some of the most rending acoustic albums ever made–Hurt Me by Johnny Thunders or Springsteen’s Atlantic City come especially to mind. It’s that cycle of songs you only encounter once every few years, performances of such sincerity that they need little more than a lone guitar and a good mic to play it for. The songs almost never linger beyond the four-minute mark, and the record feels like it breezes by in the time it takes to say your prayers. And how fitting that is, because after June takes you on her trip to meet the ghosts that haunt the anguished landscapes where she finds her songs, you just might want to say a prayer or two.”

— Gianmarc Manzione, Culture Spill

“This folk singer songwriter is originally from Detroit, Michigan and now transplanted to San Francisco, California where her unique child-like voice and complex guitar playing have been warming the ears throughout the city. Her sound is a bit gothic and spooky, but dramatic nonetheless and breathtakingly original. With her second album out this year, she has matured in her ability to write songs and communicate her feelings. With song titles like "Cowboy" and "Crossbones in your Eyes," it's apparent that San Francisco has made its mark on this striking lady. Perfect for a dark or ironic film, we're hoping she gets licensed soon onto an indie film or television series, where her creepy singing can perfectly accompany a plot line. Songs we recommend you listen to: "Cowboy", "The Reaper," and "Crossbones in your Eyes."”

— NewBandDaily.com, New Band Daily

“Discover beautifully crafted songs steeped in the folk and blues tradition. 'Cowboy', 'Bluesy Melody' and 'Brand Of Bitterness' have a jazzy feel to them while 'Judgment Day' ("The hooded man with the bony hand / he pointed to me one day") and 'The Reaper' have that scary messin'-with-the-devil storyline of the old blues classics. 'From My Window High', Paper Lantern and 'In Your Chevrolet' are delightfully pure folk, June's voice transporting the songs along while adding a distinctive and original element often missing in tradition folk fare. In Black Robes is a lovely debut record, unusual and unsettling and very enjoyable, with 13 distinctive tunes that should appeal to adventurous folkies and indie listeners alike.”

— The Digital Fix

“Sarah June sounds like she’s singing and playing guitar in an empty room in a big, old, empty house. I played In Black Robes loud in my house, itself old and at the time relatively empty of furniture, and it echoed through every room like she was singing to the walls themselves, to ghosts and cob-webs from the basement to the attic. It may be her voice that makes me think of ghosts. She sounds like a child, like a whisper, like someone not quite of this world. It may also be the cool blues strut in her minimalist guitar playing, the way she sounds like the ghostly reincarnation of an old blues singer, singing of highways, cars, liquor and cards. Or the way she sounds like she’s watching us from afar, like in “From My Window High”: “From my window high / I study you / while you tie your shoes.””

— dave heaton, Erasing Clouds

“Sarah June is a solo singer/songwriter born in Detroit now based in San Francisco. Musically she can be safely categorised as a gothic folk composer with her voice sharing a little in common with Alison Shaw of Cranes and Johanna Newsom. The songs are made up of a single vocal and acoustic guitar with all tracks recorded at home for that intimate, sincere vibe. With a fragile, child-like vocal approach and a guitar style that appears to be infused with jazz, classical and folk influences, Sarah June's music is both interesting as well as deeply personal which makes for a great listen. Become absorbed in the poetic nature of Sarah's lyrical style or just enjoy the sweet guitar playing technique, or do both...it's up to you.”

— Norman Records

“Sarah June’s sophomore album In Black Robes is a fitting reply to her first release – more distinctly personal and more intricate in musicianship. Her strangely fragile yet rich voice floats over guitar that is hypnotically simple, yet unexpectedly intricate. She effortlessly draws the listener in with visual & metaphor-rich songs focused on unique and timeless themes of death, love, and loss. Thirteen songs filled with ghosts and late-afternoon sunlight. Moments of past lives and dreams captured in music.”

— Fluid Radio

“Dubbed “attic-core” thanks to its echo-y home recording, June’s sparse singer-songwriting is undoubtedly indebted to the grand traditions of Americana, yet the majority of its blustery pretence is blown away by her impressively soulful chirrup and deceptively simple – but out of the ordinary – guitar style. Her guitar playing has subtle depths, ranging from the Blues to the smoldering jazz of “Brand Of Bitterness” all the way to the charismatic progressions of PJ Harvey on “In Your Chevrolet”. In Black Robe’s bread and butter however is hushed Americana in line with Georgia’s Horse‘s chilly take on the genre, or indeed the campfire-folk variety pursued by acts like Lay Low.”

— Rob Gannon, Sic Magazine

“Sarah has an undeniably beautiful, almost haunting voice that perfectly complements a whimisical, acoustic-heavy accompanying sound. Vocally, she is totally Myrtle, but musically, she evokes Anya Marina, an artist I spent most of last year (and this year, and, okay, the present) obsessing over. Also noteworthy is the juxtaposition between her dark lyrical content (“The Reaper” is sung from the point of view of a dead girl bargaining with the Grim Reaper) and her rather gentle and soft musical style, somewhat similar to Nick Drake, or even Elliott Smith. But enough with the comparisons! In Black Robes is a beautiful album on its own accord, and it’s another I’d definitely recommend. ”

— Lauren McGoldrick, hearwax media

“econd record from this Detroit bred/San Francisco based artist who records her "goth folk" tunes in her apartment (she not only sings but plays all of the instruments as well). June has a distinctive voice, reminiscent of Alison Shaw of the Cranes and at times, Lisa Germano. Most of the songs are June and her acoustic guitar but with such sparse arrangements the music is full of rich, moody sounds. On opener "Cowboy" a stuttering acoustic guitar spins intricate webs while June's voice grazes over the top while "Judgment Day" casts a bit of an eerie glow over the proceedings mainly due to June's haunting vocals and the gorgeous guitar playing on "From My Window High" again is dark and moody but more hopeful thanks to the heartfelt lyrics. Elsewhere, "Grand or Bitterness" has a jazzy/beatnik vibe to it while "Paper Lantern" is pure folk.”

— Tim Hinley, BLURT

"Innocence and experience are not mutually exclusive in Sarah June's "Letter", a beauty from somedarkholler.com. Her voice is as delicate as spun sugar and she employs luminous, space-filling echoes around both vocals and acoustic guitar, but in her songs there is still a detectable texture of urbane grit. Hers is an open wisdom, wiped clean of bitterness but simply honest, unshaken by fear of neither loneliness nor intimacy; this album will wear well. The album closes with a cover of "When Doves Cry" that replaces the sweat of the original with a slower heat and subtler perfume."

— Gothic Beauty Magazine

“Sarah June has put out her fantastic debut album This Is My Letter to the World. She has a very unique and weird voice, but for some reason I just like Sarah June better. The album also reminds me of Bat For Lashes. She has one of those haunting voices. The album actually reminds me of The Cranes or maybe Mazzy Star. The Cranes were a sort of gothy dream pop band in the 90s. I fell in love with them as well. The music was dark but the vocalist had this angelic childlike voice. Sarah June has this same thing going on, so let me rename the genre dark dream pop folk. I have only had the album in my possession for 2 days now but I have already listened to it a bunch of times. "Charlotte" is one of my other favorite songs on the album. I can't get these songs out of my head. I already know that this album will continue to haunt me for the years to come. There is no going back now. I am now part of the Sarah June fanclub. And I am so glad that I found her.”

— Brad Schelden, Amoeba Music

"Sarah June's sophomore album "In Black Robes", is a breathy, soul-plucking follow-up to her 2008 debut entitledÊThis is My Letter to the World. We're going to go whole hog and just say it: we love this album. No objections there. Sure, we are haunted by ghosts present, past, and future, brought to light by June's signature harmonies in an at times otherwordly key. But all this does not a solely-goth album make. June's style is much more than that, and whether or not she knows it, she owns it. Of course, while that's a major reason why we like her, it's the way she paints emotion-centered visuals with her words that gets us, from constructive observations to back-burner realizations.And now that we think about it, her voice lands somewhere between Talking Tina and Marilyn Monroe. It tickles and weirds us out in a good way. The themes and performance encompassing the overall execution of In Black Robes makes us wonder what kind of inspiration would be necessary for, say, a third album"

— Lindsey Darden, Beat Cave

"Sarah June This Is My Letter to the World (Hand/Eye) This is just wonderful. A dozen darkly dreamy nocturnal lullabies by this girlishly sweet-voiced and slightly eerie singer/songwriter with a knack for reaching deep into the mystic. Fragile, brilliant, eccentric and entrancing. A little Twin Peaks around the edges with a slightly Joanna Newsom-like sort of magical faerie fey aura hovering somewhere between Rose McDowall and Julee Cruise on the edge of a vast dark abyss. Includes utterly gorgeous covers of I Can't Help Falling In Love and Prince's When Dove's Cry in addition to her ten great original compositions, all of which would ideal for sleepwalking to any night of the week."

— George Parsons, Dream Magazine

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Songs

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Play "Judgement Day"

Judgement Day

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'Til You Hit T…

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Cowboy

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Green Is The N…

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Motown

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2011
Jul 7

Two Way inn
Detroit, MI, US | 8:00pm
Two Way inn
Detroit, MI, US
Thu Jul 07, 2011 8:00pm
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Casting Call (CT Pop-Punk): www.castingcallpoppunk.com Giants At Large (NY Pop-Punk): www.giantsatlarge.bandcamp.com Saint Fiacre: www.facebook.com/saintfiacre Sarah June: www.facebook.com/sarahjunesound Chances Are: www.facebook.com/chancesareus
2010
Nov 14

The Phoenix Theatre
Petaluma, CA, US | 2:00pm
The Phoenix Theatre
Petaluma, CA, US
Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:00pm
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HotDamn! Productions Presents an all ages show, providing an entire afternoon and evening of music. Raffle items from bay area artists, Lucky Lou shoes, Phil Hall photography, and more! 4 BANDS! FANG, BOBBY JOE EBOLA & THE CHILDREN MACNUGITT, THE ACES, SARAH JUNE, AND THE 50/50's
2010
Oct 2

The Hotel Utah
San Francisco, CA, US | 9:00pm
The Hotel Utah
San Francisco, CA, US
Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:00pm
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Sarah June and Unwoman live
2010
Oct 1

The Red Vic
San Francisco, CA, US | 7:30pm
The Red Vic
San Francisco, CA, US
Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:30pm
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2010
Sep 3

Contemporary Art Instit…
Detroit, MI, US | 8:00pm
Contemporary Art Institute...
Detroit, MI, US
Fri Sep 03, 2010 8:00pm
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In Black Robes
MP3: $9.99
Bluesy Melody
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'Til You Hit The Pav...
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Comments

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Mike Glendinning
Very cool.
EAST 22 WEST
Talent with a natural style. Love it. "Stay True"
reflex513
WHAT A DISTINCT AND UNIQUE SOUND
Airway
love the vibe of the reaper, super cool,
SpaceAgeBandits
Amazing sound. Great voice! Keep the music alive Bandits Unite!!!
Dizzomo
Wow - This is the definition of Smooth!

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Stats

Song Plays 7,094
Video Plays 1,758
Total Fans 18,988 -1
ReverbNation Fans 999
Facebook Likes 4,280
Twitter Followers 367
MySpace Friends 13,171 -1
YouTube Subscribers 171
Widget Impressions 13,845 +1

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