Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/588468
Welcome back music lovers, to the fifth edition of "The Beat," coming to you from Boston's best shore, the South Shore! For those of you who have been following along, "The Beat" covers the best of the music scene here on the South Shore. In our humble region, we have a bevy of talent from all walks of life within the music industry. It is an honor for me to call many of these people not only my colleagues, but also my friends. With "The Beat" being in print for a little over a year now, I have had the privilege to write about many of these talented friends and colleagues. Some are songwriters, some are producers, others are promoters and others are downright personalities. They all bring something special to the music scene, not only on a local level, but on a regional one as well. During this edition of "The Beat," I would like to pay tribute to some of the women who play a big role in the music community. These are the women who inspire us all to work harder, play better, and be better. Their accomplishments are vast and their talent is undeniable. First up on the list is my good friend, Sarah Blacker. Sarah has been hunkered down in Medford for the past four years and has spent much of that time on the road, delivering her talents to old and new fans alike. Recently, Sarah has been spending more and more time here on the South Shore and we could not be more thankful! Sarah's resume reads like a small encyclopedia. She has been covered by every major media outlet in New England, recognized by The New England Music Awards, The Boston Music Awards but, more importantly, her peers. Sarah's constant flow of material is a testament to the fact that she is such a prolific writer. Her ability to write, however, is only half of what makes Sarah so poised for success. When Sarah performs her music, she is equally steeped in technical proficiency as well as pure emotion, bringing a veteran's confidence to the whole package. Sarah spent several months on the road this summer after a trying year but, she has come through to the other side feeling refreshed and ready to start a-new. Helping her slip nicely into this transition is her new album, "In Waves." "In Waves" has more of an aggressive sound than some of her previous albums, as Sarah plays electric guitar on much of the record. Of course, there is still plenty of chime and sweetness but, there is also a fierce energy in the overall vibe. "Breakout," for example, kicks in with a hooky energy as Sarah's vocals serve as an instrumental soundscape, as well as a vehicle for her lyrics. The drum groove pays a subtle homage to break beats and keeps what would be a straight ahead "groover" interesting and hip. To me, the lyrics also speak closely to Sarah's attitude as pertinent to her career, as well as her personal life. "Ease the Burn," an introspective and reflective tune, keeps true to some of Sarah's folksier roots, with a heartfelt violin spilling an emotional backdrop to Sarah's open and honest lyrics. The non- traditional and more modern components of percussion help propel the song into elements of a rock ballad, without drowning the intimacy of Sarah's message. "It Shows" displays a pop and childlike brilliance that would make Ingrid Michaelson envious. Of course, the title track, "In Waves," serves the album just perfectly as an indie rock song begging you to sing along. Check out Sarah at www. SarahBlacker.com, and drop her a line! Next up on the list is Ashley Jordan. This Harvard, Massachusetts native has accomplished a lot for her age and limited time spent in the music industry. Ashley's resume also reads like a small encyclopedia but, this year, she might have contributed to the most important volume yet…but we will get to that in a second. The twenty-two- year-old singer-songwriter has spent the past few years crafting a pop friendly sound rooted in country and folk.Ashley's approach to her 60 Jay Psaros Ashley Jordan