Born 1981 as the youngest daughter of an immigrant family to Sweden -
her mother Francine - a Jewish dance therapist from the Bronx, New
York, and her father David - a medical journalist from London, England
Sarah Dawn Finer was surrounded by a lot of multicultural ofinfluences from the word go.
She grew up in a commune, full of people, music and impressions during
a period of rich artistic creativity.
With professional singers like Eric Bibb (international blues artist),
and her grandmother Dorothy Irving (professor in the classical lieder
tradition) in the family, Sarah had leading exponents of rich and
diverse vocal traditions close at hand.
Her home resounded with world music along with a multitude of other
musical artists and genres - from Mozart to Bob Marley, Bob Dylan to
Stevie Wonder, Janis Joplin to Nina Simone and all that mixed with
hip-hop and house.
In the Finer-Mirro home, Sarah was also exposed to a lot of dance -
especially by following her brother (dancer) Rennie Mirro's career,
seeing a lot of theatre and film, as well as being immersed in the
fiery global political debates of the day.
At the age of 6, Sarah landed a leading role in a TV series. This
sparked her interest in performing, and soon Sarah and her older sister
Zoie, now a singer and music teacher, joined a touring musical theatre
company for kids, where they danced, sung and acted.
In her early teens, she starred in several Swedish TV series and films,
as well as participating in talent competitions while spending her
school years in the time-honored Stockholm music school of Adolf
Fredrik (AF).
At AF, Sarah sang in choirs with a predominantly traditional, classical
repertoire. Aged 12, to add some spice to her choir practice, Sarah
approached the gospel/soul choir One Voice, staying with the choir for
6 years, giving concerts, touring and recording. The experience led on
to her first own engagements, as a back-up singer behind various
Swedish artists,and a session singer on demo records and jingles for
songwriters and TV programs.
After high school studies at the Stockholm Music Conservatory Rytmus,
Sarah decided to leave school at the age of 17 and embark
wholeheartedly on a career as an artist.
The following years enriched her with a wide range of learning
experiences, as she was extremely fortunate in having the opportunity
to work as session/backing singer/musician with some of Sweden's
top-ranking artists,songwriters and producers.
The list of artists is long and wide (check MUSIC) - from soulful Eric
Gadd and Stephen Simmonds, rockers Teddybears STHLM to ABBA pop icon
Agnetha Fältskog just to name a few, and among the producers e.g.
Anders Bagge, Kristian Lundin, Andreas Carlsson and Peer Åström, who
have written and produced for world artists such as Madonna, Celine
Dion, Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, etc.
For a young artist, Sarah already has a formidable track record of
concerts, tours and recordings, providing invaluable insights into
diverse genres -soul, pop, rock, gospel, house, hip-hop, jazz and
chansons.
She has also starred in musicals and shows such as RENT, Godspell
and LIFE by and with the Swedish performer and writer Jonas Gardell.
Feeling the need for a time-out, Sarah, then 21 years old, moved to New
York, and that's where she really felt inspired and got in to writing
her own material..
Upon returning home, her development as a solo artist continued by way
of duets with popular Swedish artists Moneybrother and Peter Jöback and
appearances at large televised concerts, gala and royal festivities,
like with ceremonies such the Stockholm Water Prize and the Polar Music
Prize.
In 2004, Sarah also met and started collaborating with Glen Scott, a
prominent artist, musician and songwriter then based in London, and
other songwriters abroad and in Sweden to record more and more of her
own songs.
This brings us up to date, to the beginning of what looks like a bright
future and a great musical journey for this singer. During 2005, Sarah
has sung under her own name with different great tours and concerts.
She has also been the opening act for such artist as US-talent Gavin
Degraw.
This year, as opposed too waiting for decisions from others, and in
order to remain somewhat in control without to much influence from "the
biz", she assumed a firm command of her own career and decided to
release her music on her own. And so, in
September of 2005 the live recorded EP - "Sarah Dawn Finer" came out.
2006 Sarah toured and did variety shows, and in 2007 the BIG Break
really happend.. Sarah wrote "I remember love" with Peter Hallström and
sent it in to the Swedish Eurovision Song Contest. The song was 1 of 32
that was chosen out of more than 3200 and in Feb at the Semi finals -
Sarah rockets att the way to the finals, finishes 4th and becomes a
smash hit on the charts and radio with the song. The debut Full length
album came out in May of 2007 and debut of no 2 in the album charts! The
album and the single sold gold status!
