Sara Phillips - Sara Phillips

Sara Phillips

Sara Phillips
self-released; 2014

3.5 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Hailing from Montreal, Canada and now based in New York Sara Phillips is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who recently released a self-titled five-song EP Sara Phillips that demonstrates her talents. The EP revolves around her voice and piano, which carry the songs. Her voice has a recognizable, appealing and even commercial quality that you could imagine hearing on a popular radio station. Not only can she sing but also she plays almost all the instruments on the album (besides some of the percussion parts). There is an undeniable melancholy present on the tracks that is often combined with hope and nostalgia.

The first song on her EP is called “Home” and is the most likely candidate to become an accessible sing-a-long fan favorite. It sticks to a predictable formula but nails it with precision. The song doesn't spew with originality but it does contain a ubiquitous commercial appeal that a lot of people will enjoy. 

“Tell Me Now” is a tearjerker that avoids percussion altogether and puts Phillips’ talent on piano and voice front and center. She skillfully implements atmospheric pads and strings that are subtle but effective. “Holding Your Place” is a nice concoction of acoustic guitar, drums, bass and piano. The song provides a much-needed upswing after the emotionally heavy “Tell Me Now.” The album closes with “My Love,” which showcases Phillips giving her most heart wrenching performance. There is no getting around that it is a heavy song that leaves an impression.

It’s obvious from the get-go that Phillips has talent. She has a great voice and is a skilled multi-instrumentalist who plays almost all of the instruments on her record. Her style will have a hard time against indie-loving hipsters but will find accolades amongst a commercial crowd. Fans of artists such as Norah Jones, Sara Bareilles, and Vanessa Carlton will embrace Sara Phillips whole-heartedly.

bandcamp