Biography
Calgary Singer/Songwriter, Sarah Beth Keeley has constantly evolved as an artist fully immersed in her love of music, and one with the ability to increasingly bring her songwriting to fruition. As well, she performs with a voice that increasingly puts her in a special place among emerging artists in the country, country rock and roots genres. That voice embraces all the sweetness it needs when sweetness is the essence of the song, yet in that same voice there can also be a boldness, conviction, humour, pathos and more. Reinventing Myself, her newest album, and the meaning behind it, is really the total consolidation of this evolution. The title track of the vibrant new record is an irresistable country-rock tune that triumphantly declares that "I made it through the tunnel and came out the other side" In Sarah Beth's own word, that title, and indeed the song itself, reflects her growth as an artist and a person. "it is about my life and my music career. It's about getting to a point where you're comfortable in the skin you're in," she has commented on more than one occasion. Such positive messages infuse many of the emotionally eloquent songs on the compelling record. It's a work that showcases the reinvented Keeley as an artist with a unique perspective and musical style. The result is an album on which her rich songwriting and breathtaking vocal skills are properly framed in instrumental and production work of the hiest grade. The refreshing stylistic diversity to its ten songs make for a standout unique style. SBK calls Reinventing Myself " a country album with a rootsy rock edge," described as Canadian Country Music's answer to Sheryl Crow. Sarah comes from a musical family and is no musical novice having spent the last decade working on her craft as a vocalist, a songwriter and a performer. Sarah sends a signal about her satisfaction in knowing she has 'done her time' in preparing for a new leap forward in her musical story. Could that be a cue? Her first album was called just that, TIME, a record featuring all-original compositions which also garnered SBK the Music Box Award for Top New Female Artist in 2005. That album hinted at the creative potential that now fully blooms on Reinventing Myself, a giant artistic leap forward. SBK's soulful voice and emotionally charged strumming captured the attention of acclaimed Producer/Mixing Engineer Brian Malouf.(Madonna, Celine Dion, Elton John). The A- List of featured instrumentals on the album included Cary Park (Boy Howdy), Cory Churko (Shania Twain's fiddle player), and pedal steel legend Jay Dee Maness. There's definite crossover potential with such songs as 'Reinventing myself' and the slowly building and full-blooded "When was the last time."While the new single 'with your Goodbye," is already drawing a deep emotional response from those hearing it. SBK cowrote many of the songs on the album. On the performance side, Sarah was a special guest performer on Sean Hogan's 2008 Western Christmas tour, doing double duty with an opening set prior to joining Sean for his show also featuring Steve Fox and other top Canadian artists. Believers in SBK's talent are Canadian-based custom guitar manufacturers Dot on Shaft. An SBK Black acoustic Signature Series is to be released in Spring of '09. "I am truly a proud endorsee and grateful for their belief in me as a Canadian musician," says SBK. "We were so impressed with her music, her sweet voice, and her amazing personality," says 'Carparelli Guitars' owner Mike Carparelli. "We are so proud to be endorsing SBK." Sarah Beth is the proud owner of the first SBK signature series guitar, now also available for fans to purchase. Word about Sarah Beth Keeley's talent is quickly spreading, and Reinventing Myself is scoring rave reviews across Canada and beyond. Top British roots magazine MAVERICK, for instance, termed it 'a fine modern pop-country album from an excellent Canadian singer-songwriter and gave it a 4 out of 5 star review." Don't just take their word for it, check it out for yourself. At a time in which so much music is formula-driven, an Emerging aftist with such an original vision deserves to be embraced.
Oct 3, 2009 - sang at the VIP Party for the Dick Damron Tribute 'Countrified' in the Chrome showroom - Deerfoot Casino Calgary
CCMA 2009 - Elevation Entertainment New Artist showcase, Boon Country for the Karizma Entertainment presentation of Jo Hikk -opening i the guitar pull with Bryce Pallister, Craig Moritz, Roger West and Misty Lee Olson, singing at the Royalty Records party, Ole Publishing party and the Post Award Gala with Patricia Conroy, Jason Greeley,Jason McCoy and more
BC BOUND TOUR 2009 (Calgary, Edmonton, Kamloops, Penticton, Vancouver, Kelowna)
15 + dates over Calgary Stampede including Olympic Plaza, Windows of the West Stage (BMO CENTER) and singing the National Anthem at the Grandstand
Lilac Festival - Calgary May 2009
Casino Tour throughout Alberta March/April 2009
Feb 19th - interview Performance at the SHAW T.V. studios Calgary February 2009, SBK's cd is added and at all CBC radio stations across Canada
Sean Hogan's 5th annual Canadian Country Christmas tour w/Sean Hogan, Duane Steele, Steve Fox and Samantha King in Nov/Dec, 2008
Live Debut of “Re-inventing Myself” Industry showcase @ The Ironwood Calgary
Fan CD Launch Show at Country Roads -Calgary Aug 08
Breast Kept Secret- Iron wood- Charity Fundraiser Aug 08
Headline Artist for “Daines Rodeo & Picnic” Aug 08
Calgary’s “Greenfest Summer Series”- Tompkins Park & Stephen Ave Main stage July 2008
Nashville Showcase at the Douglas Corner Café during CMA festival June 2008
Showcase with Dark Horse Artist promotions in Springhill Tennessee June 2008
1060AM - Main stage - Lilac Festival, Calgary on May, 2008 MEDIA HIGHTLIGHTS, QUOTES & REVIEWS – SARAH BETH KEELEY
ACMA Launches - Sarah Beth Keeley is one of the artists chosen for the line-up at the official
Launch in Calgary on November 19, 2008
SBK is the 'special guest' on the Canadian top 10 countdown with Glenn Rogers on all Golden West Radio stations
(AB, SK, MB) on Thanksgiving weekend 2008
“SOUNDS CANADIAN” LAUNCHES “INDIE ROW” OCT/NOV 2008 -Sounds Canadian is Canada's #1 Country Radio Show!
We are proud to announce that SBK is one of the FEATURE artists for the upcoming launch of Indie Row. www.indierow.ca INDIE ROW is a unique and powerful tool dedicated to showcasing the talent of new, independent and up-and-coming Canadian country artists.
OCT 2008 -Sarah Beth Keeley featured on Shaw TV’s show- “STIR”-This week in Country. On – camera interview and filming of the show at the Ironwood . SBK’s live debut of The CD “Reinventing Myself” with Phoenix -Sept 23, 2008
SBK charting in EUROPE! The single “HOW MUCH” is currently #28 in Norway Sept 28,2008
Guitar Endorsement with Canadian based custom manufacturer “Dot on Shaft”. “SBK” Black Acoustic Signature Series to be released in Fall08/ Spring 09
SEPTEMBER 2008- MAVERICK COUNTRY MAGAZINE REVIEW
Modern pop-country from excellent Canadian singer-songwriter.
This is Sarah Beth Keeley second album and she has pulled herself up to the realm with fellow Canadian artists like Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Terri Clark & Michelle Wright. SBK cowrote several of the songs on the album & the songs are all top notch, very much in the current pop-country mould. What makes this album standout- say from similar albums by the likes of Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift or even Martina McBride- is the cleaner production, which allows the songs to really breathe. There is a crew of multi-talented musicians on the album, including Cary Park (Deanna Carter, Carlene Carter, Boy Howdy), Canadians Kevin Lato & Cory Churko (Shania Twain, Kelly Clarkson fame) and most importantly pedal steel guitar legend Jay Dee Maness. It is his tasteful playing that lifts so many of these tracks into the classic league. The wafting steel lines in the background of “With Your Goodbye” blend perfectly with Keeley’s soulful voice and emotionally charged performance.
The title tune (Reinventing Myself) is a country –rock tune with ponderous electric lead and an authoritative vocal work out. Good Kind Of Love is an incredible, bouncy country song with some hot pedal steel- one of the happiest break up songs of the year. Downtown With The Girls is also very country with shimmering steel guitar, Through It All is a very perspective song from one so young, whilst David Mead’s Touch Of Mascara fits Sarah perfectly. A mid-tempo song with loads of steel & fiddle licks, whimsical vocals and a GO-GO’s finish that is quite irresistible. Yeah a fine modern pop-country album from the North Country. AC
SEPTEMBER 2008 - COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS REVIEW
SARAH BETH KEELEY
Reinventing Myself - Indie
Produced by: Brian Malouf
10 selections - playing time 37:41
Reinventing myself/Through it all/Touch of
Mascara/With your goodbye/when was the last time/
Downtown with the girls/How much/After you/Good
kind of love/Let me be your friend
The title of Sarah Beth Keeley's sophomore album makes a fairly accurate statement of her music path...some 'reinventing' is involved in this new collection of tunes which takes the Calgary singer/songwriter to new plateaus from her debut TIME released in 2004. This time around SBK has broadened her songwriting with local writers like Dave Woods of Barrie, Ontario who has collaborated on 3 songs here with Keeley and LA based Writer Peter Argyropolouss. It's not only the songwriting enhancements that make this album work so much better. The recording itself, produced, mixed and engineered by Hollywood studio veteran music man Brian Malouf (he's engineered projects by everyone from Celine Dion to Madonna), adds immeasurably to the overall strengths of the album.
Still, it takes a voice to pull this off, and Sarah Beth Keeley was certainly up to the task this time out. In addition to co-writing a lot of the songs here, Keeley delivers them with a much stronger vocal confidence. Several of the cuts are knockout items - the mid-tempo GOOD KIND OF LOVE is given a Jessie Farrell soundalike touch, and it has the potential to be a sizeable chart hit. Also strong is the bluesy country ballad WITH YOUR GOODBYE, and the mellow, lost love message song WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME. Listen also for a potential hit in THROUGH IT ALL, a nostalgic-flavored item.
There's a lot of pop/country here, not surprising considering where the album was created (Hollywood), found in tunes like TOUCH OF MASCARA, LET ME BE YOUR FRIEND, AFTER YOU etc. and that gets balanced neatly by some edgier stuff like the country/rockin' title REINVENTING MYSELF, and the mid tempo song DOWNTOWN WITH THE GIRLS. REINVENTING MYSELF was recorded in Los Angeles with Brian Malouf producing. Among the session players are veteran steel guitarist Jay Dee Manus and Canada's Cory Churko (fiddle) of Shania Twain fame.
AUG 20,2008- COUNTRY EH MAGAZINE- review by Hope Ulrich
Sarah Beth Keeley is a strong new contender in the country music scene. SBK’s voice is at the heart of each track and the first single “Reinventing Myself” is from her heart, it’s all about being comfortable in the skin you’re in, while “Downtown With The Girls” speaks to everyday girl living in the suburbs. “Through It All” wants us to remember to try again with love & that this time it just might work and then there’s the heartfelt plea with “When Was The Last Time” as the lyrics sing about reconnecting with loved ones. This album is a good listen with lots of radio friendly singles to look forward to.
AUG 18 2008- 101.5 CD REVIEW-A review of: "Reinventing Myself" / Artist: Sarah Beth Keeley
Martina McBride, Terri Clark and now - Sarah Beth Keeley. You only know if someone is smiling because you can see them. Yet while listening to SBK sing on her new cd "reinventing myself", you have the unmistakable feeling that she is grinning from ear to ear! There's usually a story behind each song that is created by an artist. Sarah Beth doesn't disappoint by surrounding each track on this cd with an interesting hook, great lyrics and a beat that you just can't help but love. You will experience the highs with "How Much" / "Good Kind Of Love" & the title track - "reinventing myself". Your mind will float back to love's lost as she sings - "With Your Goodbye". You might find yourself shedding a tear as you listen to "Let Me Be Your Friend". This exceptional cd also contains the lyrics to each song. Allowing the listener to learn the words and sing along with SBK as she takes you on a hayride of emotions. Music is feelings put into words. This album is filled with love, heartache, friendship and fun times. Don't pass up this wonderful, musical ride of life. ~ Dave Currie / Host - The Rockin' Roadhouse - 101.5fm