Sara Mitra is a singer, songwriter and bandleader. Her new music forges an original, alternative sound at the junction of folk, jazz and psychedelic blues. A Time Out ‘Critics Choice’ live act, Mitra’s second album ‘Losing You’ (produced by Ben ‘Nostalgia 77’ Lamdin) will be launched at The Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston on Sunday May 10th 2015. Recorded using vintage analogue tape technology, ‘Losing You’ will be released Monday 11th May 2015 as a limited edition vinyl LP, with digital downloads of the album also available.
First recorded during her second pregnancy, and completed whilst caring for her new baby, Mitra has created a collection of songs steeped in the realities of 21st century working-womanhood. Of Indian and Irish descent, Essex-born now London-based with her husband (jazz drummer Tim Giles), Mitra’s original lyrics are stark yet tender: often exploring subjects considered ‘taboo’ in secular Western society. From the possibility of life-after-death to the navigation of happy-ever-after, these songs of loss versus ‘letting go’ were recorded across a number of dates, fitting around the needs of Mitra’s growing young family. With Ben Lamdin’s (Jamie Cullum, Gregory Porter, Laura Mvula) unique production skills in manipulating vintage analogue equipment, the music was primarily recorded live onto tape, shunning the pervasive ‘auto-tuned’ sound of many contemporary vocal releases.
‘Losing You’ had the exclusive debut of its title track on BBC Radio 2 during a special interview feature with Jamie Cullum. The album’s first single ‘Baltimore Oriole’ received airplay across BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6Music (on Gilles Peterson’s show) and multiple independent radio stations including WahWah45 Records own Wah Wah Radio, who named ‘Baltimore Oriole’ ‘Download of the Month’.
Mitra’s first album ‘April Song’ was released on Impossible Ark Records via Tru Thoughts, chosen as one of Jamie Cullum’s ‘Albums of The Year’ for 2010, and featured as part of the BBC ‘Live At Maida Vale’ sessions for BBC Radio 2. The album was also well-received across Europe, and live performances of songs from the release formed part of a live international broadcast for FIP Radio Paris. A previous UK festival appearance was Brecon 2011, with The Daily Telegraph review stating “Allen Touissaint, Monty Alexander, Sara Mitra and Phronesis were some of the major acts delighting the festival goers at Brecon”. Mitra was also privileged to be part of the Jazzwise to the Power of 15 Festival (2012) at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, providing support for Chris Potter on the final night of the proceedings.
RECENT QUOTES FOR ‘LOSING YOU’
“A wonderful UK singer who really has a very individual sound and a great choice of repertoire as well…I’ve been playing her on the show a lot, (I) really love her versions of standards and her original tunes as well. The music she has been creating with Nostalgia 77 over the past few years is some of my favourite British vocal jazz of recent times” Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2
“Just phenomenal…Emotional/vocal strength, energy, joy and a dream-band” Sebastian Scotney, The London Jazz News
“Something very very special, a stunning little set. Wonderful voice, wonderful woman… Check her out.” Dom Servini, Wah Wah 45’s (Independent record label)
PREVIOUS PRAISE FOR ‘APRIL SONG’
“Especially talented” The Daily Telegraph
“Her skill as a songwriter and honesty as a performer shine through” Mercury Prize Recommends
“Wisely wry…a refreshing mix of the real and romantic.” Jazzwise Magazine
“I love her voice… I love her Englishness.” Gilles Peterson
