I am not an traditionally spiritual person.  I know however, that in many aspects of my life I’m very blessed.  I’m blessed so much in some categories, that I sometimes take things for granted, or fall short of realizing just how important and special they are.  You can’t live in New York City without having a rushed and somewhat insane existence, but this should be more a reason for me to appreciate Sarah Kinlaw and the music she makes as Soft Spot, than an excuse to acknowledge its existence on the periphery of my life.  Sarah has been my room mate for the past year and a half or so, but this shouldn’t belittle or make any less of her unquestionable talents, of which there are many.  Not only is Sarah one of the kindest, most open minded, caring and honest  people I’ve ever met, but she also is a performer of a rare and high order.

Moving to New York nearly five years ago, after much time spent acting, singing and growing up in North Carolina, Sarah’s list of creative credits is enough to make your eyes cross.  I have never met anyone so willing to try new things and to explore different aspects of her artistic self.  Bits in a music videos, roles in plays,  gigs singing music to kids at  hospitals and birthday parties…the list goes on and on.  Although she seems to have a Midas touch when it comes to almost everything she sets her mind to, Sarah’s singing voice and the music that she sets it to are perhaps her most magical and surprising asset.  With so much experience performing, there is a naturalness and a conversational quality in all that Sarah writes and sings, yet it’s the directness of her poetry and the shockingly  pure sound of her voice that drive this material home.

Sarah has been wanting to make her own music her whole life and after picking up a ukulele about two years ago, that dream has quickly turned itself into a reality.  With the creative and emotional support of Sarah’s long time best friend, boyfriend and partner in crime Bryan Keller the journey has been swift and fruitful.  Bryan is one of the most passionate, knowledgeable and gifted musicians I’ve ever come across and his Yin to Sarah’s Yang is another large piece of the equation.  Inspiring, encouraging, playing along with and expanding upon the music that Sarah makes has no doubt made the dream of making music even more exciting in it’s fruition.  Bryan also makes cool sounds on his own under the name “Brigham“, but to hear him play with Sarah is to witness the musical manifestation of perhaps the most inspiring long term relationship I’ve ever been around and this is rewarding in ways both personal to me and obvious to anyone who hears the results.

Soft Spot has been recording their songs under the loving ear of Colin Alexander and their first record (which will be self titled) should be finishing up soon.  In the meantime, if you happen to be in New York or North Carolina at all coming up, Sarah is playing a small handful of what will be great shows, starting tonight at one of my favorite local, acoustic music spots, Northeast Kingdom, located right off the L train’s Jefferson stop in Brooklyn.  The rest of the dates are as follows:

Here is a video of Sarah singing one of my favorite songs of hers, “Guilty Love”:

Here also are some new Mp3s off Sarah’s upcoming album:
Sarah Kinlaw – Half a House

Sarah Kinlaw – Sunflower Girl

Sarah Kinlaw – Hopelessly Human

More updates to follow!  See you at the shows!

NOTE!!  The beautiful drawings for Sarah’s myspace and album that I’ve used in this post were done by the very talented Courtney R. Eagor who’s work can also be viewed at her website here.