Sara

Sara – Veden Äärelle

On the previous album He kutsuivat luokseen (2006) Sara focused on new beginnings, the conflicting feelings of loss and liberation, as well as acceptance of the past. Now, the fifth time around, Sara turn their sights towards where they came from – Veden äärelle, which in English translates to by the water.

After releasing three albums (Narupatsaat 2000, Kromi 2002, Saattue 2003) during the first years of the new Millennium, Sara flew under the radar for quite a while. A three-year hiatus was followed by a fresh start, hooking up with a new drummer Andreas Bäcklund and a comfortable place under the wings of a new record label. The newly-motivated and ambitious Sara returned into the lights with its fourth album He kutsuivat luokseen (2006), which was exceptionally well received by both fans and the Finnish media.

Veden äärelle is the title of the fifth Sara album. While the band was looking for liberation from past ties on its previous album, this time the themes of the songs reflect some sort of need to anchor in and take a look behind. An effort to accept the change of your surroundings, an attempt to identify the pieces of the past that should be carried along and that make the past truly worth longing for.

Whereas the texts touch upon the past, musically the band is more on a new turf than going back to something it’s already done. The ever-present melancholic undertow hasn’t gone anywhere, but this time around the material shows glimpses of light and hope. Sara, guided by producer Jyrki Tuovinen, has pushed its limits to put out an album full of versatility and vision.

Four of the five current Sara members (Joa/voc>r, Antti/gtr, Tommi/gtr, Kristian/b), born in a small town of Kaskinen on the western coast of Finland, put the band together during the mid-90’s. Even though all of the guys have moved out from the town that is the birthplace of Sara, the band itself permanently resides in Kaskinen, where the five still regularly get together.

Laine kerrallaan (maa oli tuolla jossain kun päivät muuttuivat vuosiksi) was the first single and video lifted from the album that’s finally released on May 21, 2008. The band is ready to take on the live audience during the festival season, followed by a more extensive club tour during the Fall of 2008. Stay tuned for tour dates!