Sara Jelley on SoundBetter

Hi! I'm Sara and I specialize in lead and backing session vocals for pop, edm, hard rock, musical theater, and folk. I have professional experience as both a contemporary pop/rock singer as well as extensive classical training. I can switch my sound from Hard Rock to Pop to Broadway to EDM, from young to more mature, in a heartbeat.

I have performed in front of 20,000+ people, and have shared stages with Gretchen Rhodes and John Cruz.
I have professional experience as both a contemporary pop/rock singer as well as extensive classical training. I can switch my sound from Hard Rock to Pop to Broadway, from young to more mature in a heartbeat.

I am a singer and a songwriter with a soulful, heartfelt feel, who can sound like a cross between Jewel, Dar Williams and Sarah McLachlan, or a combo of Dua Lipa and Paramore. My voice is clear, versatile, potent, powerful, soulful and honest. My lyrics are raw, vulnerable, real and super relatable.
I regularly collaborate with the same recording engineer/producer as Paul Simon, Mick Fleetwood, Lily Meola and Mishka, and also with EDM producers such as Frank Iva.

Topline (write lead melody and lyrics): $200 (or $100 + 20% writer credit)
Demo Lead Vocal Track: $200
Final Lead Vocal Track: $400

Add up to 6 Backing Vocal tracks for $400 ($100/addt'l track over 6)

Light editing included, but tuning is not.
**Any pre-production required, i.e. melody and lyric re-writing can be discussed, but will be charged as an add-on fee and/or a cut of writing credit at Sara's discretion.

I also teach voice and songwriting and am available for vocal production and coaching.

Equipment:
Focusrite 2i2
AKG c214
CAD C

Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.

Credits

Languages

English
Japanese

1 Reviews

Endorse Sara Jelley

by Professional String Recording
Verified (Client)
Sara is a true songwriting professional. She hired me to add a full string section to one of her songs and it was really effortless because of her lyric writing. Her vocal lines and fills were also really satisfying to listen to, it was a really heartfelt piece but she still brought some spice! High quality communication, audio, expectations with deadlines, etc. Five stars isn't enough!

Interview with Sara Jelley

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Just writing more, with more people who are serious about this business, and doing it sustainably and consistently.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The creativity I get to play with in making each song my own! Even covers are such a fun playground for me. I just love singing and playing with the different paintbrushes in the human voice.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is your purpose in making music? Where specifically do you want this song to go? Are you writing about topics that align with my values?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Give as much direction as possible regarding feeling and emotion, as well as a reference track or two! What do you want me to sound like? There are infinite options with the voice.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Playskool tape recorder, endless supply of recordable tapes :) 90's kid here.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been singing for 20+ years, recording for 10+ years, vocal coaching for 5+ years.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop of all flavors, acoustic indie, epic trailer, cinematic anthems, ballads, pop-rock, pop-punk. I love to sing from my own voice, although I have deep love for hard rock, and have classical and musical theater training and can imitate many voices, pop is my native language.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I love bringing dynamics to a song- dynamics tell a story on top of the story in the lyrics. I am invested in the arc of the emotions of the speaker, and I will always bring in a build from first verse to last chorus, or a rollercoaster of emotions, depending on how we decide to express the song's meaning.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring exquisite power. I am an actor as well, and I bring real emotion and my full range as a human with a soul. You will get all of me in my recordings, no holding back, no matter whether it is a humongous rock tune or a quiet acoustic song.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I sketch out lead vocals and get them approved by my collaborators, then add backing vocals and send with a draft of the full vocal bed- anywhere from 3-20 vocal tracks. I like to take a few days in between to listen with fresh ears if possible, but if on a deadline that's ok. I take any feedback and record finals of all tracks, and I am happy to record 2 small revisions after that.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a home studio and access to professional studios as needed with advance notice. AKG C214, CAD 2200 Condenser, Focusrite 2i2, Logic Pro
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Ella Fitzgerald, Valerie Broussard, Noah Gundersen, Phoebe Bridgers, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Daughter, Stevie Wonder, Jacob Collier, Mariah Carey, Tash Sultana, MUNA, Lizzy McAlpine, George Harrison
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I put a concrete personality, feeling and poetry to your musical emoting. I work with you to find the exact story, vibe and purpose of the song we are creating. I can create lyrics and melody, or only one part of the topline- whatever you need. I create and deliver to you a cohesive full vocal landscape that you are welcome to choose all or part of to use in your song. I am happy to give life to your already written toplines, whether for a demo or final.