Sarah Azzara

Blending indie rock sensibilties, retro sounds, and smart lyrics, Washington, DC songwriter Sarah Azzara’s original style was hailed by critic Mark Jenkins as “effervescent,” and “classic, but not antique.” Spanning multiple rock and pop genres, her unique songs reflect common dilemmas using uncommonly sophisticated lyrics and contagious hooks. Azzara is also skilled at weaving eloquent narrative songs, which she sets in lush rock or pop arrangements. With a wide range of songs currently released, (and more constantly, compulsively being written) Sarah Azzara has shown a remarkable ability to write the kind of song that sticks in the head.

Sarah Azzara (yes, it rhymes) came by her name in a retro kind of way, by marrying DC drummer Ben Azzara (Junction, Delta 72, Razor 18, the Capitol City Dusters, Pup Tent, DCIC, The Caution Curves, etc.) She began her career as Sarah Kenny, playing her music in DC area bars before she was old enough to drink. In the early 90’s, she performed and recorded with shoegaze band Razor 18, which had two releases on New York’s Popfactory label. Her songwriting evolved with bands like Claudine and later, the Dor-Ne’s, with Lida Husik. After running into former Razor 18 band mate Ben Azzara, Kenny joined forces with him and co-produced her first full length album of original music, 2000’s “Revenge of Dangergirl”.

The ensuing years have seen three more releases: “Love and Hate Among the Stars”, an EP split release with Baltimore band Sylvan Screen, and “It Turns Us On”, which includes a booklet of comics art school grad Azzara drew to illustrate her lyrics. She has received praise for her work on NPR’s WAMU, the Washington Post, the Washington Blade, and the City Paper. She’s enjoyed radio airplay from a host of stations all over the USA, and rher song “Lunchbox” (from “It Turns Us On”) was recently selected as song of the month for KMUD in Humboldt County, CA. Azzara was also nominated in 2007 for a WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Association Award) for Best Modern Rock Vocalist.

Sarah Azzara continues to play with her own band in famed DC clubs including the Black Cat, State Theatre,Velvet Lounge, DC9, Galaxy Hut, Iota, and Asylum. In addition to her epinomous band, Sarah plays and writes with post-punk trio Shame Girl. She and husband Ben Azzara are constantly sending sounds out to the blogosphere through the Azzara music blog, at http://www.sarahazzara.com/blog/