Bio
Lee Safar’s story is different to almost every other musician. In fact, it is probably unique. Like most other musician’s her dreams and aspirations of one day performing her music to a wider audience were developed early in life. However, when Lee left school her hopes to pursue these dreams were shattered by her family’s strict cultural beliefs. At the age of 17, Lee was forbidden to pursue a career in music.
For many years, Lee put her love of music aside and built a successful life for herself. She graduated from University as a Genetic Scientist, worked for a leading multinational IT company as a Senior Business Analyst, got married, bought a house and was happy. Until one day, someone from her past gave her a call. During that conversation, her creative spirit was reawakened and her passion to create music became insatiable.
So where do you start after 12 years of not listening to or playing music? Lee started by changing her life and leaving her full-time corporate job to spend time on her singing, playing and songwriting. She started to demo songs at home and did a few small solo gigs around town in Sydney, Australia.
It was the audience reaction to these early shows that convinced Lee music was now her life and her life was now music. People were reacting to something new and refreshing; here was an artist – who’d come to music later than most – yet with a rekindled spirit and enthusiasm like she was 17 years old again; but this time ready and prepared to take on the world.
Lee’s songs are not the misinformed or immature writings of a teenager, but the precise expressions of feelings and emotions that come from years of experience. When Lee sings, her audience is transported to the very events that shaped her words, then propelled forwards by these reconstructed moments. They feel her joy and sorrow, and share her experiences, thus making new connections of their own.
An aspect of Lee’s songwriting and performance that sets her apart from other musicians, has been isolation for over a decade from the trends of pop music, which has removed superfluous influences or limitations inherent in having partaken. Recognising these qualities, Roy Ayers Jr. submitted one of her early demos for consideration by Evanescence (Wind-Up Records), cementing Lee’s belief that she could do anything she set her mind to.
Yet another quality that sets Lee apart is her strict unrelenting work ethic and a business knowledge honed in her previous life. For each new beginning Lee has a plan, and with the help of a very few select people in the music industry whom she has forged relationships with and whom with she shares goals and beliefs, Lee continued the process towards her next goal of releasing her first album as an indie artist on her own label.
Working as a Barista in an inner-Sydney city Café by day, recording songs and attending music seminars by night, she still managed to fit in talking to as many industry professionals as she could; testing her music on her coffee customers. Her feelings reinforced by positive reactions, Lee knew she was on to something, and within 8 months had her debut EP recorded and ready for the world.
The ‘Who I’ve Become’ EP was a powerful statement about all of Lee’s previous personal journeys. Her work quickly found an audience who related to the honesty in her songs. The track ‘I’m Here’ became a popular on-line hit through her MySpace page, and soon there was a demand for more music and live shows.
Lee launched the EP along with an accompanying Video Trilogy to a sell-out crowd in Sydney shortly after attend the SXSW music conference in Austin, Texas.
Spending her days at the conference promoting the EP and her vision for the future, many people were impressed enough to want to jump on board her train. Lee found musicians who relished live gigs and wanted to write songs with her, catching the interest of the publishers deciding upon tracks for the next Twilight film, ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’. So impressed was producer, Jeff Blue (Linkin Park, Macy Gray, Korn, Limp Bizkit), that he invited her to LA to record songs for a her second EP. So much achieved in such a very short period of time – Lee decided to return home to ensure the work in America could go ahead without a hitch.
On returning to Sydney, Lee played a number of live shows, managing to also incorporate American guest bands whom she had met on along her journey. These shows sold out as word spread of her stunning live performances. Lee also found a growing interest coming from the connection to Twilight. Simultaneously, an American press release hinted at possible artists for inclusion on the New Moon soundtrack. One in particular, was listed as “Sydney singer/songwriter Lee Safar”. When news appeared on the MTV network, Lee’s online presence erupted and she was invited to perform at Official Twilight cast and crew fan events in both Australia and the US. For these events Lee produced a special edition Twilight Tour Pack containing a CD and DVD along with other merchandise.
Since having returning to America to record with Jeff Blue, Lee has set up her own label, ‘The House of Jote’, released another EP, ‘All This Fear’, and a Single, ‘Take Me Away’, which followed on from ‘Who I’ve Become’. She has set up her on-line brand, ‘Dream Angel’ – a blog addressing the everyday challenges and successes on the path to achieving one’s life ambitions. “I’ve learnt that you are what you choose, but coming to that understanding was possibly the hardest thing I think I’ve ever searched for. I want to pass on anything that might help other people who are embarking on the awesome and intense journey of living their dreams so they have the tools that I didn’t have. You will find authentic happiness if you choose to live your dreams, but authentic happiness only comes from the discovery of what makes you authentically unhappy. That’s the whole reason we have dreams, to help us address the unhappy, clear it, and get to the happy. Repeat repeat repeat.”
Currently residing between LA and Sydney, Lee has released her debut full length album ‘Laundry After Midnight’ on 12.12.12. Departing from her previous rock sound, Lee has found a new home in the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) genre:
“I needed to explore my identity and understand how to let go of my past while still learning how to have fun. I figured the best way to discover my truth while writing this record was to take away every safety net I had. That included the way I was used to hearing my music sound. The challenge was to remain me, yet express myself in a new light. I was exploring myself at the core, and exploring EDM at the same time. Turns out we’re a match made in heaven!”
Lee’s new album ‘Laundry After Midnight’ is out now and available on iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon and online everywhere. The first two single from the album ‘I’m Here – evolutionary theory Remix’ and ‘We Jump’ are also available on beatport. The album is being well received by edm producers globally with Lee being called to appear on the upcoming album of a number of producers globally.
To remain up-to-date on all the latest news go to www.leesafar.com and join the mailing list where you’ll your first free taste of Lee’s haunting vocals in a 10 minute mash-up of 8 songs from the album ‘Laundry After Midnight’.
