Sarana VerLin
Encyclopedia
Sarana VerLin is a violin
ist, a singer-songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist
. She was the vocalist/violinist of the bands Natasha and Dark Carnival and violinist for numerous bands.
starting at age 10 and performed in The International Youth Symphony which was founded by Windsor Symphony Orchestra conductor Matti Holli. After high school, she played guitar and rock violin with other musicians for many years. In 1979 after a feature article about women in rock appeared in the Detroit News, she decided to front her own band called Natasha which won an award for Best New Talent. They were active until 1985 and during that time she also worked on projects with grammy award winner Don Was
, grammy award winner Eminem
producer Steve King and Marilyn Manson
/Debbie Harry
producer Ben Grosse
. They toured extensively throughout the midwest and Canada.
She is in the Detroit Metro Times Hall of Fame after winning best instrumentalist 3 years running for the Detroit Metro Times Music Awards (a.k.a the Detroit Music Awards
). She has been featured in numerous articles in the Detroit Free Press
, Goldmine (magazine)
, Trouser Press
, Metro Times
, and the Detroit News as well as television and radio appearances.
Sarana was one of the original members of the supergroup Dark Carnival, which was a rotating group of superstars from the Detroit Area...most notably Niagara
, Ron Asheton
, Scott Asheton
, Cheetah Chrome of the Dead Boys and poet Jim Carroll
.
In 2004 she switched her talents from rock to celtic, performing at midwestern renaissance
and pirate festivals such as the Michigan Renaissance Festival
for the next 4 years. Her most well known and popular song written during that time is St. Brendan's Reel, a song about St. Brendan.
After reappearing on the Detroit music circuit in 2009, she won Detroit Music Awards
Outstanding Instrumentalist in the Acoustic category. In 2010 she won Detroit Music Awards
Outstanding Folk Act as a duo with Billy Brandt and received several other nominations in various categories. Her music has been heard worldwide from Australia to England to Japan and her song "Knock On Wood" was featured on Taxi Talk video in 2010. VerLin's recording of 'Kyrie' was featured in a Haiti Rescue film soundtrack for Maryland's Fire & Rescue team.
She has also appeared in two films which were shot in Michigan. She is credited with playing the part of a renaissance fiddler in All's Faire in Love
and also Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
where she was a journalist photographer.
Sarana currently splits her time between Detroit and Stroud
.
, the guitar
and the baritone violin
. Her current style blends the roots of Celtic, Folk and Americana.
, Toronto
, Windsor, Ontario
, New York City
, Boston
, Cleveland, Toledo, Ohio
, and Southwest England.
In 2009 she performed solo and with various musicians during the summer tour, performing at Detroit Metro Times Blowout, Hamtramck Blowout, Scarab Club Musings Series, Dunegrass and Michigan Earth Day Festival as well as individual venues.
In May of 2010 she toured 2 weeks around Exeter
with music partner Billy Brandt. Arriving back in the US in June to begin the heavy summer touring season, she performed solo, as a duo with Billy Brandt, or with full band linup (Brandt on guitar/mandolin/vocals, John Holk on bass/vocals, Drew Howard on dobro/mandolin, Chris Degnore on guitar, and Todd Glass on drums.) Festivals included WYCD
Downtown Hoedown, Dunegrass, Mackinac Island Music Festival, Arts, Beats and Eats, Crazy Wisdom Concerts, and St. Dunstan's Cranbrook Concert Series.
In 2011 VerLin returned to England with Billy Brandt and added Stroud
, Crediton
and Exmouth
to Exeter
May dates. From June through September the Michigan tour included festivals such as Ann Arbor Summer Festival
, Concert of Colors
with Don Was
All-Star Review, Arts, Beats and Eats, Assembly Line Concert, Thumbfest, Detroit River Days Festival, Crossroads Music Festival, Bluewater Festival and concerts at Chelsea Sights & Sounds, Black Cat Concert Series, Stone Arch Concert Series, Trinity House Concerts, and Stonehouse Concerts.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, a singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
. She was the vocalist/violinist of the bands Natasha and Dark Carnival and violinist for numerous bands.
Biography
Sarana was classically trained on violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
starting at age 10 and performed in The International Youth Symphony which was founded by Windsor Symphony Orchestra conductor Matti Holli. After high school, she played guitar and rock violin with other musicians for many years. In 1979 after a feature article about women in rock appeared in the Detroit News, she decided to front her own band called Natasha which won an award for Best New Talent. They were active until 1985 and during that time she also worked on projects with grammy award winner Don Was
Don Was
Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
, grammy award winner Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
producer Steve King and Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
/Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
producer Ben Grosse
Ben Grosse
Ben Grosse is an American record producer and mixer, who has worked on numerous albums. He currently works with a staff at his own studio, The Mix Room, in Burbank, California...
. They toured extensively throughout the midwest and Canada.
She is in the Detroit Metro Times Hall of Fame after winning best instrumentalist 3 years running for the Detroit Metro Times Music Awards (a.k.a the Detroit Music Awards
Detroit Music Awards
The Detroit Music Awards was initially proposed in 1988. Presented by the Motor City Music Foundation, the multi-genre awards ceremony was established to bring recognition to Detroit area musicians. The first award show was held in 1992 at Detroit's Music Hall, and moved to the State Theatre in...
). She has been featured in numerous articles in the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
, Goldmine (magazine)
Goldmine (magazine)
Goldmine, established in 1974, is an American magazine that focuses on the collectors' market for records, tapes, CDs, and music-related memorabilia. Each issue features news articles, interviews, discographies, histories, current reviews on recording stars of the past and present. Discographies...
, Trouser Press
Trouser Press
Trouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
, Metro Times
Metro Times
The Metro Times is the largest circulating weekly newspaper in the metro Detroit area. Supported entirely by advertising, it is distributed free of charge every Wednesday in newsstands in businesses and libraries around the city and suburbs...
, and the Detroit News as well as television and radio appearances.
Sarana was one of the original members of the supergroup Dark Carnival, which was a rotating group of superstars from the Detroit Area...most notably Niagara
Niagara (artist)
Niagara is a musician and a painter. She was the lead vocalist of the punk rock bands Destroy All Monsters and Dark Carnival.-Biography:...
, Ron Asheton
Ron Asheton
Ronald Frank Asheton was an American guitarist and co-songwriter with Iggy Pop for the rock band The Stooges.Asheton is ranked as number 29 on Rolling Stones list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time....
, Scott Asheton
Scott Asheton
Scott "Rock Action" Asheton is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band The Stooges...
, Cheetah Chrome of the Dead Boys and poet Jim Carroll
Jim Carroll
James Dennis "Jim" Carroll was an author, poet, autobiographer, and punk musician. Carroll was best known for his 1978 autobiographical work The Basketball Diaries, which was made into the 1995 film of the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Carroll.-Biography:Carroll was born to a...
.
In 2004 she switched her talents from rock to celtic, performing at midwestern renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
and pirate festivals such as the Michigan Renaissance Festival
Michigan Renaissance Festival
The Michigan Renaissance Festival is a Renaissance fair, an interactive outdoor event that focuses on recreating the look and feel of a fictional English village called Hollygrove during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the latter half of the 16th Century...
for the next 4 years. Her most well known and popular song written during that time is St. Brendan's Reel, a song about St. Brendan.
After reappearing on the Detroit music circuit in 2009, she won Detroit Music Awards
Detroit Music Awards
The Detroit Music Awards was initially proposed in 1988. Presented by the Motor City Music Foundation, the multi-genre awards ceremony was established to bring recognition to Detroit area musicians. The first award show was held in 1992 at Detroit's Music Hall, and moved to the State Theatre in...
Outstanding Instrumentalist in the Acoustic category. In 2010 she won Detroit Music Awards
Detroit Music Awards
The Detroit Music Awards was initially proposed in 1988. Presented by the Motor City Music Foundation, the multi-genre awards ceremony was established to bring recognition to Detroit area musicians. The first award show was held in 1992 at Detroit's Music Hall, and moved to the State Theatre in...
Outstanding Folk Act as a duo with Billy Brandt and received several other nominations in various categories. Her music has been heard worldwide from Australia to England to Japan and her song "Knock On Wood" was featured on Taxi Talk video in 2010. VerLin's recording of 'Kyrie' was featured in a Haiti Rescue film soundtrack for Maryland's Fire & Rescue team.
She has also appeared in two films which were shot in Michigan. She is credited with playing the part of a renaissance fiddler in All's Faire in Love
All's Faire in Love
All Faire in Love is a 2009 romantic comedy film directed by Scott Marshall and written by R. A. White and Jeffrey Ray Wine. The film stars Owen Benjamin as Will, a college student who is assigned to work at a renaissance fair by his professor after missing several classes, and Christina...
and also Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story is a 2009 movie directed by Thomas Carter, starring Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. and NAACP Image Award winner Kimberly Elise. It is a movie based on the life story of world-renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson from 1961 to 1987. A Johnson and Johnson...
where she was a journalist photographer.
Sarana currently splits her time between Detroit and Stroud
Stroud
Stroud a town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England.Stroud may also refer to:*Stroud, New South Wales, Australia*Stroud, Ontario, Canada*Stroud , Gloucestershire, UK*Stroud...
.
Style of music
Sarana VerLin's primary musical instruments are the violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and the baritone violin
Baritone violin
A Baritone violin is a member of the violin family and has two specific meanings:* a violin tuned an octave below conventional violin tuning . This is commonly accomplished by stringing a standard violin with heavy gauge strings, sometimes specially manufactured for this purpose. Oversize...
. Her current style blends the roots of Celtic, Folk and Americana.
Festivals/Touring
Sarana VerLin has toured extensively throughout the Detroit/Ann Arbor area as well as mini-tours in upper Michigan, ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Cleveland, Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, and Southwest England.
In 2009 she performed solo and with various musicians during the summer tour, performing at Detroit Metro Times Blowout, Hamtramck Blowout, Scarab Club Musings Series, Dunegrass and Michigan Earth Day Festival as well as individual venues.
In May of 2010 she toured 2 weeks around Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
with music partner Billy Brandt. Arriving back in the US in June to begin the heavy summer touring season, she performed solo, as a duo with Billy Brandt, or with full band linup (Brandt on guitar/mandolin/vocals, John Holk on bass/vocals, Drew Howard on dobro/mandolin, Chris Degnore on guitar, and Todd Glass on drums.) Festivals included WYCD
WYCD
WYCD is a radio station in Detroit, Michigan. The station is the only country music station in the Detroit area. WYCD's offices and studios are located on Woodward Heights . near Interstate 75 in Ferndale, Michigan...
Downtown Hoedown, Dunegrass, Mackinac Island Music Festival, Arts, Beats and Eats, Crazy Wisdom Concerts, and St. Dunstan's Cranbrook Concert Series.
In 2011 VerLin returned to England with Billy Brandt and added Stroud
Stroud
Stroud a town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England.Stroud may also refer to:*Stroud, New South Wales, Australia*Stroud, Ontario, Canada*Stroud , Gloucestershire, UK*Stroud...
, Crediton
Crediton
Crediton is a town and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon in England. It stands on the A377 Exeter to Barnstaple road at the junction with the A3072 road to Tiverton, about north west of Exeter. It has a population of 6,837...
and Exmouth
Exmouth
Exmouth is a town in Devon. It may also refer to:Places*Exmouth Peninsula in Southern Chile*Exmouth, Western AustraliaPeople*Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth , a British naval officerShips...
to Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
May dates. From June through September the Michigan tour included festivals such as Ann Arbor Summer Festival
Ann Arbor Summer Festival
The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is an annual display of performing arts, outdoor entertainment and community spirit in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Each year, the three-week event offers dozens of performances, events, activities, exhibitions, parties and more, with eclectic music, dance, theater, film,...
, Concert of Colors
Concert of Colors
Concert of Colors is an annual music festival held in Detroit, Michigan presented by New Detroit, Inc., the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services , Arab American National Museum and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra...
with Don Was
Don Was
Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
All-Star Review, Arts, Beats and Eats, Assembly Line Concert, Thumbfest, Detroit River Days Festival, Crossroads Music Festival, Bluewater Festival and concerts at Chelsea Sights & Sounds, Black Cat Concert Series, Stone Arch Concert Series, Trinity House Concerts, and Stonehouse Concerts.
Awards
- 2000 listed in the Detroit Metro Times Hall of Fame after winning 3 years running Best Instrumentalist.
- 2009 VerLin won the Acoustic/Folk Instrumentalist award at the Detroit Music AwardsDetroit Music AwardsThe Detroit Music Awards was initially proposed in 1988. Presented by the Motor City Music Foundation, the multi-genre awards ceremony was established to bring recognition to Detroit area musicians. The first award show was held in 1992 at Detroit's Music Hall, and moved to the State Theatre in...
with 2 other nominations. - 2010 VerLin along with music partner Billy Brandt won the Folk Artist/Act award at the Detroit Music AwardsDetroit Music AwardsThe Detroit Music Awards was initially proposed in 1988. Presented by the Motor City Music Foundation, the multi-genre awards ceremony was established to bring recognition to Detroit area musicians. The first award show was held in 1992 at Detroit's Music Hall, and moved to the State Theatre in...
with 4 nominations in different categories. Hersong "Gravity Down" won the Black Crystal Songwriting Challenge. - 2011 VerLin won Acoustic/Folk Instrumentalist and Acoustic/Folk Album awards at the Detroit Music AwardsDetroit Music AwardsThe Detroit Music Awards was initially proposed in 1988. Presented by the Motor City Music Foundation, the multi-genre awards ceremony was established to bring recognition to Detroit area musicians. The first award show was held in 1992 at Detroit's Music Hall, and moved to the State Theatre in...
with a total of 11 nominations in several categories.
Discography
- Slip of The Lip/Crocodile (1981)
- Mandatory Music Tremor Records Compilation (1982)
- WLLZ Motor City Rocks Compilation (1983)
- WLLZ Motor City Rocks II Compilation (1984)
- Unity Gain Compilation (1985)
- GutterPups (2004)
- GutterPups - Live on the Street of Red Lanterns (2005)
- Amadon Crest - Live (2007)
- Sarana VerLin - Half (2009)
- Billy Brandt & Sarana VerLin - Live From Billy'sBasement (2010)
- "New Atlantic Sound Volume 1 (UK)" (2010)
- Rock N Reel Magazine Compilation (UK) (2010)
- Carnival Girl - Live and Otherwise (2010)
- US/UK Compilation - Distant Thunder (2010)
- Sarana VerLin - Bats & Butterflies (2010)