Shara Worden
Encyclopedia
Shara Worden is the lead singer and songwriter for My Brightest Diamond
. She was previously a backup vocalist
for Sufjan Stevens
and the frontwoman of Awry.
Worden grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan
, listening to gospel, jazz, and classical music and performing in the church choir.
Worden moved throughout her childhood, and graduated from the University of North Texas
with a BA.
She moved to New York City
, where she continued to study opera, on the Upper West Side
during the day.
She moved back to Detroit, and planted a garden.
.
She made a guest appearance on the Jedi Mind Tricks
album Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
in 2006 and on the Vinnie Paz album Season of the Assassin in 2010.
In 2003 Shara Worden played xylophone and keyboard, and sang background vocals on two tracks of the CD Recession Special by Bogs Visionary Orchestra.
She performs guest vocals on "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid" and "The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing" from the 2009 album from The Decemberists
, The Hazards of Love
, singing vocals for the part of "The Queen". She also is performing with The Decemberists
on their "A Short Fazed Hovel Tour" along with Becky Stark
from Lavender Diamond
. She recently performed vocals on Sufjan Stevens' album The Age of Adz
, notably taking the lead during a section of "Impossible Soul".
My Brightest Diamond
My Brightest Diamond is the project of singer–songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shara Worden. The band has released two studio albums, 2006's Bring Me the Workhorse and 2008's A Thousand Shark's Teeth, along with a remix album Tear It Down and a download-only release through iTunes...
. She was previously a backup vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
and the frontwoman of Awry.
Life
Shara is the daughter of a National Accordion Champion-winning father and a mother who was an organist for their Pentecostal church.Worden grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
, listening to gospel, jazz, and classical music and performing in the church choir.
Worden moved throughout her childhood, and graduated from the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
with a BA.
She moved to 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...
, where she continued to study opera, on the Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
during the day.
She moved back to Detroit, and planted a garden.
Career
In 2006, Shara was nominated for Female Artist of the Year in the PLUG Independent Music AwardsPLUG Independent Music Awards
The PLUG Independent Music Awards, or just PLUG Awards, began in 2001 as a "cartel" of music lovers ranging from DJs and managers to indie retailers and fans.*This event is not in any way associated with the .-2008:...
.
She made a guest appearance on the Jedi Mind Tricks
Jedi Mind Tricks
Jedi Mind Tricks is a hip hop duo with Vinnie Paz from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Jus Allah from Camden, New Jersey. The group was founded by two high school friends, rapper Vinnie Paz and former producer/DJ Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind...
album Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell is the fifth studio album by hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks. It was released September 19, 2006 through Babygrande Records. The first single, "Heavy Metal Kings", featuring Ill Bill of La Coka Nostra, was released in early August through iTunes and a limited...
in 2006 and on the Vinnie Paz album Season of the Assassin in 2010.
In 2003 Shara Worden played xylophone and keyboard, and sang background vocals on two tracks of the CD Recession Special by Bogs Visionary Orchestra.
She performs guest vocals on "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid" and "The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing" from the 2009 album from The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
, The Hazards of Love
The Hazards of Love
The Hazards of Love, released March 24, 2009, is the fifth album by The Decemberists. The album was inspired by an Anne Briggs EP titled The Hazards of Love. According to the band, frontman Colin Meloy set out to write a song with the album's title—eventually leading to an entire album...
, singing vocals for the part of "The Queen". She also is performing with The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
on their "A Short Fazed Hovel Tour" along with Becky Stark
Becky Stark
Becky Stark is an artist, singer, songwriter and entertainer from Los Angeles, California. She is the voice of the band Lavender Diamond. She was raised in Maryland where she began performing as a child. At the age of 13 she travelled to the former Soviet Union as part of a U.S. State...
from Lavender Diamond
Lavender Diamond
Lavender Diamond is a Los Angeles-based Folk/country-pop quartet known for its light-hearted, often winsome sound; its simple, romantic lyrics; and the charismatic, whimsical stage presence and ethereal vocals of frontwoman Becky Stark.-History:...
. She recently performed vocals on Sufjan Stevens' album The Age of Adz
The Age of Adz
The Age of Adz is a 2010 album by American indie folk songwriter Sufjan Stevens, released on October 12, 2010 by Asthmatic Kitty Records. It is Stevens' sixth studio album and his first song-based full length album in five years, since the release of Illinois in 2005.The album features a heavy use...
, notably taking the lead during a section of "Impossible Soul".
External links
- http://www.thelmagazine.com/TheMeasure/archives/2011/01/28/live-shara-worden-gets-fancy-at-lincoln-center
- http://asthmatickitty.com/my-brightest-diamond
- http://pacificlectic.com/2011/10/18/the-evolution-of-shara-worden/