Like a lotus, Miss Little has appeared and with her she has brought an original and very powerful music that reflects her view from wherever she is standing or sitting at her keyboard. Few artists resonate in this place and it is my belief that Miss Little brings a new sound to our life for our minds and our hearts to enjoy on this ride with her. Mr. Percival Miss Little was the winner of a website competition we ran to come up with a melody and words to suit a backing track we had recorded. Her offering impressed us for it's unusual lyrics and interesting melody. She also possesses a very strong distinctive voice. Neil Finn / Crowded House Miss Little is all about presenting the story of the song, in whatever way that blossoms. Sometimes it's pretty and sometimes it's challenging for the listener but it is always about being honest. So says Sydney based Miss Little front woman Sarah McCallum who is an accomplished composer, arranger and producer. And it is Sarah's songs that are starting to make a name for Miss Little. Late in 2010 she won the Crowded House lyric writing competition after Neil Finn and band ran a global competition where they put up the backing track of a song they were working on minus any lyrics or melody. The competition was to finish the song adding melody and vocals to the band's track - and Sarah's entry won. The band was so impressed by Sarah's vocals that they asked her to get up on stage with them at the Hordern Pavillion in Sydney. It has been quite a journey. Not your usual pop musician, Sarah grew up in Murrays Bay, Auckland and made a name for herself as an award winning choral composer. Her father Malcolm McCallum is a folk singer and her brother Lewis McCallum is a well-known saxophonist, synth player and producer but it was her mother's Classical violin playing and piano teaching that introduced Sarah to the classical world. She gained ATCL in oboe at the very young age of 15 and also topped the country in both school certificate and Bursary music. She was the first person to receive the NZ secondary students choral composing award and gained a BMUS from Auckland Uni. Sarah's pieces have been sung by choirs around the world and her work The Moon's Glow Once Lit featured on the 2006 Voices NZ CD, which won best classical album at the NZ music awards. In 2007 Sarah received a silver medal at the New York advertising awards for the music she composed for the Allblacks Black Blood campaign. After finishing her composing degree, Sarah felt it time to move country. I decided to take a chance and move to Sydney to work on my songs. I love performing live so I wanted to go somewhere with more venues and opportunities to get my music out into the world. And a good move it has been. Miss Little was signed to Independent label Laughing Outlaw records this year, is receiving airplay and great reviews for her album When Things Fall Apart And Into Place around Australia. The album was recorded, mixed and co-produced by Sydney underground engineer/producer Richard Belkner at Free Energy Device studios. Belkner is best known for his work with Triosk, Pivot, Bertie Blackman, Brackets, Mr. Percival and House Of Orange. Sarah has provided string and brass arrangements to many Australian albums including Andy Walton, Uncle Jed and Johanna Cranitch and produced E.
P's for the Rougue Balloon, Katie Merryweather, Johanna Cranitch and Rosie Catalano. Sarah is also featured singing on Mr Percival's album Microphones. Miss Little is a pop artist who resists the urge to crunch silly beats into it. Assured, fragile, tender, sexy. Melbourne Age It is clear she has something valuable to contribute to the music industry Sunday Sun Herald Songs that soar, with melodic hooks that dig into your ears like cattle ticks and lyrics with lines of poignant prose that go straight to the heart of things. This is music of both substance and beauty - like the woman behind the band. As the sax player said ... Miss Little has more balls than boobs. Peter Nelson 2ser radio Sydney.
