Sarabeth Tucek

Sarabeth Tucek is an American singer and songwriter from the United States, working in rock and indie with links to folk rock and acoustic music. She is born in Miami, Florida, grows up in Manhattan, New York, and moves to Westfield, New Jersey as a teenager. She graduates from Westfield High School.

Career

Tucek initially plans to work in acting, but begins playing guitar and writing songs after meeting Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestown Massacre. After moving to Los Angeles, she makes her recording debut in 2003 as a background vocalist on Goodbye Little Doll by EZT, produced by Bill Callahan, and on Callahan’s own album Supper. One of her early live performances appears in the 2004 rockumentary Dig!, which follows the relationship between The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

She contributes material to Anton Newcombe’s 2005 EP We Are the Radio. A song from that EP, “Seer,” is later retitled and issued in 2006 on Sonic Cathedral Recordings as her debut single, “Something for You”. She also appears as guest vocalist on the debut album by The Relationship, the project led by Brian Bell of Weezer.

Albums and recordings

Tucek records her self-titled debut album in 2006 with producers Ethan Johns and Luther Russell. It is released by The Echo Label in 2007. Her second album, Get Well Soon, follows in 2011. She also releases an early version of “The Doctor” on the French label Wool in 2009 after moving back from Los Angeles to her hometown, and performs several shows in France.

Get Well Soon is recorded outside Philadelphia with Luther Russell producing again, and it deals with the aftermath of her father’s death. After its release, she tours the UK. She also contributes several songs to the soundtrack of Cam Archer’s film Shit Year, which goes to the Cannes Film Festival in 2010.

Live work and collaborations

Alongside solo shows and performances with a band, Tucek tours and appears as a support act with Ray LaMontagne, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Bob Dylan. She also appears on tribute records for The Cure, Cy Coleman and Roky Erickson.

Style and influences

Her influences include Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens and Neil Young. Her singing voice is compared with Karen Carpenter, and her songwriting style is associated with Cat Power and Neil Young.