Sarah Jane Scouten

Sarah Jane Scouten

Sarah Jane Scouten is a Canadian folk musician based in Montréal. She grows out of the folk scene on Bowen Island, British Columbia, where she starts attending folk music jams from an early age. That background shapes a style that draws on traditional American music, with frank and evocative lyrics.

Background and influences

Scouten develops her approach through first-hand experience at jams, workshops and house concerts, meeting and learning from folk musicians across North America. Her work shows a strong interest in older forms of music, especially folk, bluegrass and old-time music. She also cites Hank Williams, Stan Rogers, Joni Mitchell and Willie P. Bennett among the influences behind her writing.

Band and sound

She performs with a trio of musicians: Sarah Frank on fiddle, Luke Fraser on mandolin and Mathieu Lacombe on bass. All three have BFA degrees in classical music and also bring a honky-tonk style to the group. Her arrangements are carefully built, but playful, and often carry a dramatic edge.

Recorded work

Scouten releases her first album, Magpie Waltz, in 2011. The album is recorded live at Concordia University’s Loyola Chapel in Montreal and reflects her blend of comedy, tragedy and traditional string-band sounds. It presents her as a songwriter drawing on a wide range of folk traditions while developing her own voice.