March 04, 2015

Publication title: courier-journal.com, vol. -, Iss. -, pg. –
Place: Unknown
Writer: Jeffrey Lee Puckett

Sarah McLachlan’s legacy is today’s Top 40

When Sarah McLachlan’s star ascended in the early 1990s, she famously took up the cause of women in music. It was an exceedingly tall task, and McLachlan focused on a very simple aspect: She was tired of females getting precious few of the perks and privileges routinely afforded men, including more than a handful of spots on tours and festival stages.

The boy’s club was powerful, and motivated by money. It didn’t think that female musicians were a draw. McLachlan emphatically proved otherwise by founding Lilith Fair, an all-female festival that was one of 1997’s top-grossing tours. It traveled the world for three consecutive summers, grossing millions while donating more than $7 million to charities.

Now take a look at today’s biggest acts, the consistent million-sellers, especially in America: Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Elsa the Snow Queen. McLachlan’s work isn’t the sole reason, of course, but these things don’t happen without reason.

“Look at the Top 40 these days, dominated by women. It’s a beautiful thing,” said McLachlan, who performs Monday at the Louisville Palace. “It’s great to see so many women doing well, for sure, and whether or not myself or Lilith had any part in that, you know, I’d like to think we played a small part.”

McLachlan’s brand of activism was always level-headed and practical. To prove a point, you prove people wrong. She got heard because she was selling millions of records — now more than 40 million worldwide — her lush pop music touching a nerve with intense teens and lonely young adults.

McLachlan, 47, doesn’t sell as many records now, but that’s at least partly her choice. After several years of massive success in the late 1990s, she retrenched to raise a couple of daughters.

She eased back into touring and recording with 2003’s “Afterglow,” but it wasn’t until the last five years that she returned to a steady pace of touring and making records, including last year’s “Shine On.” She seems to be fine making music while making fewer headlines.

“I’ve enjoyed all of it in equal measure,” she said. “There are pros and cons to all of it. The huge success came with the pressure to work and to continue to rise to that level. It was exciting times … but my priorities have shifted greatly and I don’t have the drive to work as hard as I did.

“For me, it’s never really been about selling records. That’s a wonderful side effect of getting my music out there … but I want to continue to play live. That’s my passion. I love where I’m at. I’m really grateful to be in a place to pick and choose when I work. It’s a great place to be.”