Shara Worden (1974) manifested herself as a singer and songwriter about five years ago with her project My Brightest Diamond. At that time, her life had long revolved around music. She studied opera at the University of North Texas and, after earning her bachelor's degree, moved to New York, where she continued her vocal studies. At the same time, she was introduced to the alternative rock scene in New York, deriving inspiration from bands such as Antony and the Johnsons and Nina Nastasia. The music Worden began writing reflected those dual influences of classical and avant-garde rock. Initially, she presented her own material live and on CD under the name Awry.
To do so, she gathered a large group of musicians around her. After a tour with Sufjan Stevens and his "Illinoisemakers," she renamed her project My Brightest Diamond and in the summer of 2006 released her first album on Stevens' Asthmatic Kitty label, titled Bring me the workhorse. That same year, she was nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the PLUG Independent Music Awards. On My Brightest Diamond's second album, 2008's A thousand shark's teeth, Worden showcased more of her classical background. For example, a string quartet plays a prominent role in the ingenious accompaniment.
Worden's most recent album, All Things Will Unwind, was released in October 2011 and garnered glowing reviews. On this album, in addition to a drummer and a bassist, Worden collaborates with New York's yMusic Ensemble, a sextet consisting of string trio, flute, clarinet and trumpet. The unusual instrumentation is used very effectively, turning each song into a miniature with many layers. With frivolous trills or subtle accents, the musicians manage to underline both the cabaret-like aspects and the emotionally charged moments of Worden's songs. Material from this album forms the core of her program at the Holland Festival, performed by multi-instrumentalist Worden herself with Brian Wolfe on drums, Nadia Sirota on viola and an ensemble. The first single from All Things Will Unwind, "Be Brave," Worden began writing after news of composer Górecki's death reached her.
The song, in which the singer addresses herself, is her response to the carousel of bad news in which the world is spinning. Worden's songs and arrangements, however, always infuse even the heavy matters of life with a touch of lightness, and the album concludes in the crooning ballad "I Have Never Loved Someone" with an encouraging "You're OK.