Sarah McLachlan — Building a Mystery Live | SkollWF 2019

“I think we all have unique abilities to make and create meaningful change in the world, and music has always been the path for me.” – Sarah McLachlan. Watch her perform for an audience of changemakers at the 2019 Skoll World Forum.

With over 30 years in the recording industry, Sarah McLachlan is a multi-platinum singer and songwriter best known for her intimate vocals and relatable lyrics. Canadian-born, McLachlan is a multiple Grammy and Juno Award winning artist who has sold over 40 million albums throughout her career and was recently inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. McLachlan has also been awarded the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Visionary Award and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. In addition to her personal artistic efforts, in 1997 McLachlan founded the Lilith Fair tour, which showcased female musicians and brought more than 2 million people together over its three-year run. Lilith Fair raised over $7 million for local and national charities and helped launch the careers of numerous female performers. The festival was the most successful all-female music event and was the top-grossing touring festival during its run.

In 2002 McLachlan founded her non-profit organization, the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. The School of Music serves over 1,000 at-risk and underserved youth in Vancouver and Edmonton each year and provides, at no cost: • A high-quality music program staffed with talented mentors, youth facilitators & guest artists • A space for at-risk and underserved children and youth to develop the confidence they need to explore their strengths and overcome their challenges • An opportunity for students to develop strong relationships with their peers and instructors • A long-term commitment that nurtures trust, growth, and personal development The school is funded entirely through private donations and McLachlan covers 100% of the administrative costs through her Foundation, so that all funds raised go directly to the student's education. The scientific evidence of music's value is increasing every day, there is no doubt that music has a positive effect on every child's life.

About the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship:
The Skoll Foundation presents the Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship each year to a select group of social entrepreneurs whose innovations have already had significant, proven impact on some of the world’s most pressing problems, and invests directly in the promise of even greater impact at scale

Connect with the Skoll Foundation:

[tedjohnson]

So many artists play their music from 10, 15, 20 years ago and can’t hit certain notes or just don’t have that spark anymore. Then there’s Sarah McLachlan who sounds BETTER than her studio cut 20+ years ago. What a voice and a talent ❤️

[dylanmlahey]

Can we talk about how perfectly she’s keeping time with her guitar playing and hitting every single one of those lead notes as well as keeping rhythm chords going as well as hitting EVERY single note with her voice simultaneously!? She truly is a professional and one of the best there ever was.

[mb]

I had no idea there was an F bomb in the lyrics. Now I like the song even more!!

[seamusmccarron]

Now this is what you call a real pure talent. No auto tune or over production. Just an acoustic guitar and an amazing voice with a brilliant original song.

[HouzBinPharteen]

My god...she is so beautiful and unchanged in 25+ years. Pure talent.

[leeartlee]

One of the most underrated artists of the 90s. Her and Seal.

[thexen]

Perfect virtuoso! Stage presence, mic technique, perfect guitar playing and of course her perfect voice. And to top it off an absolutely graceful and humble humanitarian. Canada's best ever.

[markrabideau]

seriously, i know she's been playing/singing this for a long time, but how is her guitar playing so perfect? i mean, everything is perfect, but like she strikes every note just perfectly. she's one of the all-time greats.

[ThaisMCruz]

It’s amazing how her voice hasn’t changed one bit. She truly takes care of that amazing instrument of hers! I remember listening to her when I was a kid and thinking “that’s what an angel must sound like”.

[amandabarnes]

She will be reflected on as one of the best songwriters of our time.

[doloreserin]

Sarah, what am amazing talent! I think her guitar playing is very underrated. She's doing lots of cool techniques palm muting, different tuning, etc. That song takes me back to when I was 17 in 97. I love this performance so much, same flawless vocals and guitar playing. Thank you for inspiring me to take guitar lessons and write my own songs. I've had a wonderful life of music ever since.

Dolores

[sharonw]

Her music got me through two long months on a bone marrow transplant wing, not knowing if I was goi g to live or die. Loved her and her music since the mid 90’s

[garymann]

It doesn't get any better than that for a live performance; great musician and of course that VOICE!

[fuzzmetalhead]

still reminds me of being a kid and being in 97. love this song.

[italolagrotta]

She's unique! Best female voice I've ever listened in my life

[raymondng]

Just close your eyes and is for sure one of the finest live music performer of all time. Honest.

[bruceradzwion]

Her voice, her vocals, soft and yet strong at the same time. There's only one Sarah M, forever... pretty special she's here for us to enjoy

[solesurvivor]

Oh my stars, , , , is this beautiful or what? Rarely have I been moved by a singer with just an acoustic guitar. But this version is just out of this world! Being in my 60's, I thought I saw and heard it all. But this is just divine...

[orlandoalessandrini]

Props to her vocals, still the same after 20 + years.

[stevestruthers]

Simply perfect performance. Her voice hasn't aged a bit.