About Sandra-Mae Lux
Award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Sandra-Mae Lux was singing almost before she was walking. Even at a young age, Sandra-Mae had an ear for melody and was already penning songs by the time she was 10.
Completing her academic training at Capilano University British Columbia, Sandra-Mae graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies on Saxophone. She received multiple awards such as the Phil Nimmons Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Jazz, and was spotted as a stand-out Top 30 Under 30 in a Vancouver newspaper. She has performed twice at the Ottawa Jazz Festival where she shared a stage and performed with many recognized artists such as Robert Glasper, Herbie Hancock and opened for Dave Brubeck in one of his last performances.
Never one to look back, Sandra-Mae relocated to London, UK in 2017 to hone her songwriting craft, and to record and release her debut album “Happily Ever Now” in 2020.
An instant classic, this album contained the stand-out numbers “I’m Still Here”, “Moment in the Sun” and “Do U Wanna.”
The dreamy groove of “I’m Still Here” caught the attention of Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6) and built a loyal fanbase among Rare-Groove and Soul DJ’s and aficionados. "Moment In The Sun" caught the attention of Craig Charles and was played multiple times on his show on BBC Radio 2. She received hundreds of plays on many of the BBC regional stations.
Christmas 2020 saw the release of her classic christmas ballad “Where is Christmas Now” and in 2021, the release of “You Me and Tomorrow” made it to #3 on the UK Soul Chart.
By popular demand, “I’m Still Here” was pressed onto the A side of a 7” vinyl, with a new track “The Last Time” on the AA side which was released in 2022.
She has received multiple songwriting awards for her releases, including the UK Songwriting Contest, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and was a runner-up in the World Songwriting Awards. She was also nominated as Best UK Artist in the 2020 Bright Star Awards, humbly losing to UK music legend Omar.
Sandra-Mae is also an acting and voice acting performer of note, appearing in multiple roles as part of the cast of Audible's “Aliens – Sea of Sorrows” and Neil Gaiman's “Sandman” audio dramas performing alongside James McAvoy, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow, Michael Sheen and more. The Sandman made it to #1 on the New York Times Best Seller’s List.
She will be releasing a new album in the spring of 2025, so stay tuned!
Sandra-Mae Lux is a Recording Academy / GRAMMYs ® Voting Member.
The Making of The Album “Happily Ever Now”
This twelve song album is a first for Sandra-Mae Lux, and what a debut! Produced by Gil Cang (Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Shaun Escoffery) and featuring players like Robin Mullarkey (bass, Jacob Collier) and Toby Baker (keys, Michael McDonald), Happily Ever Now is chock full of catchy melodies, strong hooks, and oh so tasty arrangements and production.
With all tracks composed by Sandra-Mae Lux and writing partner Alan D. Marriott, Happily Ever Now is well crafted, with a nod to classic song writing of the 70s, full-on soul from Earth Wind and Fire to D’Angelo, with the contemporary pop of Bruno Mars.
From the haunting, jazz inspired “I'm Still Here” to foot stomping power anthems like “Moment in the Sun”, to the Salsoul disco joy of “Never Saw the Light,” this album doesn't put a foot wrong. Over top of all the musical glitter soars the powerful voice of Lux herself as she effortlessly moves from pure sweetness in songs like “Thank You For Loving Me” into sexy, slow-jam mode for “Do U Wanna.”
A multi instrumentalist (saxophone, piano and guitar) Lux was making music almost before she could walk and tinkering with song writing by the time she hit her early teens. Originally a native of Vancouver (Canada) Lux spent her high school years in as many bands as she could fit in, and finally honed her musical skills with a degree in jazz studies from Capilano University. After a relocation to London in 2017, Lux set to work on finding the perfect team for the album she was always meant to make. “It's been amazing” she says. “Everything was recorded at this funky studio in North London just full of vintage gear. For me it was like a musical treasure box full of all the instruments that created the sounds of the albums I love - the real gems, synths like a Minimoog or Juno-6, or that unmistakable sound of a real Rhodes or Wurlitzer. So all those incredible instruments combined with musicians who really knew how to get the most out of them was like...well, it was just a privilege to be in the room.”
That kind of sums up 'Happily Ever Now'. A beautifully written and produced album, played perfectly by master musical craftsmen, and sung by a young vocalist right at the beginning of an amazing career. Sheer magic!