Bio
Sahara Jane is a vocalist, composer and sarangi player whose songwriting crosses cultures and styles, reflecting her Afghan-Canadian heritage. Raised in Nova Scotia and trained in Indian classical music during her years in South Asia, her work reflects a lifelong dialogue between East and West.
Sahara Jane performs with her husband, rhythm master and multi-instrumentalist, Ken Shorley. Together, the duo brings a fresh sound that incorporates Indian, Sufi and Western musical influences into their original songs, layered with rhythmic complexity and melodic depth.
Growing up with musical parents from both Afghanistan and Canada exposed Sahara Jane to a wide range of sounds and influences which have shaped her musical life. After honing her skills in the Canadian music scene, touring regularly from the pubs of St. John’s to the folk clubs of Vancouver Island, she headed for India and became deeply immersed in Indian classical music where she has studied for more than a decade. Sahara Jane has also spent time in China where she worked as a jazz singer in the Beijing music scene. During that time she had the opportunity to perform with jazz musicians from all over Europe and China.
In Mumbai in 2018, Sahara Jane connected with percussionist Ken Shorley to co-produce her 2019 release, Between Worlds. The album became a beautiful fusion of Eastern and Western influences tied together with carefully crafted lyrics and deeply felt grooves. The collaboration became a literally life changing experience and the two musicians were married before the album was even released! Between Worlds (2019) and Something Good (2024) were both very well-received and have been played extensively on CBC radio.
Since 2023, the duo has toured across Canada and performed at multiple festivals including Dawson City Music Festival, Halifax Jazz Festival and Deep Roots Music Festival. They have also received composition grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia, and the City of Montreal. Their latest release, Something Good, has been nominated for Jazz Recording of the Year by Music Nova Scotia.
