Sarah McLachlan’s Daughter Offers Graduation for Ibiza Gig

Sarah McLachlan’s daughter made headlines this summer when she suggested skipping her high school graduation to accompany her mother to a performance with renowned American DJ John Summit in Ibiza. The singer-songwriter, however, declined the offer, prioritizing her daughter’s educational milestone while also preparing for her own music projects.

Legacy of “Silence” Resurfaces

McLachlan’s collaboration with Summit revolves around a new remix of “Silence,” a track she originally released in 1999 with the Vancouver electronic duo Delerium. The song has maintained its status as a cornerstone of the dance music genre, frequently reimagined by various electronic producers. Summit has described the original version as a “timeless record” and one of his “all time favs,” which has contributed to its resurgence at music festivals this summer.

“I’m totally aware,” McLachlan remarked, noting the renewed excitement surrounding the song among younger listeners. “My partner’s kids, they’re like, ‘This is so cool.’ They’re all listening to it.” This younger demographic includes her youngest daughter, Taja, who eagerly encouraged McLachlan to take up Summit’s invitation to perform live during one of his sets.

Despite the allure of a performance in Ibiza, scheduling conflicts with family commitments and upcoming music festivals like Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits made it impractical. McLachlan recounted Taja’s plea: “Please go do this so I can come to Ibiza. I’ll skip graduation.” McLachlan firmly replied, “No, you will not.”

New Projects and Continued Influence

As she navigates family priorities, McLachlan is also focused on her musical journey. She is set to release her first album in over a decade, titled “Better Broken,” on September 19, 2023. Additionally, she is involved in the documentary Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, which reflects on the impact of the influential female-led music festival. The film will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and will also air on CBC next month.

Reflecting on the song “Silence,” McLachlan reminisced about her early days in the music scene, saying, “Dude, I’m 57,” indicating a shift from her party-centric youth to a more subdued lifestyle. Yet, she still appreciates the song’s powerful combination of her pop-folk voice with electronic production, describing it as “stratospheric” with “deep, intense bass.”

In her role at the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, she is also advocating for music education amid budget cuts affecting programs in British Columbia. “That’s the cool thing about mashing up all these different genres of music together,” she noted, emphasizing the creative potential these collaborations can unleash.

While there are no confirmed plans for a live performance with Summit just yet, McLachlan remains open to the idea, stating, “We’re working on it. But we’ll see.” As she balances her family and professional life, her legacy continues to inspire a new generation of music lovers.