I perform with Jake Owen, a tremendously talented musician and all-around great guy. www.jakeowen.com
Management: Kevin Wommack & Rosalyn Rosen, Loophole Management, kevin@loopholemail.com
Influences
Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Paul Simon... people like this stand in my mind as the great masters of their craft. They have made song-writing into a form of art--poetry and music intermingled elegantly and effortlessly, with no pretension. No falsity. Just genuine beauty. They are constant inspirations.
I’m influenced by poetry, literature, and music, but mostly by my family and friends... knowing and loving them has made my heart what it is, and I always try to write with my heart.
Sounds Like
"Sahara Smith sounds a little like Marianne Faithful, if Marianne Faithful’s voice hadn’t been drowned by decades of whiskey, heartbreak, and cigarettes. Smith’s folk songs are a little sweet, and a little sad, the vibrato in her voice nearly a tremble. It’s the soundtrack for a night spent alone in a crowded room -- probably a crowded room with dark wood paneling and stiff drinks. Not that Smith can drink yet. The teenage Austin local is set to become a musical prodigy story."
-Austinist, July 30, 2007
I was born in Austin in 1988, but did most of my growing up in the hill country where I started performing locally at fourteen. At fifteen I was selected to compete in A Prairie Home Companion’s ’Talent from 12-20’ contest and took home second place. Since then, I’ve been pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter, and am currently fortunate enough to be working on my first album with producer T-Bone Burnett.
Michael Ventura, Austin Chronicle, March 31, 2006:
"My friend Jo Carol Pierce, a superb songwriter, told me (with a strange urgency in her voice) to catch a set by a young unknown at the Saxon Pub on South Congress. There was no cover charge. In the spotlight on stage was 17-year-old (!) Sahara Smith. Her musical sophistication and the uncanny maturity of her lyrics astonished me – gave me chills – and made me realize (a little sadly) that it had been a long time since I’d been enthralled. What a wonder, to be enthralled again. After the show I told her and anyone else who would listen, ’You’re the most gifted young performer I’ve seen in 26 years.’ "
So at some point I'm gonna need to head into Austin so that I can get my freaking jaw x rayed...again... and depending on when that is, we should totally meet up. Yes? Yes.
For my next trick, I'll find the piece of paper with the company's phone number on it, for the appointment-making... >. > Head x rays for the win!
Hey, just stopping by to say I appreciate you accepting my request. We should talk sometime because you seem like a cool person and I love talking to new people. =D I hope your day is going amazing so far.
Your voice was amazing yesterday --- and when you hit the high notes the hairs on our necks stood up. Thank you for giving us your all and helping bring the masses to musical nirvana! :) FOJA
Hey Sahara, I hope all is well!! Just wanted to let you know, I'm in town for South by Southwest and was hoping to catch your gig, but it is just two short days before my 21st birthday, so I'm afraid I won't be able to get in:( I know it will be amazing, though, and I hope it garners you the industry-attention you deserve!!! Hope to run into you around town in the coming days:)
Hello! I was in Austin a couple days ago to take in some of the South by Southwest entertainment, and just happened to hear your interview and performance on KUT. I can't wait for some of your songs to be released on an EP or album. I'll be waiting to get my copy!
Man, everytime I read your above poem, I wanna cry. "There are two motions: stars and sighing."???...devastating. And what you say about the "Word"...capitalized!!! Then about that you go on to say: "Immaculately misconstrued and overtongued and badly heard." ...yep, that says it all. In the end this poem completely destroys me: "And history, the spidered orbit of a bone beneath an acre of wet grass." ...Please post more.
Hey lovely! I hope all of your shows this month were fabulous, as I'm sure they were - I'm sorry my posse and I were M.I.A. but I spent the month moving out of my apartment, getting ready to go abroad to Germany and study for a semester. Best of luck to you, though!! I'll be around during South by Southwest, so hopefully if you play during that time I'll be able to catch you once before I go to Freiburg:) I wish you great success in the coming weeks!
YES! I would love that. I'm going to try to get a few days off my part time job during spring break, so then may be a good time. Other than that I'm off this summer other than looking for a different full time job. Just let me know your schedule, dear.
Break a leg tonight hon! I think I might actually be able to get Cole to come to your next gig with me and Joe. He was interested, but he may be working. :-.. We'll see. =D
Haha, nice. Hokai, soh. Tomorrow (or I guess I should say today) I'm embarking on a spontaneous three day road trip to Missouri with Joe and his sister to pick up her kids. But! When I get back, we'll definitely have to get together, and you have to meet Joe. We're together again, by the way, haha.
We're also tentatively planning on coming to see you at Momo's on the 8th. I'm excited! :)
Sahara, Wow. You are the most talented voice to come along in DECades!!! I cannot get enough... So, can you maybe put up the songs you sang on Prairie Home Companion a few years ago? Please!!! :D *One of them went "But it don't rain much anymore..." and it was AMazing!!! Wishing you ALL the best in your career - You've got the chops, kiddo... Peace & Love, k :)
Hey there! Thanks so much for letting me know, that is a pretty epic lineup at Momo's!! I'm very excited:) And it was our pleasure to be out there, it was a great way to gear down our semester and relax. I hope 2008 brings you tons of joy, and (selfishly!) a CD of your songs!! :) Happy Holidays, and see you in January.
you rule the kingdom of all that is righteous... now sell some jewelry damnit... fun show last night- i'll get these little ditties sounding great and we'll be off to rock and roll stardom. see ya soon- j.o.
honk? i miss you and all the euro peeps. when are we going to meet up again? seriously. the performing arts center in brookings, south dakota would be an EXCELLENT performance venue for you. think about it.
Hehe, I totally just listened to your new recording of Freedom, and I started compulsively hugging my computer because it was the closest I could get to hugging you. I am a hopeless groupie. ^_^
I'll be out for the holidays on Tuesday and back sometime Wednesday/Thursday... when do I get to see you??
Hey there! I hope all is well with you. I'll see you at your show at Momo's - really excited about that! I played "World's On Fire" during my show at the student radio station last night to kind of kick off winter, even though it's a million degrees outside:P See you Tuesday!!
Hey there, I'm SO sad I missed your show tonight!! I have strep throat so I've been bed-ridden for three days (except to take a test;yuck.) Anyway, I can't wait until your next show!! I am sure you did just beautifully.
hey u should put up "it dont rain much anymore" thats if u recorded it i love that song!! but anyways keep up the great and inspirational music thanks :)
