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.' "
Hey Sahara Long time no see, huh? I am seriously considering auditioning at Texas-Austin this coming January, and doing a competition in Austin in March maybe, so I'll let you know more - it would be great to reconnect!
As always, your performance was superb last night at Threadgill's. It was so great to hear you sing--Jason and I had a wonderful time. Keep us posted on your next show, we'll plan on being there!
You have one of the most sensational voices I have ever heard, and I really really really love music and listen to a lot of it. You stand out by far. I wish you the most success. I'm moving to Austin this Dec. and will definitely be coming to a show. Check out some of my tunes if get a chance
"[...] We all have two lives: The true, the one we dream of in childhood And go on dreaming as adults as a substratum of mist; The false, the one we live when we live with others, The practical, the useful, The one where we end up being put in a coffin. [...]"
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!
