| Sahara Smith | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Folk Rock Alternative |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Playing In Traffic Records |
| Website | saharasmith.com |
| Members | |
| Sahara Smith Jake Owen Will Sexton Mike Meadows |
|
Sahara Smith is a young American singer-songwriter born in Austin, Texas in 1988. Growing up in the hill country of Wimberley, Texas, she started performing locally at age fourteen. At fifteen, Sahara was selected to compete in A Prairie Home Companion's 'Talent from 12-20' contest and took home second place. Since then, Sahara has been pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter.[1]
Now 22, Sahara is poised for a breakout with her debut album, Myth Of The Heart. Just-released (Aug.31,2010), Myth Of The Heart is original songs shepherded by T-Bone Burnett and producer Emile Kelman. The album features many of Burnett’s first-call session players, including drummer Jay Bellerose, guitarist Marc Ribot, and bassist Dennis Crouch.[1]
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.' "[2]
Contents |
The Late Show with David Letterman
On Nov 24, 2010 Sahara Smith made her national television debut on David Letterman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1mdlag6z84
Reviews:
Los Angeles Times: Texas singer-songwriter Sahara Smith creates Cinemascope-like wide-screen portraits of romantic passion, loneliness and unrequited love in her richly impressive, intensely soulful debut album."[3]
The Wall Street Journal: "Now 21, her "Myth of the Heart" is getting a royal send-off, shepherded by producer T-Bone Burnett and fed by years of critical rapture."[4]
Austin American-Statesman: "A hybrid of folk, Americana, country and bluegrass, "Myth of the Heart" makes good on Smith's promise. Melodic and often heartbreaking, it's an assured debut, an elaborately painted canvas anchored by Smith's poetic songwriting and otherworldly voice. And all from a 21-year-old."[5]
Paste (magazine) “[Sahara’s] smoky voice, bluesy folk sound and lifetime love of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits have finally been captured on her debut album.”[6]
Seventeen (magazine) “The striking, lanky redhead exudes confidence and grace before she even opens her mouth, but the real allure comes from her vocals[…] a mixture of the soulful folk melodies of Jewel with the soothing vocals of Norah Jones. raspy yet smooth, [with] lyrics that are drawn from her own life experiences.”[7]
Glamour (magazine) "[Myth of the Heart] invokes lazy summer nights and sweaty slow dancing. A must!"[8]
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Rock | US Heat | US Indie | |||
| 2010 | Myth Of The Heart
|
- | - | - | - | |
| Year | Video | Director | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "The Real Thing" | Rosalyn Rosen | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16cCkDmZRRQ |
| 2010 | "Thousand Secrets" | Rosalyn Rosen | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1UOYnIUF-0 |