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The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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Strumming her lyrical soul bare on ukelele strings

savannah_smith
Describing her music as ‘Uketastic,’ Savannah Smith specializes in using unique instruments to create her mellow tunes.[/media-credit]

A musician with a pervading presence and fan base rarely comes in a package comprised of voice, banjo and ukulele. Admittedly, it’s a peculiar choice of an instrument that exudes bluegrass and folk. But there is something compelling in this indie voice. It’s one of a singsong antithesis that rivals Caroline Smiths’ of Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps and offsets the bubbly uke.

But don’t take my word for it. Even an editor over at Boing Boing submitted to the uke-playing brunette known as Savannah Smith, or as betteroffinmyhead on Youtube, and featured the Youtube video of her performing one of the first songs she wrote entitled, “Ventriloquism.”

“Ukulelehunt.com found my music. It was on a radio show in the U.K. Basically the guy [from Uke Hunt] put my video up on the landing page and it got so many views from that that Boing Boing found it, posted it and it was on the first page of Youtube for a while.”

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Music was an off and on pursuit. “I was always interested in music… but I felt like I strayed away from it a bit in high school,” Smith said in a recent interview with The Badger Herald. Her parents put her through orchestra as a kid and as with most children, it was found to be just something her parents had wanted her to do.

Her love for music came from the low key acoustic indie musicians strumming on stage during her visits to local music hubs in her native Eau Claire. “I really took a lot from that, not realizing it until now,” Smith said. Potentially sitting in front of the spotlight amid a darkened crowd tuned into her performance was an exhilarating prospect. “That was the thing that really sparked my interest, seeing them on stage and I love that way of expressing yourself,” Smith said. ” After that I had to do it.”

The transition from dream to uke musician was purely coincidental. A listing for two ukuleles caught her attention on Ebay. An impulse bid on behalf of herself and her friend won the auction for what she and her friend discovered to be two ukuleles in a sorry state that they most likely overpaid for. But, she gets a tad defensive about her first. “But I love that uke,” Smith said.

Savannah’s foray into the underappreciated world of ukes and its musicians perfectly conveys the life story that she wants to share.

This lute is an instrument that for the most part reverberates upbeat melodies. But listen closely to Smith’s music because you wouldn’t think to dig deeper. Hidden away in the lyrics are the words that paint a picture and channel Smith’s anger. “I find a lot of it based on betrayal, as dark as that sounds … I hate being lied to,” Smith said.

In separating the melody and lyrics, Smith’s music is a win-win relationship for herself and her fans. She breaks out her creativity and channels frustrations and inspirations into music. Her fans on the other hand, are not left to suffer the same displeasing mood that instigates her furious writing. “I try to make really sad songs sound happy. I try my best to not make it sound so bad,” Smith said.

It’s unfortunate that the happier lyrics elude her. Smith is genuine with conveying her emotions but falters at the thought of the sappy songs that would bud from cheery inspirations. “Happiness is an amazing emotion, but I don’t think I’ve tackled it yet where I can write it yet without being cheesy. So I’m going to stick to angry for a while.” Although, with comments like, “I just fell in love with your voice,” and, “This girl is headed for a recording contract. I’m serious. Very little in music these days gets my attention, but this does. Lovely to look at, besides,” her fans would agree to disagree.

Savannah Smith will be performing at the Project Lodge (817 E. Johnson St.) on Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $6.

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