Olivia Kay Skinner

We went out to catch Olivia Skinner last Saturday night at Beanzie's Gourmet Coffee. Olivia and I met online after she found my MySpace profile and asked me about getting some guitar pointers. I was happy to oblige. You can visit her web site at http://www.oliviakay.org/ to learn more.

Olivia is a fourteen year old singer-songwriter from Indianapolis, but she writes with a maturity that denies her years. A couple of the originals that she performed last night, "Save Me" and "You're Free", demonstrate just how much potential she has as a lyricist. She comes by her writing gift honestly, also performing songs that her father had written. I was especially taken by "Drive South".

Her performance needs polish, but that's to be expected given the short amount of time Olivia has been performing. I have no doubt that, with some coaching, she will grow into the role of singer, guitarist and performer as well as songwriter.

Some of the songs selected could also benefit from a little percussion to propel the songs along--a shaker or tambourine could go a long way here--and really draw the audience into the beat.

Olivia is accompanied by Indy guitarist and singer Joel Nowacki. Joel was performing as we arrived, and he included some excellent selections such as Bon Jovi's "It's My Life," which worked quite nicely as an acoustic number. Joel has a good musical instinct and does quite well both as a solo performer and in a supporting role.

I'm really anxious to see what good things lie ahead for this young talent.