Sahara Smith

Sahara (her father hiccuped while suggesting "Sara," and both parties liked the mistake^[1]) Smith was born in Austin, Texas and spent her youth in Wimberley, Texas. She began writing poetry at age 3, with a poem published in the "Anthology of Poetry for Young Americans" while in the second grade,^[1] music at age twelve and at age fifteen took second place in A Prairie Home Companion's 'Talent from 12-20' contest on May 8, 2004, performing "It Don't Rain Much" and "Twilight Red".^[2][3][4] A studio recording of "Twilight Red" would be included on her debut album.

Producer T-Bone Burnett noticed Smith and took her into the studio to record her debut album, Myth of the Heart, which was released in 2010 and described as a "hybrid of folk, Americana, country and bluegrass".^[5][6][7] Smith appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman in November 2010.^[8] Smith says her musical influences include Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits.^[3]

In 2006 an Austin Chronicle music reporter said: "Her musical sophistication and the uncanny maturity of her lyrics astonished me" and she is "the most gifted young performer I've seen in 26 years."^[9] A Seventeen article described her as a "striking, lanky redhead [who] exudes confidence and grace" and described her vocals as "a mixture of the soulful folk melodies of Jewel with the soothing vocals of Norah Jones”.^[10]

A Los Angeles Times music reviewer said "Smith creates Cinemascope-like wide-screen portraits of romantic passion, loneliness and unrequited love in her richly impressive, intensely soulful debut album."^[11] Other reviewers mention her "smoky voice, bluesy folk sound"^[12] that "invokes lazy summer nights and sweaty slow dancing".^[13]

In June 2013 she rebranded herself as "Girl Pilot"^[14] and is working on a new 10-song album. "The name Girl Pilot comes from a book of comics from the 1940s called "Smilin' Jack and the Daredevil Girl Pilot" that I've had since I was 13. I've carried that name around with me for years, and because my new album is so different from the last, and so indicative of who I am now, this feels like the perfect moment to use it. I've never been so excited to do what I do, or felt so eager to take control of my life and my career. Girl Pilot feels somehow correct."^[15]