Story by Tatevik Aprikyan | Courtesy Photos 

Mix a little bit of country, a hint of soul, add current soft rock and pop instrumentation, the soothing ease of jazz melodies and top it off with elegantly refined vocals and you get a 21-year-old Eastside native and rising young talent.

Scene: How did you begin the launch of a professional singing career?

Savannah: I continued to sing throughout my teen years, and in the summer of 2009 I signed with the record label MTFR. They have really helped me attain general knowledge of the music industry, opened doors to local venues for gigs, as well as surrounded me with an incredible network of professional musicians who have taught me there’s always more to learn and always room for honing my craft.

Scene: What does Reaching Serenity mean to you?

Savannah: The couple years prior to recording the CD was during my first two years of college. I went through so many changes and challenges, moving away from home, losing old friends and making new ones and just growing up in general. I was finding out who I really was and what was important to me. The songs were written as response to the challenges I was facing. In a way, because I was able to write them, record them and get those feelings out, I was able to reach this serenity in my life.  Reflection is a common thread throughout my music and going through the milestones of growing up is nothing easy, but it has ultimately made me much stronger and sure of who I am. Through all of those changes, music was my coping mechanism.

Scene: Take us through the process of recording your first CD, Reaching Serenity.

Savannah: I began recording in December of 2008 and I had the CD in my hand June of 2009. I was in school full time at PLU during the recording of Reaching Serenity, so it took me longer than I expected to complete it. Also, the studio is in Seattle so I was travelling back and forth and the process took a lot longer than I thought. I was recording 8-12 hours of different tracks, vocals with harmonies and guitar tracks, as well as sitting in the studio listening while my other band members recorded their hours of instrumentation (piano, cello, violin, drums, bass). There were a lot of really long days, and recording is such a fun and challenging experience because every take you record you try to make the best you’ve ever performed it.

Scene: What do you hope to accomplish in the future with your music?

Savannah: My goals in music are pretty simple; I want to create positive changes using my music. I want to perform benefit concerts all over the world so I can help children in need in countries around the world. Music is one of the most powerful things I have ever experienced and it’s something everyone can relate to. I think so much good and progress can come from using music as a tool to raise awareness and money to help people who are less fortunate. Ultimately, I want to have sponsorship from business and world leaders so that I can put together benefit concerts for those in need.

Savannah will be performing live on the following dates: 

Thursday August 5 at the SWISS in Tacoma from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Wednesday September 15 at Mandolin Cafe in Tacoma 7 – 9 p.m.

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You can purchase Savannah’s CD, Reaching Serenity, on iTunes and listen to tracks on myspace at www.myspace.com/musicofsavannah & www.mauricethefishrecords.net.