She wanted to sing — but first she had to overcome shyness
Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 15, 2018
Holly Pyle considers herself an introvert, yet she wanted to make singing her career.
“I was petrified with the idea of the business and the personality I thought I would be required to have to pursue the career,” she said.
The thought of standing in front of a large group performing and talking to them between songs wracked her nerves.
“I didn’t think I’d have that kind of ability,” she said.
Her method of overcoming her fears was a type of forced march through confidence-building.
“I attended open mics almost every day for at least six months,” she said. “You meet a bunch of different people and put yourself in random, awkward situations.”
It wasn’t until about three years after graduating from college that she began to seriously consider singing professionally.
Since then, Pyle now 31,whose hometown is Phoenix, has earned a reputation as a singer described by the Phoenix New Times as having a liquid-like voice. That quality can be experienced Saturday evening in Snohomish with a performance called “Jazz From the Silver Screen.”
Flugelhorn player Dimitri Matheny, who will join her on stage, suggested that the Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater consider inviting her to perform.
They performed together in a live studio session on KNKX-FM in August.
“We were really impressed with her music and style, and thought she’d be a wonderful new artist to bring to Thumbnail Theater’s stage,” theater manager Sharon Cordisco said.
Cordisco heard Pyle sing earlier this year in Seattle. “The show was beautifully presented,” she said. “And the audience loved it.”
Saturday’s performance is scheduled to include songs from movies as varied as “The Matrix,” “An Affair to Remember,” “Blade Runner” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
Pyle began singing in school choirs at age 10. Then, in her teens, a choir director suggested she should seek out individual lessons. “All the teachers were teaching classical voice,” she said. “I said, ‘OK, I need to study opera.’ ”
That became her area of study in college somewhat by default. Northern Arizona University had no jazz minor or certification. “I had to do my own study of jazz,” she said.
Pyle is among the performers who have adopted looping in their music, using a sophisticated device. “You press a record button and you can play that sound over and over again,” she said.
Some singers, like Theresa Andersson, use the device to add percussion and other elements to their performance.
“Especially doing it live, I find it was really captivating and empowering,” Pyle said. “I can create whole songs that are not necessarily repetitive, but can be thoughtfully crafted and engaging.”
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
If you go
What: Jazz From The Silver Screen.
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov 17
Where: Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater, 1211 Fourth St. Snohomish
Tickets: $20 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3666750
