Friday, Sep. 19, 2008

Kamiakin sophomore turns poetry into lyrics, draws attention of musician Joe Walla

By Dori O'Neal, Herald staff writer

KENNEWICK -- Solitude and shade. It could be the title of a song, but it isn't.

It's what 14-year-old Samantha Hutson prefers when writing lyrics to the songs running through her head.

"I think it started as poetry writing," said the Kamiakin High sophomore. "Then I started seeing lyrics to songs in the poetry. It's my way of expressing my emotions."

Sometimes those emotions reflect a sadness in her life, like her parents' divorce a couple of years ago, and sometimes her words are about teenage rebellion.

"Writing songs is my escape," she said. "But I want my songs to tell real stories or make a statement of some kind. Like Rebel Girl. It all depends on what's going on in my life at the time I write them."

It's her intensity and emotion that's captured the attention of California rock musician Joe Walla, who's stopping in the Tri-Cities this weekend to pay Samantha a visit.

Walla, whose Joe Walla Band took the top music prize at last year's All Access Magazine Music Awards for rock and metal musicians, said he was amazed by the maturity of her writing.

"The first time I read the words to a song Sam had written, she was only 12 years old," Walla said in a telephone interview from Nevada. "I was amazed that she could write so prolifically for one so young."

He knew Samantha's dad, Monty, when the Hutsons lived in Los Angeles.

Walla told the young writer that he was interested in buying one of her songs one day and possibly collaborating on the music. He might even record it on one of his albums, he said.

Walla encouraged Samantha to chase her dreams during that first meeting, and he stayed in touch even after she and her dad moved to the Tri-Cities a year ago.

Now when the teen gets the urge to write, she sometimes settles under the giant shade tree outside their Kennewick apartment.

The branches used to droop nearly to the ground, giving her sanctuary and solitude from passersby.

"It's peaceful there," she said. "I like the quiet."

Her lyrics could be put to pop, rock or country rhythms, she said. But Samantha doesn't plan to pigeonhole her music style.

She hears melodies in her head but composing the music to match her lyrics is more of a struggle.

"I don't write my own music yet, but I'm learning," she said. "And I think Joe can help me a lot with that because he's such a good songwriter. I also believe he can help me improve my lyric writing, too."

Walla's songwriting advice is pretty simple.

"It's important to know you're saying something when you write a song," Walla said. "Sam seems to be right on target there, and I hope she keeps that going. I'd love to see her succeed."

Walla, who's touring the West Coast with his band, plans to stop in the Tri-Cities today to visit Samantha and other young rock fans for a short time before he heads back out on the road.

"Whenever I get a chance I like to hang out with the kids and encourage them to follow their dreams, whether its music or something else," Walla said.

He also hands out copies of his albums to the kids.

On Saturday, he'll hold a free workshop for anyone interested in playing guitar, starting about 11 a.m. at Ray's Guitars, 1827 W. Court St., Pasco.

Samantha's excited about Walla's visit, as well as the endless platforms songwriting provides her to express her opinions and feelings.

"It's my dream to write and perform all my own music one day," she said. "I have a lot to say."