Americana Project alum to perform

Melody Youngblood, singer-songwriter and Oregon native, now living in Kentucky, is returning to her home state and home community to perform at the Sisters Folk Festival. Youngblood grew up in the Portland area with her family. When she was 16 years old, she left her family and went over the mountains to Sisters to be a part of the Americana Project. She started out living out of her car and attending Sisters High School. People in the community took her in and gave her places to stay so she could stay in the program she loved so dearly.

"It is such an inspiring place that gives young people the space and time to be creative," said Youngblood.

She got a job working at Angeline's Bakery, and Angeline Rhett gave her a place to stay while she worked for her.

"Brad Tisdel took me under his wing and when I started out brand new, he told me that he saw me and wanted to help me further my music. I really identify with that kind of education and instruction," Youngblood said. "There is no better way to teach than through the arts. At the Caldera song academy, I met my now-partner-in-music Mitch Barrett, who was an instructing artist. I found myself very inspired by his music and wanted to continue working with him. That opportunity really jumpstarted finding my sound."

Youngblood uses the voice she was given, often as a harmony singer with other artists.

"I listened to a lot of pop when I was young, and it wasn't until I discovered more traditional music and storytelling artists that I identified with that sound," she said. "I just use the experiences I had growing up to create my stories, and use my voice in different ways to do that."

As a sex-abuse survivor, Youngblood uses songwriting as a way to cope and share her story. "My mind and heart were in very dark places, and so in turn, in the songs there is that darkness and hardship, and I wanted to use songwriting as a tool to reach people and reach out to those who also suffer," she said.

Youngblood recently released her first feature album, called "Sweet Isolation." One track, "Victim and Young Girls Blues," she started writing her senior year of high school when a girl came to her, asking for help as a fellow survivor.

"I started the song, and then once I left Sisters for Kentucky, and being away from it, the song just came together," Youngblood said.

Many of the tracks are stories of her young life and finding her own sound after leaving Sisters. Youngblood and Barrett, now her husband, often performed on the road together, with Youngblood as the harmony singer. She felt as if she wasn't able to get her own voice and sound out there. She started learning a lot of traditional Appalachian women's songs, written by women struggling to survive in the hollers of Kentucky.

"I discovered the ancientness of that place and it really inspired me to start writing my own experiences down and sharing them with the world," she said.

Another piece of inspiration for her was when her son was born. She wanted her son to see his mother doing something she loved, and set an example of getting out there and chasing dreams.

"It was important to me to continue with my music, so my son could see me doing something that I loved and teach him to do that, too," she said.

Youngblood's album was a long time coming and a series of events led to its creation, including calling on mutual friends. Youngblood was invited to record at The Belfry in Sisters.

"I wanted to record the album in the place that inspired my career so much," she said. She was supposed to record with Jim Goodwin, but circumstances prevented that. So, she called up Keith Greeninger, well known in Sisters, and a friend of Melody's. Greeninger mentioned that David Jacobs-Strain, also well known, was in town and was traveling with his recording equipment.

"I gave David a call and said, 'you don't know me, but we share a mutual friend, want to help me out?', and he came in and helped me record and produce the album, and is also featured on a few tracks," Youngblood

said.

Youngblood realized that this was a representation of a special community and the willingness of fellow musicians to help out in a time of need

"I thought that this record just wasn't meant to be, but with the help of friends, it was able to be created," she said.

Youngblood looks forward to returning to Sisters to perform on the Americana Alumni stage at Fir Street Park at the Sisters Folk Festival.

"I can't wait to see how the program has been nurtured and see the new kids coming out of the program and hearing what they have to share," she said. "I think this program really enriches the lives of students, and they can use creativity to shape their lives."

When she arrived in Kentucky, she found herself wanting to start a similar program for the youth there, and expand the programs.

"It's such a great way to teach youth and something that should be expanded and nurtured," she said

Youngblood's performance will be during the day on Saturday, September 8 at Fir Street Park. The stage is a free venue with lawn space and standing room. To download a schedule, visit www.sistersfolkfestival.org.