Watch a video of Amaya Rose’s original song “I’d Rather Watch The Rain.”
Potential is a terrible thing to waste, especially in music. Many wonder why child prodigies reach such a level of skill so early on in life, but the answer is simple: who would want to do anything else?
One local kid, Amaya Rose Dempsey, is a prime example of love of music can yield when properly nurtured. The 14-year-old’s parents, Teri and Jim, have supported her musical interests with instruments and lessons since she was 6 years old. Now, years later, Dempsey has plenty to show for herself, so much so that she will be sharing her skills at an upcoming concert at Temple Beth El in Santa Maria.
“It’s one of those things in life where you plant a tree when it’s real little,” Teri said, “and 10 years later you look at it, and it’s gotten so big, you wonder where the time went.”
Though trained classically, Amaya took an immediate liking to old-time fiddle tunes, bluegrass, American folk, and classic country music. Her parents took her to nearby old-time and bluegrass jam sessions. That’s where she met local banjo player Bill Mirken, who goes by the stage name Julio Boysenberry, who was immediately impressed by the youngster’s skills.
“Within about five bars I went from thinking, ‘I hope she can keep up,’ to ‘what the hell are we doing here?’” Mirken said. “I was just amazed.”
The Amaya Rose Band includes Dempsey, Mirken, and guitarist and singer Ron Miller. The elder duo has backed Dempsey for a handful of shows, and is now bringing the show to Santa Maria.
“She was the star of the show last time we performed,” Mirken said. “She was the only one who got a standing ovation, and she was the only one who didn’t make a mistake the entire performance!”
Though she’s had lessons from several teachers—sometimes going as far as Texas to get the right instruction—Dempsey learns mostly at home with books and CDs, and by using her ear. Besides old-time and bluegrass, she is also developing her chops at Texas competition swing style and also enjoys Irish fiddle music.
“I don’t know that many Irish songs, but I can play the style,” Dempsey said. “It’s just another style of fiddling, but it’s a little more clean, like classical.”
Though she is already an award-winning violinist—she competes in the California Old-Time Fiddlers contests—she hasn’t limited her musical abilities to the instrument. She also taught herself some guitar and banjo, and she sings.
“I would love to place high at the Nationals Fiddle Contest, make it to the top five or win it,” she said, “and I would love to have my own band and tour and be the lead singer and be a songwriter. I’m working on songwriting right now.”
Dempsey is already well on her way to a musical career, posting an original song to youtube.com. Co-written with her friend Alison Deoudes, the song exhibits an already mature talent for arranging poetry into a beautiful melody.
“I write basically in a kind of crossover country-folk style,” she said. “I’m working on recording a couple of other songs, too.”
For the show at Temple Beth El, the Amaya Rose Band will focusing on fiddle music, playing bluegrass, old-time, and classic country songs.
“I love the sound, and that it’s simple, but in a really good way,” Dempsey said. “It’s not boring simple, but the melodies are very beautiful.”
Live in the Samala
The Chumash Casino Resort presents live music in its Samala Showroom, including The Fab Four tribute concert on Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. Christopher Cross performs Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. Both shows happen at the Chumash Casino Resort, 2400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. Cost is $25, $35, and $45. More info: 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.
Showcasing students
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society Youth Showcase will feature the talents of local classical music students on Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. at St. Louis de Montfort Church, 5095 Harp Road, Orcutt. Cost is $15, $5 for students. More info: 925-0412, lynne@santamaraphilharmonic.org, or santamariaphilharmonic.org.
Get down at D’Vine
The D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro features Rob Wright live on Jan. 18, an “audition night” on Jan. 21, and Jerry Stickell live on Jan. 22 with shows starting at 7:30 p.m. Karaoke nights are Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro, 107 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. More info: 430-8356 or facebook.com.
Let the juices flow
Creative Juices Lounge presents Catalina Eddy and the Blue Keys live on Jan. 17. Soul Bleed performs on Jan. 18. Shows happen from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Creative Juices Lounge, 874 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. More info: 219-0518 or creativejuiceslounge.com.
An open mic
Lucia’s Wine Co. offers an open mic featuring wine, poetry, and live music on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the tasting room, 126 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. More info: 332-3080.
Maverick music
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment, including James Otto in concert on Jan. 16. Live rock and country music by Doc Rogers and the Black Mountain Thieves is on Jan. 17 at 8:45 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 p.m. “Concert on the Deck” featuring Doc Rogers is Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. Doc Rogers and The Black Mountain Thieves perform on Jan. 18 at 8:45 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 p.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
VIDEO COURTESY OF AMAYA ROSE DEMPSEY VIA YOUTUBE.COM
This article appears in Jan 16-23, 2014.
