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Artist
Amy Kucharik
12+ albums
about
Amy Kucharik is a ukulele-slinging singer-songwriter based in Somerville, MA. The 2015 Kerrville Grassy Hill New Folk winner explores the full range of her instrument's capabilities as a tool to convey a complex array of subjects and moods: Whether humorous, topical or intense, she steers listeners away from the ukulele's perception as a twee novelty. At the same time, Amy wants her audience to have a good time, and her performances are infused with Vaudevillian charm and an infectious, danceable swing. Her music draws from a range of influences including blues, ragtime jazz, folk, pop and country... as well as aesthetics garnered from film and literature. Amy's catchy, sexy, sometimes haunting songs recount tales of reluctant love, heartbreak, revenge, and grit. Originally from Southern IL, Amy grew up playing classical piano and studied french horn from the 6th grade through college. At Southern Illinois University, Amy studied art and creative writing, ultimately earning her MFA in poetry, meanwhile playing horn in the University Wind Ensemble. However, it was after moving to Boston and through a swing dancing friend that Amy first became interested in the ukulele, the instrument that ignited her songwriting. In 2012, she put together her band, Friends With Benefits. Amy's band features a revolving assortment of talented musicians who perform regularly in New England. Their 2013 EP, "Dance Crush Blues," was created as a tribute to their mutual love of the swing and blues
