All it takes is one: The music of Samantha Sawyer

After listening to her brand of crooning indie music, one might not guess that Samantha Sawyer's adventures into songwriting began only two years ago. In fact, the first song she ever learned was one she wrote herself; it was easier to remember something she created versus something she had to mimic.

"Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of encouragement. I guess you could say that I felt a lot more discouragement," the singer-songwriter said in a characteristically soft, yet bubbly way.

The 26-year-old’s parents separated when she was a young teen and Sawyer found herself uprooted from her home in Bremerton, Washington to follow her mother to Anchorage. Her father did indeed reunite with them later, but throughout the turbulent time, art and music didn't fit into the flow of Sawyer's adolescent years.

“I spent a lot of that time reading in my room and just thinking,” recalled Sawyer. “But I think I always knew that music was in my heart. Truthfully, picking up a guitar was a means to accompany my voice. It was a way for me to add a melodic backdrop to what I wanted to say. There's usually a message that I want to get across or it is something that I need to vent. Either way, I hope to put some sort of hope in that song—even if it's an 'I'm really upset' song—just so people can get something from it whether it's relating to it or finding hope from it."

In 2016, Sawyer decided it was time to share her bedroom musings with the world and she found her stage home at Van’s Dive Bar. According to Sawyer, the scene at Van's is a strong current of support in the close-knit music community, and many songwriters consider it an ideal place to build up their chops.

"There's more of a 'family-oriented' feel there," she explains. "We just really look out for each other and encourage each other no matter where we're starting from. They really open the space to be a 'come as you are' type of place. I'd say Open Mic Night is the best time to see what the heart of Van's is."

Operating under the name “Dynamics of One,” which refers to a concept of continuous exploration within one's self, acknowledging that individuals are beyond concise definitions, Sawyer has carved out a niche for her music and is happier than she has ever been.

"Sharing music, I've realized, just allows a lot of connection to happen... There is usually something [the audience] can relate to. It gives us something to talk about. It makes me feel good to be able to kind of vent to a crowd that has to listen," she laughs. "I hope that it encourages people. I hope it goes to all the right ears at all the right times, however that looks."

The sonic aesthetic of the Dynamics of One echoes Sawyer's optimistic message. Her voice is equal parts strength and grace as she plucks and strums her guitar. It's not uncommon to hear interesting tempo changes or surprising new ideas in a song, keeping both the singer and the listener at full attention. As a matter of fact, Sawyer's music is just one extension of her heart. Her day job as an ISS at Hope Community Resources is another gig that breathes positivity into her daily life.

You can catch Dynamics of One on Friday, September 28 at That Wing Place (360 Boniface Parkway) from 7-10 pm.