USU singer/songwriter Libbie Linton brings 'organic' flair to Logan's music scene

By David Sweeney

January 31, 2007 | "Anyone can play guitar," sings Thom Yorke of Radiohead.

These days, any yahoo can string together words in a semblance of song. Utah State singer/songwriter Libbie Linton says there's a sincerity shortage among pop musicians that encourages the prevalence of mindless, predictable radio-rock.

"None of them actually mean what they're saying," Linton said of artists who are caught up in the must-sell-records spirit of the pop world.

"I hear the same thing that I've heard from everyone else," she said. If you always cater to the listener, Linton said, it's difficult to write a convincing song.

That's why Linton caters to herself.

"I do what I like," she said, "and think, 'Eh, maybe other people could like that, too.'"

What Linton likes is a contemporary brand of folk music. The inherent intimacy of the low-key, vocally exposed style mirrors her personality and approach to songwriting. When she finds herself "tired, stressed . . . in some kind of odd state," she listens. That's when she's the most creative.

"Naturally some stuff is going to come out and you have to pay attention to how things come together organically," said Linton, who has written about 20 songs in two and a half years.

Often, the songwriting mood doesn't stay. It's frustrating when it goes, Linton said, because she isn't the type to force the music. Instead, she tries to recapture past feelings, working with lyrical fragments that are weeks or months old. It may be longer still before she feels a song has addressed all it needs to and is worthy of a title and a performance.

A biological engineering major, Linton placed second at the String Theory songwriting competition Thursday. She has a naturally quavering voice that is indicative of her quiet demeanor. While she lacks a chatty, crowd-pleasing stage presence, her unique vocal style and flawless finger-picking speak for themselves.

"Every time I play," Linton said, "I'll be nervous when I start. But then I kind of black out that I'm playing in front of that many people and that they might be judging me."

The song Linton played Thursday, Shackleton, I'm Solid, is from her seven-song debut album, The Shackleton EP. It's indirectly related, she said, to explorer Ernest Shackleton, who survived a historic shipwreck at the South Pole. Why the reference?

Linton said every song concentrates on a specific period in her life. She focuses on the senses and feelings of that time rather than trying to fashion a song from unrelated clichés and metaphors.

"So if it's a love song," she said, explaining one possible thought process, "it's about . . . when I was friends with this person, these are my memories . . . and this is what our relationship was like … this is the Discovery program that we watched on Ernest Shackleton and his Antarctic exploration, and that was significant for this reason. . . ."

Linton declined to mention the personal significance of the event. She wants listeners to be able to relate individually to her music. Though her songs are specific, they're laden with symbolism and ambiguity.

"They're not straightforward," she said.

A fan of poetry, Linton said it's even easier to communicate through song because there are supporting melodies and harmonies.

"The two fit together and help strengthen what you're trying to say," she said.

Linton said her songs may sound similar because they're all in one style -- solo, acoustic folk. Within that genre, however, is a myriad of possibilities. Solo performance allows for maximum creative give and take in the instant of communication. As writer, singer and guitarist, Linton forms a one-piece band that must be attuned only to itself.

If continued musical success is her future, Linton said, she'll welcome it. But she believes fame distorts the spirit of song.

"If playing guitar was my only reason for playing guitar -- if it was to make money off it and get attention for it -- that would totally mess everything up," she said.

Linton will next perform Tuesday night in the Taggart Student Center for Guitars Unplugged. She will also play Feb. 24 and March 24 at Citrus and Sage cafe. She plans to start recording a second album as soon as school lets up.

The Shackleton EP and lyrics are available at libbielinton.com.

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