Photo by Alison James
16-year-old Opelikan Abby Miracle performs for a group of her family and friends to celebrate the release of her first all-original album, “Colorful.”
Opelika teen, Abby Miracle, releases first album, ‘Colorful’
By Alison James
Associate Editor
At an intimate CD release event, friends and family gathered to celebrate a 16-year-old Opelikan and the debut of her first all-original album, “Colorful.”
Abby Miracle got her first introduction to singing as a 6-year-old at Christmas at First Baptist Church and continued to find singing opportunities in the church choir as she grew up.
“I didn’t really start singing other places by myself until I was 13,” said Abby.
Her solo career began to take off last year when she bought a ukelele from Spicer’s Music in Auburn. “I just started teaching myself,” Abby said. “Now I’m taking lessons so I can learn more professionally.”
A teaching mentor at Spicer’s summer band camp convinced her to pick up guitar as well, and Abby now plays both. As a homeschooler, she finds about six hours a day to work on music-related pursuits. Perhaps her greatest musical passion, however, is songwriting.
“I like putting stories out there,” Abby said. “Everybody has their little outlet, and music is mine. Music is my main thing. It’s the best way for me to express myself.”
“Colorful” includes a range of songs – some that are based off Abby’s life; some that are inspired by her friends’ experiences; and some that tell stories she imagined. “Rockstar,” Abby said, is her favorite.
“It’s my only ukulele song on the album,” Abby said. “The main focus of that song is, even if you consider yourself weird, there’s somebody who thinks you’re really really awesome.”
The album is available for sale through her online store on her website, www.abbymiracle.weebly.com, at Spicer’s Music and for download and streaming “pretty much everywhere except Pandora.”
Although Abby said she is interested in pursuing a career in music, perhaps as a performer, songwriting will remain her focus.
“Even if I don’t perform, I want to write songs other people can get out there,” she said. “I really want to write Vacation Bible School songs. I’m still learning the structure of those songs before I start working on them, but I’m going to work my way up – start practicing that structure, moving up (to) worship songs, and then moving to kids’ songs and kids’ worship songs.”
Her mother, Carol Ann, said she and Abby’s father want to give her everyone opportunity to pursue her passion.
“I think it’s her gift from God, and I wanted her to have more avenues to use it,” Carol Ann said. “My husband and I are very supportive of her music, so we’re going to do whatever we can to help her. She really feels like this will be her career long-term.”
Abby’s next scheduled performance will be April 18 at Newnan (Ga.) Unplugged, 10 E. Washington Street at 8 p.m. Eastern.
