Zella Day’s Old Soul

11 years ago, at 9 years old, a beautiful young mountain-town girl from Pinetop, Arizona picked up her first acoustic guitar in her parent’s coffee shop. Zella Day was that young girl. Having been nourished by the seasoned folk musicians who regularly performed at the shop, Day, now 20, has grown from her folk roots into a full-blown rock star.

In June of this year, Day made her television debut on Conan with her heavy hitting single “High,” off of her brand new album Kicker. “I felt a wonderful sense of pride being up there when he stated the place that I’m from. Nobody has ever said Pinetop, Arizona on Conan before.” Day’s exhilarating performance proved that she could seamlessly transfer her impeccable and mystical vocals from the studio to the live stage.

While other musicians may mask themselves behind production tricks, the musicianship of Day and her band shines through the muck with pure artistry. “I think that my live shows are what are driving my record, and that people have a very real visceral reaction at my shows,” she said. “I’m building this from the ground up. Every show matters — that’s the way a record has always worked. Maybe it’s different now, but I like how I’m going the old school route.”

The young Day’s old soul stays grounded amidst fashion magazine shoots, touring, and the general pressure’s of working with a major label. “I’m having fun! I’m on my way to Amarillo, Texas in the van right now and I’m watching Vacation,” she laughed lightheartedly.

Day will be playing SOhO on Sunday, September 27, which also happens to be the date of the lunar eclipse blood moon. Like the lyrics vocalized in her other single “Sweet Ophelia,” she will literally be “singing like it’s a full moon.”

Zella Day plays SOhO on Sunday, September 27, 1221 State St. at 8 p.m. $12-15. Call 805- 962-7776 or visit sohosb.com for more info.