Skilyr Hicks is a 14 year old self-taught guitarist, singer, and songwriter. She is taking the music industry by storm with her powerful voice, deep lyrics, and I-can’t-get-this-song-out-of-my-head melodies. Skilyr is often referred to as an “old soul,” which is a perfect description for a young solo artist with the enchanting ability to connect with all audiences. Local blogger Bethany Marshall at “Live & Local” said it best: “A real artist can take a song and not only make you hear the words, but make you feel and believe the lyrics they are singing. She is able to connect with the songs she has written and they are so relatable to all ages.”

Skilyr had always been creative, but the depth of her creativity wasn’t discovered until she was 13 - about a year after the death of her father. An acoustic guitar she had received a few years before made its way back into her arms. That night, she began playing. Three days later, she began writing songs. This time she was not letting go. Within a few months, Skilyr courageously stepped onto a stage and introduced herself as an acoustic singer/songwriter for the very first time.

Her musical journey began in the place she has called home since the age of 7, North Augusta, South Carolina. It wasn’t long before social media shares would bring her back to her Ohio roots in order to share her music over the airwaves at 98.3 The Bull. A prediction was made that day by the radio personality. “I believe…no…I know that Skilyr Hicks is going to go on to play on stages across the nation.”

Skilyr’s desire to share her gift has placed the now 14-year-old artist on over 100 platforms within a year. She has performed at nationally recognized Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta, where she has opened for artists Lera Lynn, Barnaby Bright, Carrie Rodriquez, and Charlie Mars. She has also been fortunate enough to play at intimate singer/songwriter venues Grocery On Home and Downstairs Live, where she shared the stage with acclaimed artists Emily West, KS Rhodes, and Nathan Angelo.

Yet, the most impressive thing about Skilyr is her generous spirit. “It’s about the moment. The moment when you know that you have had an impact in someone’s life, and in turn, realize that they have made a difference in yours. I just want to share my music with others.”

And share she has. She has donated her time to a number of benefits and fundraisers for various organizations such as Relay for Life, The American Heart Association, Honduras mission projects, and school fundraisers. She has also given her support to accident victims and children with rare diseases.

Sleeping in on Saturday mornings is a thing of the past for this student, athlete, and artist. She spends most weekends traveling to her various shows. With the support of her family and community, Skilyr is doing what she loves - sharing her music. She attributes her growth as an artist to God, her family, friends, and all who have supported her along the way. “I finally found a place that I can most definitely call home.”

Her album “Brand New Day” was released earlier this year and is now available on iTunes. She is currently working on her new album “New Heart,” which will be released during the last quarter of 2013. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.