Making Bubblebath Music: Singer-songwriter Alia Torres performs at Art on Bull

Art on Bull is celebrating Savannah’s vibrant arts community with a fundraising block party and exhibition. Along with an oyster roast, Lowcountry boil, cocktails, and painting, the event will also be graced by a bewitching performance by singer-songwriter Alia Torres.

Torres moved to Savannah four years ago from Columbus, Ga., and has since been performing several times a month on River Street, the DeSoto Hotel, and other local venues. A talented blues guitarist with a soulful voice, Torres performs a mix of eclectic covers (Feist, Dodos, CCR, Chris Isaak, Beirut, Dolly Parton, etc.) and original songs, but you wouldn’t know from her entrancing shows that she is relatively new to playing music. Torres took a sideways approach to music by learning about the technical side of audio before ever performing in front of an audience.

Torres traces her musical beginnings to The Loft Live in Columbus where she worked for over eight years, moving up the ladder from host to server to bartender. “That’s my little home, my little family whenever I go there, and that’s where I laid my roots down,” said Torres.

At one point Torres quit and moved to Fiji for several months. Things did not work out as she planned and she returned to the Loft with newfound determination.

“When I came back I’d lost everything that I had and I felt fearless,” said Torres. “I had nothing to lose, therefore I had everything to gain.”

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Growing up, Torres’ father had a recording studio in his basement which instilled in her an interest in sound engineering. She decided to focus on learning more about it with help from The Loft.

“I started an internship for no pay learning to be a sound technician,” said Torres. “I started following my friend around learning sound, understanding signal flow, and it got to a point where they would leave the bar and allow me to take over. They did this so often that it became recognized at the bar that I’m pretty much doing this person’s job, so they fired them and gave me their job.”

While running sound at The Loft at night, Torres also began working during the day at a local university’s audio studio assisting a music professor instruct classical music students.

“I got to know both worlds of classical students and out of town people who come to play,” explained Torres. “Even Grammy Award nominated artists sometimes, or local church players, or local jazz players. I got to learn all of these genres and frequencies and personalities and the way musicians communicate.”

Torres decided to apply what she had learned to her own music and began performing live.

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“Much like a bartender, if you’re going to serve someone a drink it’s best if you’re also someone who drinks alcohol so you can test your beverage, you can speak to what your customer wants, understand their palette. I figured I should start playing music to understand the musicians that I’m am catering to. I want to know what it’s like to be onstage. I want to know what it’s like to be told to turn down and why they get upset. I just wanted to know more, more, and more, because when I get into something I get into all of it.

“When I moved, the musician part just stuck. I never really intended to be a musician. I love music, but I didn’t really have a lot of faith that I would be a musician because growing up I started with violin and flute, and I moved around so much as a military brat that I didn’t really get the instruction that I needed. That’s why I was a late bloomer. I learned the foundations of sound first, and then I became a musician.”

Torres’ ear for sound and her natural musical instincts are on full display on her debut self-titled EP that was released in 2017. Intimate and atmospheric production brings out her bluesy guitar picking and sultry vocals.

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“I like playing in intimate spaces,” explained Torres. “I like writing in a way where people can find relatability and apply it to whatever they want to make it. I don’t want to push any values. I call it ‘bubblebath music.’ It’s not quite blues, it’s not quite country, it’s not quite folk, it’s not quite soul. It’s bubblebath music. It’s just really mellow, great for a long drive, really lovely with a hot beverage, really nice in a bubblebath with a glass of wine.”

Torres has since been writing new material and is just looking for the right environment to capture her ‘bubblebath’ vibes.

“I’m really looking forward to recording,” said Torres. “I’m trying to find the right space for myself. My first recording was very special to me, and I’m trying to find something that meets that energy. It’s less about recording itself and more about the process of the recording — how natural it feels, who you’re recording with, if they allow it to be what it is. I haven’t found that, yet. But I’ve got a lot more music to be recorded for sure.”

Torres recently changed careers and now has time to perform more often. She might even start incorporating a loop pedal and pick up the violin again. Torres is also looking forward to performing at Art on Bull and reaching new listeners.

“Since I have been in Savannah I’ve worked on River Street, which I feel has been a detriment to making an impact on the community and meeting people who matter, so I’m very excited to be a part of a community event.”

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah GA concerts: Alia Torres performs at Art on Bull fundraiser