Summer

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Born in Boulder, Colorado, Summer Mencher showed a talent and a passion for music at a young age. Her mom states, “She learned to sing before she learned to speak.” She began writing songs for piano and voice at seven years old, and added guitar for harmonic support at fourteen. Even back then her songs contained spiritual and political undertones, unlike many songwriters whose inspiration is often only drawn from romance and longing.In high school, Summer was frequently noticed for her musical talent. She was the lead in many high school musicals and was a finalist in the citywide “Teen Scene” contest. She received an honorable mention in contemporary voice from the national 2003 ARTS competition and was often the featured vocalist at Living Enrichment Center, where performances aired on national television. By fifteen she was giving regular street performances by hip Portland hangouts. In addition, she was booking gigs in local venues, where she played her unique and influential originals. Driven by her ability to reach a wide audience, she released a thirteen song acoustic record, “Bench People,” in 2003, when she was only eighteen.Summer deepened her understanding of the power of music by pursuing a BA in Music Therapy and Vocal Performance on scholarship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. At Berklee, she was able to combine her two most significant interests: humanitarian efforts and composing. Using her intuition and training to connect to others, she began to reach individuals on a soul level, becoming transformed herself, both as a musician and woman. This awakening in nonverbal sonic connection breathed soul and authenticity into her raw and organically moving performances.In Boston, Summer worked in inclusion classrooms, psychiatric wards, geriatric settings and hospitals. She was also selected to be a part of a group of Berklee music therapy students embarking on a trip to Kenya where they used music as a medium for helping and empowering AIDS and poverty stricken orphans. It was in Africa where she strengthened her belief that music has the ability to “bring people together and spiritually and physically transform [them].” The trip inspired her to continue to practice music for mutual expression rather than seeking to impress others. She will continue this work at an internship to focus on music therapy practices in a variety of settings.Since “Bench People” Summer has released several more demos of new material in collaboration with other talented players. Although her songs stand on their own, a full band rounds out the twists and turns, giving them a solid groove that sticks. Her most recent demo has aired on the radio in Portland and plays in many cafes and venues around the area.Summer’s sound is a creative mixture of counterpoint and unique harmonies lead by her bright and clear vocal tone that ranges from rich lows to powerhouse highs. Guitar and piano play a primary role in her writing style. Her songs veer off the beaten path, yet remain accessible to a mainstream crowd. Reminiscent of artists like Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell, Summer invites listeners in with a refreshing new style. Her lyrics poignant, her harmonic changes unpredictable, and her voice edgy and pure, fans have given her sound a new name, “Progressive Folk.”