Irish pop singer Sarah Packiam said while Miami didn't differ too much from her native Europe, she has seen a dramatic change in the local live music scene since arriving in the Magic City just two years ago.
"At first when I came here I found it hard to find the live spots, but it's picking up," Packiam told Niteside. "There are so many places now, like The Stage, Bardot and Cafeina - it's really excited for live artists in Miami. I'm super happy about it."
Last night marked the crooner's inaugural debut at hip Wynwood haunt, Cafeina, where she performed as part of Wynwood Live.
"I fell in love with the place, totally," Packiam said about Cafeina.
Packiam's other gigs include jamming outside Balan's in the Mary Brickell Village courtyard every other Thursday, and will even be serenading the lovebirds at Deering Estate during this year's Valentine's celebration.
Meanwhile, Packiam - who previously toured Spain with her musician father and has even hit the stage with famed Miami musicians Jon Secada and Shakira - said recording her debut album has been her main focus. She plans to release a few songs on iTunes every few months, including a few by Valentine's Day.
"Music is moving much quicker nowadays," she explained. "I'm just trying to get it out there as much as I can."
And she isn't kidding. Packiam said she even knocked out one of her favorite tracks, "Everybody Needs Somebody," in a mere 30 minutes. But what else can you expect from someone who started writing and performing her own music by the age of 12?
"I think I even tried to start earlier, but my fingers were too small," she said. "It just felt natural to me -- I don't really know how to do anything else."
