Rooted in Music

By Stacey Walters

University of Pikeville freshman Zoe Howard was enticed by music from a very young age. Sundays spent singing in church and evenings strumming a guitar with her father nurtured Howard’s passion for music and assisted in discovering a stronger voice within herself.

As a performing arts major with an emphasis in music and a psychology minor, she has dedicated herself to finding academic opportunities that keep music in her daily life and dreams of becoming a music therapist.

“UPIKE is a place where I can be a whole person, where I can be challenged while still feeling at home,” said Howard. “Music therapy stands out to me because it allows me to trigger the positive memories within songs and help patients of all ages. My passion is to work with people with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss and helping with psychological care.”

Having been raised in Salyersville, Ky., with its rich Appalachian culture, Howard writes and records original songs about life in Kentucky and the inspiring people around her that spread love and positivity. Most recently, she debuted her first music video for the song “Burn,” which is a message to listeners about burning bad memories.

“When I look back at the songs that I have written, they have shown me that I am passionate about love and stories from others’ points of view,” said Howard. “I also write to encourage. My music has opened a door for many young female artists who think they can’t get their music out in the world.”

During the pandemic, Howard and her music family came together to record her first Extended Play, a half-length album, and created the Appalachian rock band Zoe Howard and the Yellow Line.

“We created the band for fun. It was about getting together and spreading positivity during the pandemic when everything seemed dull. All the band members have one thing in common, a love of music and a passion for traveling,” said Howard. “The band is a big family I trust and can rely on. We chose the name Yellow Line because the road takes us on many journeys through life.”

Always advocating for the support of local artists, they have performed many shows on numerous stages across the Commonwealth. One of their most cherished and repeated performances is a female-run festival that raises money for Appalachian women in need, The Mountain Grrl Experience. “Being a local artist is tough. I choose to support local artists to help motivate them to create more art and enrich their community. In doing so, we cultivate a sense of cultural identity and validate their hard work,” said Howard. “I want to encourage others seeking the next step on God’s path to keep chasing those dreams He has placed within you.”

Making the most of her time at the university, Howard is active in the jam band, bluegrass ensemble, choir and chamber select choir.

“Playing my acoustic guitar in bluegrass has helped me to become more experienced in picking ‘billy strings’ tunes, and being a part of an actual choir for the first time has taught me how to read vocal sheet music,” said Howard. “The jam band has allowed me to have fun playing percussion while learning how to communicate with others, and taking music theory has improved all my theory knowledge.”