First-year musician finds self in songs

For first-year Hayley Sigmon, music is far more than notes on a page. It has given her passion, friendship, creativity and, most importantly, happiness.

A self-taught musician, Sigmon only began playing the guitar and writing her own songs a little over a year ago. Since then, she has set up her own YouTube channel and SoundCloud account to showcase her music.

She has filled them with classic covers like “Wonderwall” by Oasis and “Clocks” by Coldplay. She also performs more alternative covers, like “Robbers” by The 1975.

But she is most passionate about her own creations — the words she writes on her own and the music she creates to go with it.

“I think what really started it was that I was going through a dark time in my life, and I started writing poetry as a kind of outlet,” Sigmon said. “Eventually, I just decided to put music with it because it was something to work toward.”

Music did help Sigmon find happiness. For her, it serves as a creative and an emotional outlet to tell her own stories and express what she feels.

“I usually write about experiences I’ve had or things that I’m feeling at that point in my life,” she said. “I sort of write for me, and if it helps other people along the way, then that’s awesome.”

Her passion for music has helped her find herself and connect with others. It even led her to make one of her closest friends at UNC.

Lacey Rowan, a first-year psychology major, met Sigmon earlier this school year at a mutual friend’s birthday party. After realizing how similar their tastes in music were, they instantly formed a connection. Yet Rowan had no idea the extent to which Sigmon created her own music.

“I went on her Vine and was watching her really old Vines of her doing six-second covers of stuff. And I thought, ‘This is so cool,’” Rowan said. “You could tell she really cared about it.”

Sigmon’s music teacher at her high school in Rocky Mount could tell she cared about it, too. Shawn Leonard, a drummer and graduate of the Berklee College of Music, got to know Sigmon during her senior year of high school in a small music class that he taught.

“She has been so open to absorbing as much information as she can,” he said. “It was so interesting to see her music skills get better over the year.”

Sigmon credits Leonard as a big part of her inspiration to become the musician she is today. But she has always had a passion for the arts since she started piano lessons at age 7.

“I think there’s a movie quote that says, ‘The reason people stay alive is for art,’” she said. “That’s what really puts the emotion and the meaning in our lives.”

Sigmon said in 10 years, she wants to continue making music.

“I just want to keep working on music, and I’ll see where it takes me. It’s really cool to think about possibly building a career out of writing and music.”

@nicole_mcirvine

arts@dailytarheel.com