Music - An open door

It used to be that Abi Edington’s teeth chattered when the prospect of performing before a group was raised.

Now the 18-year-old Independence resident is a little more comfortable in front of a crowd – no matter the size.

“I can play before a packed house or one or two people, it doesn’t matter,” said Edington. A powerhouse of energy, her hands flicker and flow as if relaying sign language.

Edington will be the featured musician at the Third Friday event tonight beginning at 6:30 in the courtyard of the Primary Colors art gallery, 109 W. Lexington on the Independence Square.

Edington’s musical talents are rooted in her childhood. Her grandmother owned a piano and Edington was welcome to it from age 3 to 5 – until she broke two of the pedals.

“It was an accident,” she said, smiling.

Edington was enrolled in piano lessons, which she continued until she was 13.

“I decided I didn’t like people telling me when to practice and what to play,” Edington said.

She decided she’d learned enough, that she would be self-taught as a piano player and vocalist.

“I’ve always liked to sing, but it was only about two years ago that I put the piano and singing together,” Edington said.

Drawing influences from an array of artists including Maria Taylor, Imogen Heap and Rosie Thomas, Edington has emerged as a singing/piano-playing virtuoso.

It was a 10-month stint as a barista/entertainer at the Main Street Coffee House that was her springboard.

Edington entered the coffee house in September of last year with the goal of finishing some homework. Before sitting down, she asked about performing on an open mic night.

“Lois (McDonald, the former owner of the coffee shop) said, ‘Oh, you play?’” Edington said. “And she stood there staring at me.”

McDonald motioned toward the piano. Edington took a seat and played. When she was done, McDonald approached her.

“Do you have anywhere you’re working right now?” she said. Edington shook her head. It was done. While Edington was an employee, McDonald would ask her to perform if conversation was at a standstill.

“At first it was hard for me to not say no, and I would just look at the wall facing the piano when playing,” Edington said. “Now, I like watching the reactions of other people; the coffee shop was a huge confidence booster for me.”

Edington said she has written and composed four songs herself, at least one of which deals with love. But Edington’s greatest songwriting gift involves recasting everyday gestures and phrases into personal epiphany.

In a sense, it speaks to her motto: “OK, God, you have keys to all the doors, and if you want to open one, I’ll hopefully not be too blind to walk through it.”