Even though the video is eight years old, the beginnings of the artist Hammers will become are already on display. There’s the hidden melancholy layered beneath her luminous vocals. There’s the skillful strumming accompanying her immaculate melody. Most notably, there’s the confident vulnerability of Hammers alone with her instrument, unafraid, baring her soul among the bare branches.

The video in question, “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” has gone on to well over a quarter million views and though it is a cover by artist Tiny Tim, like everything Hammers creates, she makes it her own. 

Hammers found her love of music at a young age, singing songs acapella around the house to the delight of her mother. Unaccompanied vocal performances eventually gave way to Hammers teaching herself to play the guitar. By the time Hammers reached seventeen she was performing her original songs in between raucous local band sets at all ages shows in southern Illinois. Though Hammers would later say she was so nervous at those early shows that her voice would shake as badly as her hands, none of that fear was on display as she won over every room that saw her, even if they were there to throw down to their friends’ metal band. With each local show, Hammers continued to hone her craft, learning valuable lessons along the way like how to speak up for herself, how to project confidence even when it isn’t easy, how to stop overthinking, and, most notably, how to be easier on herself when she messes up.

In 2019, Hammers released “In Living Spaces.” A true DIY artist through and through (seriously, check out her Etsy shop, The Crooked Spruce), Hammers wrote/recorded/produced the five original songs entirely by herself. The collection speaks of an artist looking to make her place in the world. 

On “Home,” Hammers sings: “So you carve out a place for yourself at the edge of it all / In the side of a mountain, old and tall / Where the air is clear, and all the creatures run / Start a new routine free from everyone.” With the EP, Hammers indeed carved out a place for herself beside other songwriting luminaries such as Sufjan Stevens, Daughter, and Feist.  

Now, Hammers has set her eyes on releasing her most ambitious collection of music yet. When asked about a favorite song from the impending release, Hammers shared, “I wrote a new song not long ago called, ‘Moonsong.’ It’s about my daughter, the time we share, and trying to cope with the fact that it won’t last forever. I cried when I wrote it, and playing it still comforts me. I feel like I was honest and captured the feelings I was having in a genuine way.” Even though the song has yet to be released, fans of Hammers will have little trouble believing the above to be true. As always, Hammers will be confidently leading the way, looking back at the rest of us to catch up.