Schatzi + The String Boffin

SCHATZI [shaht-see] noun. German slang: darling, sweetheart.

Her spirit is palpable, ambient, and wise. Dannica Lowery, a.k.a. “Schatzi”, is the transcendent darling of the duo Schatzi and the String Boffin.  Born and raised on the Emerald Coast of Florida, Dannica inherited a lyrical virtue from her raconteur mother, Kathy, a published poet and storyteller. Her instrumental prowess is propagated legacy of her musician father, Mark Lowery. Dannica’s early life was fortified by music and nurtured by her parents and other talented family members.  Schatzi’s early exposure to various genres of music, including rock, blues and folk, triggered her hunger to pursue a musical career.

BOFFIN [bof-in] noun. British slang: scientist, technical expert

Ben Parsons, the “String Boffin”, began playing guitar at age eleven.  Impelled by his love of blues guitar, Ben spent his formative years mastering various techniques and the artistry of classical guitar.  Later, Ben would whet his musicianship as a music theory and composition major at Florida State University, expanding his string acumen with study of classical guitar, mandolin, and piano.  Ben’s early exposure to the various genres of music, his later course of study in music theory prompted his dedication to melodic creativity.

Dannica and Ben are siblings by marriage and though they may not share DNA, Dannica and Ben do share a parallel, twin-like telepathy.   During their very first rehearsal, their respective musical influences and styles meshed perfectly.  The synergistic alchemy between Schatzi and the String Boffin is a deep-rooted organic arrangement, and this unity as collaborators underscore’s their individual musical strengths:  Dannica as a masterful songwriter and storyteller and Ben as a proficient instrumentalist.  This telepathic communion enables Dannica and Ben to expand upon shared musical objectives. It is palpable on stage and divulged through their folk and Americana-styled songs.  Whether experimenting with an impromptu riff during a live performance or collaborating on a new song, there is a discernible, unspoken harmony of thought patterns exchanged between them.

The folked-up, progressive rock duo is admittedly awestruck by the musical journey thus far.  Dannica and Ben acknowledge their continued growth and development as singers, songwriters, and performers.  They’re humbled by the music industry’s early embrace, which has advanced the duo to perform recent opening show acts for headliners such as Rascal Flatts and Sheryl Crow.  Ben, “We strive to be genuine in our music and let it come naturally” .  Dannica, “Yeah, we are pretty much on the same page; we want to stay true to our roots and ride the divine flow.”

                                                                                                                                                Vie Magazine Nov/Dec 14