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All or nothing: Opal Agafia shares, bares her heart in song
Published Nov 27, 2018 >> www.columbiatribune.com
Standing before a microphone, twining notes and words, Opal Agafia’s true nature reveals itself.
Until three years ago, music remained just a notion — albeit a burning one — for the Arkansas-based singer-songwriter. Now it is her everyday reality as she leads her band, The Sweet Nothings, through many musical moods, from groove-oriented roots rock to searing blues and mournful mountain sounds.
“There’s a thing about dreaming and actually doing,” Agafia said. “I always dreamed to do it, but then I finally, really came through.”
Highberry 2017 Standouts: Opal Agafia, Floozies, DSO, Marcus King Band
July 8, 2017 >> Arkansounds.com
Thursday’s best set came from Eureka Springs-based group Opal Agafia & The Sweet Nothings, performing next-to-last on the tent stage. After kicking off their stellar performance with a soft and moody “Old Ways of Living,” the band launched into high gear – as did the crowd – a couple songs in.
Opal’s original tracks “Hawk Above My Head” and “Yard Sale dress” are huge crowd-pleasers. Every song was a huge sing-a-long for the crowd, and her audience size matched any non-headliner that played on the main stage all weekend. That’s an impressive feat in itself. It was clear, though, that Opal and crew owned Thursday at Highberry.
Opal Agafia & the Sweet Nothings Making Waves With New Roots-Soul Sounds, Great Songwriting
August 31, 2017 >> Arkansounds.com
One of Arkansas’ newest female voices to command the attention of music fans is also one of the state’s most dynamic, unique, and stunning female voices we’ve heard in years.
Opal writes songs that are spunky, honest, and moving. The upbeat tracks make you wanna get up and move, celebrate your strength, or figure out how to find said strength; the slower-tempo tunes are likely to make the listener wanna love harder, live better, or laugh louder.
Her voice oozes soul – she has a helluva lot of it, particularly for a white girl from the Arkansas backwoods. She also has a lot of country twang. While these attributes seem like they might not jive, Opal combines them and many other unique qualities to create a stew of outstanding musicianship and showmanship that doesn’t simply “work” – it works wonderfully.