Our vinyl lacquers will be cut by the one and only Jeff Powell in Memphis, on the original STAX Records lathe, a Neumann VMS 70 in operation since 1972. The records will then be pressed at New Orleans Record Press, on heavy black vinyl for maximum sonic warmth and fidelity.
I had a pile of songs that were too country. So, I asked my favorite country western artist Brennen Leigh if she’d help make them into an album. She said "hell yeah!"
Souvenir was made to be played on vinyl. Recorded deep in the heart of Texas with an amazing band and a pinch-me list of guest musicians. It's a love letter to the natural beauty and musical legacies of my adopted home.
Before we started recording, I learned there was a baseball-size tumor in one of my lungs - and everything stopped. I had surgery that removed my entire upper left lung lobe and I wasn't sure I'd be able to sing again, or what it would sound like. But we'd already gotten a grant to make the album and we had a deadline to meet.
So, I focused on my rehab and breathing exercises and our beautiful community kept me afloat in every way as I recovered. In hindsight, these songs foreshadowed a lot. They seemed to know things before I did.
This album is a milestone, completely made of miracles. It's a souvenir of the most difficult and enlightening time in my life so far. I'm grateful to the talented musicians, co-writers, and engineers who dedicated their time and talent to creating it - and to everyone who has supported me along the way.
I hope you can hear and feel how much it means to finally share this album with you in physical form! Even if you don't have a record player, I hope you'll add this memento to your souvenir collection or pass it along to someone who needs a message of hope and a reminder of miracles.
Thank you for everything,
Erin"So I stop and I buy a souvenir.
The truckstop map says YOU ARE HERE."
(Amarillo KOA)
LISTEN
CREDITS
Produced by Brennen Leigh
THE BAND
Erin Ivey - lead and harmony vocals, acoustic guitars
Brennen Leigh - electric & acoustic guitars, harmony vocals
Ashleigh Caudill - upright bass, harmony vocals
Karrie Sheehan - drums, percussion
FEATURED MUSICIANS
Cindy Cashdollar - dobro on “Amarillo KOA,” console steel guitar on “I’m in Awe”
Suzanna Choffel - harmony vocals on “Build a Fire” and “Prize Fighter”
Emily Gimble - piano on “Build a Fire” and “Empty House”
Ginny Mac - accordion on “Caminante”
Rebecca Patek - fiddle on “Empty House,” “Prize Fighter,” and “Tricks of the Devil”
Chuck Pinnell - guitar on “Prize Fighter”
Cam Rogers - percussion on “Amarillo KOA” and “Tricks of the Devil”
Kevin Skrla - pedal steel guitar on “Dream,” “High Time,” “Prize Fighter,” and “The Moon was Born in Texas”
Oliver Steck - trumpet on “Caminante”
Recorded and mixed by James Stevens at EAR Studio in Austin, TX
Mastered by Michael Romanowski at Coast Mastering
Add'l production and recording engineered by Erin Ivey at The Recording Fort
Add'l recording engineered by Kevin Skrla at Wolfe Island Recording Company
Add'l recording engineered by Dave Cook at Area 52 Studios
Add'l production consulting by Cam Rogers
All songs written by Erin Ivey, including
“Amarillo KOA” by Nicolette Good and Erin Ivey
“Caminante” by Sarah Walker and Erin Ivey
“Prize Fighter” by Ethan Fox Tucker, Joel Van Horne, and Erin Ivey
“The Moon was Born in Texas” by Jennifer Warnes and Erin Ivey
Cover photograph by Brian D. Smith
This album was funded in part by grants from Red Sky Records, the City of Austin’s Live Music Fund Event Program, Howlin’ Dog Music Group, and by my amazing patrons at patreon.com/erinivey.