Souvenir backstage pass
Available on Bandcamp and Patreon October 25, 2024
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Available on streaming services November 22, 2024
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STORY & HIGHLIGHTS
Erin Ivey’s new album Souvenir takes its name from the French word that means "to remember." These 10 songs are a recollection of a time in Ivey’s life where perseverance meets purpose. "This album is a very real souvenir from an incredibly difficult time," Ivey proclaims. In November 2023, the Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter was diagnosed with lung cancer. After a successful surgery the day after Christmas, Ivey was in the midst of a months-long recovery while recording Souvenir and racing to meet a grant deadline for releasing it. "I had the album to look forward to and work toward, but I wondered if I would even be able to make it. I had to let go of the outcome," she explains. "In the past, I had certain expectations of my work and my ability both in writing and singing. With this project, I had no expectations because I didn't know what was possible. But I wasn't about to let that grant go to waste. And I think we made something truly special."
-- excerpt from album bio by Cillea Houghton
First-time producer Brennen Leigh is a darling of country western music at the helm of this true country-folk collaboration, one that could maybe only have happened in Austin. It is an ode to the many musical genres that intermingle there. All over this album, as Guy Clark noted colorfully, "Brennen Leigh plays guitar like a motherfucker."
"The Moon was Born in Texas" was co-written with Jennifer Warnes, winner of multiple GRAMMYs, Oscars, and a Golden Globe for songs like "Up Where We Belong" and "I've Had the Time of my Life," as well as her celebrated collaborations with Leonard Cohen.
The legendary Cindy Cashdollar (Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Ryan Adams) plays dobro on "Amarillo KOA" and console steel guitar on "I'm in Awe."
2020's Texas State Musician Emily Gimble (Asleep at the Wheel, Merle Haggard) plays piano on "Build a Fire" and "Empty House."
... and many more badass musicians (predominantly women) grace this album.
CREDITS
Produced by Brennen Leigh
Recorded and mixed by James Stevens at EAR Studio in Austin, TX
Additional production and recording engineered by Erin Ivey at The Recording Fort
Additional recording engineered by Kevin Skrla at Wolfe Island Recording Company
Additional production support by Cam Rogers
Mastered by Michael Romanowski at Coast Mastering
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
Erin Ivey - vocals, acoustic guitars
Brennen Leigh - electric & acoustic guitars, harmony vocals
Ashleigh Caudill - upright bass, harmony vocals
Karrie Sheehan - drums, percussion
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”
Cover photograph by Brian D. Smith
This album was funded in part by grants from the City of Austin’s Live Music Fund Event Program and Howlin’ Dog Music Group, and by my patrons at patreon.com/erinivey
Works cited under fair use:
Steve Goodman. “The City of New Orleans” (“High Time”)
Antonio Machado. “Caminante, no hay camino” (“Caminante”)
© 2024 Erin Ivey. All Rights Reserved.
LINK TO HI RES ALBUM ART AND PHOTOS ON DROPBOX
Thank you for listening and helping this music find its way!
XO
-Erin
P.S. Contact me at erinivey@gmail.com anytime! I'd love to hear from you.