Erika Chambers
10th Annual Americana Album Nominee
10th Annual Americana Song Nominee
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Americana Album
Americana Song
Record Label: n/a
www.reverbnation.com/erikachambers
Home Base: Nashville, TN
Genre: I guess “Americana” is the most fitting genre for my music, since it covers the broadest range of roots-esque influences.
Categories Entered: Americana Album, Americana Song
Works Submitted: light at eventide, “the war”
Artists Featured: Ricky and Micol Davis (Blue Mother Tupelo), Rachel Pearl, and Eric Paslay
Label: Unsigned
URLs:
www.Erikachambers.bandcamp.com
www.reverbnation.com/erikachambers
www.facebook.com/erikachambers
Influences: Patty Griffin, Mindy Smith, Sarah Siskind, Julie Lee, Nickel Creek, Trisha O’Keefe, and Blue Mother Tupelo among many others…
What’s the meaning of your band name? My parents gave it to me when I was born. I think “Erika” means “honorable ruler”…but I don’t plan on running for president any time soon.
Describe your nominated work: Oh boy. Where do I start? The album light at eventide took about four years from start to finish. I wrote and recorded one song at a time and paid my producer (Kyle Aaron, who also played almost every instrument on the record) a little at a time as we went along. The majority of the record was recorded in bedrooms and a basement and the progression of songs reflects my personal experiences and growth as an artist over those four years. Near the end of the project, Erick Jaskowiak (whose work has been nominated for multiple Grammys) came on board and mixed our humble tracks into a breathtaking symphony.
I chose light at eventide as the title track because nearly every song had some element of ‘hope in the darkness.’ This theme is eerily appropriate now since I was notified of my IMA nominations the day after my little sister’s memorial service. She was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer last November, just two months after the record was finished, and she passed away on February 10th. Yet in the midst of intense pain, I see more hope than I ever have… through community, faith and the support of more people than I could imagine. In the darkest of times, I am encouraged and hopeful, and that sentiment is communicated throughout the lyrics and melodies of “light at eventide”.
Why did you choose to submit this work to The 10th IMAs? I’ve heard about The IMAs for years, and was always intrigued, but this year I finally had a fully finished album I was proud of. I was excited to submit it and see what happened.
Did you use any unusual effects or instruments in this recording? I think Kyle used a pizza box for percussion on a song or two.
Were there any happy accidents while in the studio, or did everything go as planned? One of my producers started messing around on a B3 in the middle of a drum session. At first I thought he was being ridiculous, but it led to my favorite moment in the entire album (the climax on “footprints”)
Did fans help you fund this project? I funded it myself a hundred or so bucks at a time over the course of three and a half years (and paid one of my producers in mexican food). I didn’t ask for help until the very end, when my fans helped me get the first batch of albums pressed. I have some pretty amazing, insanely loyal and generous fans.
Who’s sitting in your audience? Folks of all ages. They tend to have very diverse tastes in music, from bluegrass to metal.
What makes your fans unique? They actively seek out their own music and don’t mindlessly eat what’s “fed” to them via mass media. They appreciate music that isn’t produced within an inch of its life and still has some raw character left in it.
Are there any songs you wish you wrote? “Cathedrals” by Jump Little Children and “Big Butts” by Sir MIX-A-LOT 
What artists are you listening to that would surprise your fans? Imogen Heap and The Rescues
What is your dream show lineup? Alison Krauss, Patty Griffin and me
What is your guilty pleasure on the road? I don’t spend a lot of time on the road right now since I work full time at Nashville’s United Way, but when I have gone on the road, I’m always on a quest for the absolute best Thai food in town… not guilty I guess, but very delicious.
Any close calls or mishaps while on tour? not so far (crosses fingers)
Do you have any rituals before you go on stage? um… I have a little bottle of “throat spray” that may or may not contain Wild Turkey American Honey.
Should music be free? Sure, as soon as studio time, producers, mortgages, food and gas are also free.
How has digital affected your career? It allows me to connect with people who connect with my music without having to spend my whole life touring. (don’t get me wrong, I look forward to spending a lot of time touring in the future, but digital options allow me a great head start so that when I do tour, I’ll have a solid fan base)
Are digital singles vs. full albums the future of music? For better or worse, digital singles are the future. Judging by my own behavior, I just want to download the songs I love, and I listen to my favorites obsessively.
Finish this sentence: The music industry is… becoming a people’s democracy. Sorry major record labels.