Singer/songwriter Erin Rae is taking a nostalgic, DIY approach for her next project. Set for release on August 25, Lighten Up & Try: Live & From The Heart transports listeners to a 2022 performance in Nashville, recorded with her father’s vintage cassette recorder.
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“After a great six-week tour opening for Lord Huron, we came back to Nashville to play my first band show in town since 2019,” Rae explains in a statement. “The new album had been out for about six months, and the band was sounding tour tight. I brought this little 90s Panasonic tape recorder my dad used to use for practice tapes for his music, and my mom pressed record. So, she’s technically the engineer on the album. I love how it feels! I hear the strength in my singing voice, and shyness in my speaking voice…I felt both ways, proud & shy, which was kind of perfect for the nature of the album. Do it scared! Do it shy. Do it proud.”
Rae’s upcoming live album follows her third studio album, Lighten Up, released in 2022. The folky, psychedelic-tinged LP finds the songsmith deconstructing an especially transformative period in her personal life.
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To coincide with the album announcement, Rae has shared the live version of her powerful 2018 single “Bad Mind,” featuring guest vocals by She Returns From War.
“I’ve been moved so many times in the last five years by folks sharing their experiences of relating to the song ‘Bad Mind’ and what it brings up for them,” Rae adds. “Singing this song with my friend Hunter in Nashville felt like a beautiful full circle moment for the song & story, both of us owning our experience on stage especially in this state of Tennessee. I got choked up hearing her voice, and I’m so glad we have this recording of it. Sean Thompson plays guitar beautifully with us too. Can’t wait for our shows together in October.”
Rae will embark on her 2023 Lighten Up & Try Tour beginning September 9, with stops at cities across the U.S. through the end of October. Find a complete list of upcoming concert dates and additional ticketing information at Rae’s official website.
Listen to “Bad Mind” featuring She Returns From War below.
Photo Credit: Monica Murray
