Showcase Artist Feature: Erin O’Dowd

With our March 20th showcase at The Basement East fast approaching, we’re excited to be sharing more about our incredible lineup! Kicking it off is Erin O’Dowd!

1. So I’m gonna start off with hopefully an easy question: What are your top 3 most influential albums?

E: Oh albums, okay! There’s so many for me, I’m a huge listener of music and I kind of absorb everything I listen to. I mean, it’s hard to pick an album.

K: We can even do top 3 influential artists, if that’s easier?

E: Yeah! That’s easier. Definitely Bob Dylan, and if I had to pick an album, maybe Nashville Skyline or The Times They Are a-Changin’. That’s, like, the first one I experienced. But everybody’s tastes change. My favorite album changes, like, weekly.

 I would also say Emmylou Harris, for sure. She was really special for me because I didn’t even know about her until people started telling me I sound like her. Older people that would listen to me play would come up to me and say, “You sound like her!” and I was like, “I don’t know who that is.” So finally, I looked her up and I was like, “Oh my God, I love country music!” I heard her and Graham Parsons, and I fell in love with country music. I realized I was more country, you know.  

Okay, this next one may be off the wall for some people from the other two but, Prince.

K: Oh God, I love Prince!

E: He is the most creative person, I think, that’s ever existed. Like, no boundaries just completely lived in the creative place. He was constantly creating. I think I read somewhere that we could never actually listen to all of his music; you would never have time in your life to listen to everything he created.

K: No! Just knowing that he created all of that, places him on a whole other level all by himself.

E: I know, right?! I actually named my dog after him. My dog’s favorite music was Prince. He’s always dancing along with his music. Like, I think he was HIS dog in a past life or something.

2. What is one song you could play (or have played) on repeat?

E: This may be obscure for some people but the song I’ve been listening to on repeat for the last 24 hours is a song called Settle Down by this band called Woodlock. They’re from Australia, and it’s this really beautiful music. It’s very deep and emotive, but it’s not self-indulgent. It’s intentionally very dramatic but also organic. It just came up in my Spotify and I became obsessed with it.  Like, literally, I had this moment like, “This song was written for my life.” (laughs)

[I felt like] this is exactly where I’m at in life, if I could express it, it’s this song. I love it when that happens! It’s pretty wild but it’s what music does, you know?

K: Yeah, it’s that serendipitous connection.

E: Mmhmm, and how it’s so relatable. Someone on the other side of the world in Australia wrote this song and it vibes with me, you know?

3. Which artist/genre have you really been into lately?

E: Umm, hip-hop. My top artist on Spotify last year was Londrelle.

K: Ooh, I love Londrelle! His guided meditations that he shares on Instagram are lovely.

E: His music just makes me feel so good! Another artist I like, his flow is a little more rap oriented but, his name is Michael Seven. It’s like affirmations but it’s music! I’ve been trying to guide more of my own songwriting toward that emotional positivity. I love that hip-hop in particular has, like, no limits! It’s art, and it's not so much solely topical, as it is trying to say something.

K: Songwriting can be a great, cathartic process that helps us move through emotions, but it also can become cyclical and keep us stuck in certain thought process patterns if we get into a loop of “I felt bad about this experience, so I’m going to keep writing this.” Then it stops being a way to a release it, and you can become stuck in that pain point, so I love that you’re trying to intentionally incorporate more of that joy and levity in your songwriting.

E: Yeah, and taking it just as seriously. I’m an 80s baby. Eighties and nineties babies, especially, we kind of grew up on grunge and developed the mentality like, “Oh, this is serious music.” But there’s nothing less valid about a song that’s joyful.

4. Is there any artist or genre that you absolutely CANNOT listen to?

E: Anything really angry. I can’t really listen to metal, it’s just too grating. And I get migraines now but even before, I just couldn’t relate. I think for some people it’s cathartic, and it helps them let stuff out. Everything has its place so I try not to knock anything.  But I can’t get into metal or, like, super fast banjo. I also think I’m like a weirdo, multi-faceted person though, too. One day I could not like something, and the next I’m listening to it on repeat.

5. If you could bring back any 3 deceased artists, who would they be?

E: Prince. (laughs) I’m so sad I never got to see him live. Definitely John Prine. It devastated me that I didn’t get to meet him; I mean, I got to see him play. Just being able to see him play once was worth it. It was so good! He was so influential for me, and still is. His songwriting is straight to the point; it’s so relatable and humble.  Umm, the third one I thought of was making me too sad but I love Leslie Jordan and his gospel music. I didn’t even know that he could sing or did music, and in the last six months before he passed I got really into listening to his gospel and bluegrass stuff; it’s really beautiful. I had this dream of wanting to sing with him. I absolutely adore him as a person, too.

6.  I know you mentioned seeing John Prine. Do you have a favorite show/performer you’ve seen live?

E: Gosh, so many! I’ve been lucky to see a lot of the people we already talked about—Emmylou, I saw Bob Dylan a few times. I really loved seeing Bob Dylan most recently on the Rough and Rowdy Ways tour last year, and it was the most rockin’ show of his I’ve seen. It was my third time seeing him and he just rocked out, and it was so good! I loved how he alters his style every time he plays. Every single show could be a different artist but it’s still him, and I love how he’s able to be versatile like that. To me, that’s the most inspiring because I’m that wackadoodle person that is singing Adele one second, then is singing an old blues song. I’m kind of manically hopping around from one genre to another. Some people think you shouldn’t do that…some people just want to be really good at one thing, but I’m just kind of incapable of that, personally. So, just the versatility of him as a performer and the fact that his artistry shows that you don’t have to be the most amazing vocalist or guitar player—that it’s not about that. It’s about self-expression and what you have to say, and what’s underneath all of that. I still love his voice, too; I love character in a voice! But that dedication to following the muse that he has, showed in his last performance. The band was so tight; you could tell they were just the best friends, and they were on that level together where they could come together and do this thing.

K: Clearly, it sounds like they weren’t there strictly to perform; it sounds like they were there because it’s authentic for them and it speaks to their soul. They’re not doing it for anybody other than themselves.

E: Yeah, that’s a really good point.

K: Which kind of leads me to my next question…

7. With the oversaturation of content in today’s market, how do you cope with the act of staying relevant and building momentum, all whilst maintaining authenticity for yourself and your work/music?

E: Ooh, this is a really good question! I think approaching [social media] as a way to try to get followers or gain something from it, you can kind of lose your authenticity. I think to combat oversaturation by nature is like, “Let’s stop talking about things as much and just be about them. Do them. Let’s get out in the world more and live our lives. And then if you want to document something, sure.” I try to remember I’m sharing my experience with my friends, and keep up with them. Sure, it’s great to inspire and be inspired, too. I try to let the art speak for itself, even if it’s just a photo on Instagram or a text to a friend—let art be art. Let it be its own source of inspiration.

8. Given that as performers and artists we tend to give the most deep and vulnerable parts of ourselves to our art, and subsequently our audience, how do you re-charge and fill your cup other than songwriting or performing?

E: It’s a real maze for artists in today’s world because, I think, making the art itself is what used to be the thing, and then we would share it. But now we’re expected to do much more. Like, we’re supposed to TikTok everything and write a song that’s deep and meaningful. I mean, that’s not gonna happen. The music becomes less and less meaningful if your primary focus is trying to get popular. Your whole framework is going to be geared toward what’s going to get the most likes. You become a slave to it. So, sometimes I like to recharge by just not doing anything. Trying to remember it’s not all about productivity. [I enjoy] doing things for no reason, like creating something that has no purpose. I’ll make things I know I’m not going to make any money from, or even show to anyone; I’m just doing it for myself. For instance, I’ll make a great meal and then not tell anyone about it!

K: Yeah, doing things without needing validation or documenting it. Just letting it fill you up because you enjoy creating—whatever it was!

E: Absolutely!

9. Independent artists are frequently in charge of managing our socials, promoting our work and shows, and building and maintaining artist and venue connections, in addition to the actual musical aspect of our careers. Where do you feel the most challenged, and where would you like to learn/grow more in these areas?

E: Another really good question. I think I’m still learning a lot about the music industry side of things, and I think that’s an ongoing challenge for me. As an artist, I’ve always been fully self-managed, and self-booked. I’ve had a limited team; I’ve worked with promoters and publicists, but I’m really good at doing it for myself. I realized that, at this point, I don’t even want a manager because I’m pretty good at flowing with the opportunities around me, and making stuff happen. But it’s also something that I feel I’m getting better at as I go. Something I also like to do, especially if I know I’m not qualified to do it, is I like to reach out to friends. I think we should always reach out to people who do know, if we don’t know. Trying to honor ourselves and our longevity, too, and just do what we love.

10. For people who may not be familiar with you or your music, how would you describe your sound?

E: Soul-driven Americana. My publicist that I had for my first album came up with that, and at first I didn’t get it but the more I thought about it I liked it. So, I used it for a while and then brought it back. I definitely have more of a classic country influence, so if I break it down for people, it’s more folk-y country but it’s also classic country. I also love old soul music and the Carter family kind of stuff, like Odetta, anything a Capella…And I like the word ‘soul’, like the more spiritual invoking side. That’s something I feel very connected to, and I feel like I write from that place.

11. I think this is something you touched on a little bit earlier, as well, but when you’re writing a song, what’s your process? Where do you derive inspiration?

E: Sometimes I just get an idea in my head, and sometimes they come out fully formed.

K: Like a download.

E: Yeah, like a download! I’ve definitely written songs like that. And sometimes it kind of comes in phases. Sometimes something will come to me, and I’ll sit on it for a while, kind of like a bird sitting on their eggs. I’ll get a song in the ethers, and I’ll work on it or tweak some things, then put it back for a while. Then I’ll be doing something unrelated, like painting my nails, and out of nowhere just start completing the song without even trying. I’m trying to be more intentional with [songwriting] because sometimes it can feel like trying to wrangle a bear or a cat, you know? My brain doesn’t work that way but the more I do it, the more I’m able to develop that self-mastery. It’s not about controlling the process as much as settling it into my routine.

12. Do you remember the first song you ever wrote? How old were you/what prompted it?

E: I remember the first song I ever learned to play was ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ on the piano when I was around a year and a half or two. I don’t remember a lot of my childhood but I used to put on concerts for my stuffed animals, and I would gather the neighborhood kids and we’d put on concerts. I’d organize the whole thing, and I’d give them parts. I wish I could remember more of it; they thought I was crazy but we also had fun! Very Type A personality as a child.

13. What is your favorite memory from one of your performances?

E: I played the High Watt one time, and what made that show really magical was how I deeply felt that connection and engagement with the audience. The fans there that night weren’t there for me or my persona, they were just there for my music.

14. Do you have any music coming out or that was recently released? What would you like us to know about it?

E: I’m writing right a lot now, and my plan is to release a few singles later in the year.

15. What compelled you to submit to play the Music on the Move showcase?

E: Women playing music together. I was like, ‘Yes! I need more strong women in my life.” When I saw the post for it, I almost didn’t apply but then I thought, “you know what, I need to do this.” So, I applied, and was accepted. This has been such a confidence affirming thing, and it’s a huge deal to be playing The Basement East. It’s such a healing experience to share this with other women, too. I’m still getting to know all of you but it feels like a very positive, welcoming environment that I feel comfortable in, and I’m really excited about collaborating this way.

16. Finally, what is one thing you want the MOTM community to know about you? It doesn’t have to be music related.

E: I love dogs, and I work with dogs that have behavioral issues. I’ve done a lot of animal rescue in the past. I volunteer for Bonaparte’s Retreat, which is Emmylou Harris’s animal rescue. I just love animals and have been told I have a natural way with animals. I feel pretty in tune with nature, and that’s something I love to do, is work with animals.  

Catch Erin on this Friday’s New Music Friday playlist and come see her live at our showcase on March 20th!