April – Erin Frith

After stumbling across Erin this month in the scoutrooms there was only ever going to be one choice for Aprils Artist of the Month, she delivers catchy pop numbers with hints of Taylor Swift, so flick the track on grab yourself a piece of our Birthday cake and have a read!

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Piewatch - Hi Erin, first things first congratulations on being number one in the STP charts!

Thank you!

Piewatch - Are you interested in the financing side of Slicethepie? Could we be helping fund an Erin Frith album soon?

I AM VERY interested in the financing side of Slicethepie. I would love to record a full length album; I would need some more time for writing, etc…

Piewatch - If you received the £15,000 tomorrow what would be the first thing you spent it on?

If I received 15,000 tomorrow there could be many things I would spend it on-band van-etc. BUT assuming that this needed to go towards an album, I would put it towards that. =) I would love to get more info on that.

Piewatch - We notice the EP was released lately, give us the details?

I released the EP in March of this year. It is entitled”Runaway”…and was recorded in Brentwood, Tennessee with producer and engineer Chris Wright, with Frontier Productions. This is my first time that I’ve attempted to write my own music, and I am very proud of it. Chris also co-wrote 2 of the songs on the album, including “This is Not Love”, and “December”. The picture on the cover was taken at a park that I grew up in, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Piewatch - How did your musical journey begin?

Well, I’ve always sang, as long as a can remember. In middle school I sang in many different children’s choirs. My mother somewhat forced me to try out for my catholic church’s lifeteen band when I was about 14, and I’m glad she did. It was a great experience for me to be able to learn from the people in the group, not only about growing up as a teenager but as a musician. I sang with the group for about 4 years, and then started singing for a cover band in Baton Rouge with a few friends. We did 90′s covers, and a lot of rock music. It taught me to become more versatile as a singer, and as an 18 year old I was making great money! haha. After the band split, I was looking for more ways to perform in Louisiana, and starting working with some local musicians that eventually formed the art-rock, progressive band “The Lazarus Heart”.  We played around Baton Rouge for about 2 years. Things kind of fell apart in the end when I had dreams of moving to Nashville. On a personal level, I had suffered a huge loss in my life in the summer of 07, and I subconsciously needed an escape from my town. As much as I LOVE rock music and I’ve always listened to it, I wanted something more….something different. I wanted something that really represented me as artist and as a singer. As much as I loved the band, and all the musicians that I played with, I thought there was something out there that would better suit me. I moved to Nashville, TN in January of 08, got a job, and tried my best to understand what every other musician was doing in this town. I didn’t do much for the first year, other than work, and drink, and meet new people, but I was silently creating new material in my head. I loved the sound Nashville had to offer, and the rawness of it. I started digging into Americana, and folk music. Eventually, at my old job, I met Chris Wright. Within a few months we started recording my songs. I never thought I’d finish writing them, and then all of the sudden they were down-and all mine, for the first time ever. And I was really happy with the way they came out. I was honestly proud of myself, for the first time as an artist.

Piewatch – The Piewatch team are big fans of the track “Runaway” what’s the story behind it?

Runaway is the first song I wrote in Nashville. It’s about leaving Baton Rouge, driving to Nashville, getting a shitty job, going out at night, meeting new people, drinking with them, and somehow pretending that everything in life is perfect. It’s just an easy going pop song. I met SO many people when I first got here. Everybody asks the same questions: where are you from? Did you come here for music? Etc….I’d say that maybe twenty percent of the people I’ve met here are actually from here….and majority of them are here as a musician. It’s a beautiful city though, and the people are great.

Piewatch - Who are your biggest musical influences and why? Any unexpected ones?

My influences come from ALL OVER THE PLACE, in EVERY Genre. James Taylor, Kathleen Edwards, Fleetwood Mac, Nicole Nordeman, Plumb, Death Cab for Cutie, Maria Taylor, Fiona Apple, Sarah McLachlan, dido, more recently-the rolling stones, Jeremy Enigk, Theresa Anderson, Pete Yorn, Dredg, Beck….and so many local musicians here….

Piewatch - If you could work with any producer/artist in the world who would it be?

I’m not sure….there are so many. I would love to work with Stevie Nicks, she’s amazing.

Piewatch – Who do you currently like in the charts?

Ray Lamontagne, Kings of Leon, Muse, Phoenix, Alicia keys, and I guess I’m supposed to say Lady Gaga.

Piewatch - Describe your music in three terms…

Honest, easy-going, pop

Piewatch - What is your biggest musical achievement to date?

Honestly at this point, finishing this solo EP has been my greatest achievement so far.

Piewatch - Any comical gig moments?

I recently performed in my hometown for my “Louisiana EP Release Show”…one of the songs on the cd “K is for Kathleen” is about losing my mother to breast cancer. A lot of my family was present, and many of my friends that I had not seen in years. Performing that song was going to be a challenge, not only for me, but for the crowd full of people that loved my mother deeply. I had a whiskey in my hand, and I warned the people in the front that if they started crying during the song that I was going to throw my drink on them, haha. My old high school friend in the front starting loosing it a little bit, and I pretended to throw my drink on her. It was a good way to lighten up the mood a little. All together it was a wonderful evening.

Piewatch – Any irrational fears?

Hhmmm…..bad pictures, my friends have so many ridiculous pictures of me. I’m just waiting to be black-mailed one day.

Piewatch - If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Flying! Duh…

Piewatch - Any last comments, plugs, or shout out’s to the fans?

My family members are the most amazing people in the world. They have been such an amazing support, and loving part of my life. I want to say thank you to them for always being there for me, and for just being straight up AWESOME. =)

Piewatch - Thanks Erin!

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