Erin Harpe
Here is my latest blog, I got the chance to see Erin Harpe at The Blues City Deli in 2015. It was an amazing show, I was hooked on Erin’s music right away. Erin has a unique sound, kind of like a Swing/Blues combination. Which makes for some good music, the kind of music you can really shake your tailfeathers too. Erin is an amazing Guitar player, no matter if she is playing some upbeat Blues songs or some Down-Home Delta Blues like on her album “Blues Roots”. She has such smooth style with the fingerstyle playing sort of reminds me of Memphis Minnie. Erin learned a lot from her father Neil Harpe, who himself was a master at The Piedmont Blues. Now Erin’s singing is not the usual style you think of when you think of the Blues. But it’s a beautiful sound, which is a pleasure to listen to. Erin can put the emotions in to the songs so much that you can get the real feel of the song. On top of being excellent guitarist and an amazing singer, Erin is also a great entertainer. Weather you are at one of her shows to just listen to show great music or to get up on the dance floor and boogie the night away. Erin Harpe is the complete show. I highly recommend checking out the websites below to hear what Erin can do. If Erin ever comes to your town I also highly recommend going to see her. https://www.erinharpe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/Erinharpemusic I Recently got to ask some questions to Erin. Here are the answers. Enjoy. 1. How long have you been playing music? Pretty much my whole life. I started learning Fingerstyle blues over 25 years ago. Before that I played flute in school. 2. How many bands have you been in? I’ve been (and still am in) two bands that I formed with my husband, Jim Countryman: Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers (“boogie, blues and beyond”) and Lovewhip (dance rock). I also play acoustic blues with my Country Blues Duo or “CBD”. Before that I played solo. 3. Where were you born? Baltimore, MD. 4. Are you self-taught? Pretty much, I never went to music school, though I did study the flute in school. Growing up, I was surrounded by music. My dad, Neil Harpe, who is a master acoustic fingerpicker in a style called Piedmont blues, was part of a scene based around Archie’s Barbershop in Washington DC. I got to watch and listen to some of the greats of the style like Cephas & Wiggins, John Jackson, Eleanor Ellis, Archie Edwards and many others. By the time I decided to pick up a guitar and learn from my dad, I had already soaked in a lot of it, so I picked up fingerstyle guitar pretty quickly. Eventually I went away to college and then moved to Boston, where I continued learning acoustic blues from recordings. I did have a few guitar lessons here and there, especially when I first picked up an electric guitar, and as I expanded into other styles like afro pop, rock and reggae for my band Lovewhip, but I mostly learn by ear (or nowadays YouTube videos!). 5. Who are your biggest influences? My dad, Memphis Minnie, Koko Taylor, Howlin’ Wolf, Bonnie Raitt, Toots & the Maytals, and so many others. 6. What style of music do you consider yours? American roots dance music. Whether playing acoustic country blues, electric boogie blues, or original rock, it’s always about moving the audience with a danceable beat. 7. What was your first gig? How old were you? I know my first paid gig was solo, opening up for two of my Washington DC blues heroes – Warner Williams and Jay Summerour. I can’t remember the name of the venue, but it was in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. I think I was still in high school. 8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? Do it for the love of the music, and the lifestyle (i.e.. be prepared to work very hard and still be poor and be able to enjoy playing for audiences no matter how small). Don’t do it to get famous! 9. Do you write your own songs? Yes, I write quite a few of my own songs, and I also do my own interpretations of songs I love. 10. What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal song collection? I’m all over the place with my collection of favorite artists and songs. From acoustic blues and early electric blues to post punk/electro dance rock, reggae and afro pop. 11. What would you be doing if playing music was not an option? At this point I’d be great as a graphic designer and social media promoter for music! I am also a music producer, so I could help other people with their music. 12. Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform? Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips” is a really fun one! I play it with my electric band Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers, and it’s a big highpoint of the show. Everybody dances, and I often go out into the crowd with my guitar. 13. If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs? It would be cool to see what Bonnie Raitt did with one of my songs, she’s probably my all-time favorite vocalist.
1 Comment
Steve
6/2/2022 08:42:28 am
I like the comment about soaking up music! If only I could’ve “soaked up” the great music I’ve heard over the years, I’d be a maestro by now. Never seemed to work for me!
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AuthorHello, My name is Michael. I am into music, have been for over 48yrs. Big fan of all kinds of music, right now it has been the Blues for the last 10yrs. I do not play any instruments, But I very interested in the recording aspect of the industry. Have messed around with it a little and always learning new things about it. I have met many wonderful people because of Music.. Hope you enjoy my Blogs... In the last two years I have been producing House Concerts. I also in the past 2 years got to produce and engineer an album for a very good friend of mine from Sweden "Magpie". Archives
February 2024
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