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Erin McCarley

Erin McCarley calls the music on her debut album, Love, Save the Empty, a document of her search for authenticity in herself and in others. If that sounds heavy, there’s a reason why: According to McCarley, “Loving You” is about “being honest at the beginning of a new relationship and saying, ‘I have nothing left to give,’ to this amazing person standing right in front of me.” “Sleepwalking” profiles a cynic that can’t hear it come back his own way. For the title track, McCarley was inspired to write a song about the effects stemming from a lack of role models in a parentless world. And yet the 11 songs collected here (songs that ignited an industry-wide frenzy when McCarley performed them at SXSW earlier this year) pull off the trick that all great pop performs: They do heavy philosophical lifting with a lightness that boosts the spirit. This is elegantly crafted, deeply melodic music that resounds with echoes of the Beatles and Aimee Mann, Alanis Morissette and Amy Winehouse. McCarley grew up in the Dallas suburb of Garland, where she says her parents couldn’t have done a better job raising her and her older sister. “It was a very happy home with very little pain to deal with,” she explains, describing days filled with dance class and choir rehearsal. In a way, though, her ideal childhood led to an unexpected wake-up call later in life. “It kind of gave me an unrealistic view of everything,” McCarley notes with a laugh. “That’s not how the world is, you know?” In McCarley’s music you can hear her charting the distance between fantasy and reality, as well as the heartbreak that inevitably accompanies its discovery. McCarley’s brand of honesty doesn’t come without the occasional flash of regret. “I’ve looked back at some of these songs recently and thought to myself, ‘Are you serious? I can’t believe I put that out there!’” Near the top of the list of McCarley’s favorite artists are names like Fiona Apple, Patty Griffin and Greg Laswell (the latter of whom co-wrote “Bobblehead”). “I just love how true and raw their lyrics are,” she explains. Listening to records by these musicians is more than enjoyable for McCarley—it’s inspiring. “I get one line into one of their songs and I have to stop and write my own,” she says. McCarley singles out her favorites’ unique phrasing, the way they’ve taught her to concentrate not only on her words but on her delivery. “Their lyrics are that much more powerful because of the way they sing them.” McCarley currently calls Nashville home, but she cut her musical teeth in San Diego, where she’d moved after college to pursue a life that didn’t feature music at its center. During her undergraduate days she’d spend weekends singing with a country cover band for extra cash, yet in San Diego, selling clothes in a boutique and hanging out on the beach, she began thinking not just like a singer, but as a songwriter, which satisfied a different artistic jones. “Once I discovered songwriting it became an addiction,” she says now, remembering countless days she spent holed up in her house from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., doing writing exercises (and staring at the wall) while wearing the same pair of linen pants. “Most nights I’d end up with an unfinished song. But when the day would come when all the pieces would align, and I’d know this is a song for people to hear, there is no better release in the world. Those are some of the only times that I can go out at night or sit on the couch next to my loved ones and feel at peace—like, ‘Job well done.’ I can rest, at least for a second.” It was during this bout of creativity that McCarley met producer/writer/keyboardist Jamie Kenney (the rare partner she felt 100 percent comfortable with), and the two began honing the songs that would make up Love, Save the Empty. “It’s hard for me to write about being happy,” McCarley admits. “I don’t prefer being sad, but it’s a real spot for me. If you met me, I’m not this dark, sulking person, though I’m not bubbly by any means, either. I guess it comes down to the fact that I’m not afraid of being sad. Love, Save the Empty arrives this fall on Universal Republic Records. McCarley will spend the summer laying the groundwork for the album’s release with a pair of tours. Her goal an artist is as simple—and as profound—as they come. “When I’m onstage,” she says, “I’m trying to communicate with every single person out there.”

Latest bulletin 08.07.09

Erin's being featured this week on ABC's Music Lounge

Erin is being featured on ABC's Music Lounge for her music on Grey's Anatomy. Check it out here

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Jan 06, 09:46 AM

i am on LETTERMAN tonight!

friends... i'll be playing my song Love, Save the Empty on The Late Show with David Letterman TONIGHT! wow.

xo

erin
Nov 04 2008, 02:07 PM

Free Ponies at ErinMcCarley.com!

Visit ErinMcCarley.com for a free download of "Pony (It's Ok)".
Oct 16 2008, 01:26 PM

Erin on Good Day Dallas

Check out the link of Erin performing this morning on Good Day Dallas.
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid381C50FBF108DD8FBAA74D4096EF17DA?contentId=7658632&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
Oct 09 2008, 06:42 AM

Hotel Cafe Tour + Grey's Anatomy Tonight!

Hi everyone,
1. Hotel Cafe Tour is starting tonight!! I'm in LA at this crazy hotel in Studio City waiting for my computer to lose battery. Charger is in car and I'm too lazy to go get it. I'm so excited to jump on the bus with the girls of this amazing tour. I'll be keeping you updated on the happenings and dramas off the road. Come see us in the cities near you. Make sure you come give me a hug.

2. My song , " Pitter- Pat " is going to be on Grey's Anatomy tonight!!! I think this could be my mom's favorite event for me so far. I'm pretty sure she is throwing a party at her house. If your in Lubbock, Texas, look her up. Shed be thrilled. Thanks for your support, mom. I'll be playing a show in Santa Barbara as the show airs. Let me know how it goes. If you happen to like the song, check it out on iTunes:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=291184081&id=291184058&s=143441[http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=291184081&id=291184058&s=143441

3. i want a puppy. bad timing but i still want one.

battery dying.......aaaaaahhhhhhhhh.....i'll write soon. i promise. i have a ton of great things to share with you. stay tuned...

yours,
erin
Sep 22 2008, 06:52 AM

A Perfect Ten: Nashville’s Ten Out of Tenn Show Music City’s Other Side

Check it out….Ten Out of Tenn is up on the online edition of BMI MusicWorld magazine.
Here’s a direct link to the feature: http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/537204
Sep 12 2008, 12:55 PM

Next Big Nashville - Tomorrow!

Hi everyone,
Erin returns home to Nashville this weekend for the Next Big Nashville Music Conference. Should be a really cool event with some really great bands. Erin will be playing two shows on Saturday, September 13th,
BMI Showcase @ Mercy Lounge - 1015pm
Ten Out of Tenn @ Cannery Ballroom - 1100pm
Hope to see you there.
Sep 10 2008, 02:35 PM

Cities 97 / Minneapolis Tonight!

Hi everyone,
Erin stopped by Cities 97 in Minneapolis. You can listen to the performance and interview tonight at 6pm Minnesota time.
http://www.cities97.com/main.html
Sep 09 2008, 01:35 PM

Privileged!

Hey everyone,
"Pony" will be on the series premiere of CW's "Privileged" tonight! Be sure to tune in at 9pm EST.
Sep 02 2008, 12:00 PM

put a fork in it...

2 years! 2 crazy CRAZY years! and................my first record is done! Recorded, mixed, mastered, DONE!

My debut album "LOVE, SAVE THE EMPTY", will be coming out on Universal Republic Records on October 28th everywhere. The first song ever recorded for this project was "Pony", and it was actually recorded in October of 2006. Jamie Kenney, my producer and co-writer, and I, holed up in his Nashville studio starting two years ago and made this together from start to finish. I could not have asked for a better and more perfect partner to make music with (many times 12 hours a day).

I wanted to share another song (that will be on the upcoming record) with you on myspace this week that I wrote called "Hello/Goodbye". This song is interesting because it was the only song on the album that I wrote from someone else's perspective.

Here are a few pics to re-live the past 2 years from the studio:
Aug 14 2008, 11:49 AM

Updates: Joshua Radin Tour, Pitter-Pat, etc.

Hey everyone, there's a lot to update you on.

First, Erin recently wrapped up her photo shoot with photographer Kurt Iswareinko (that's him the green). The shoot was a lot of fun and we look forward to sharing the end result with you soon.

Also, thanks to everyone in St. Louis that came out to our first show on the Joshua Radin tour! Check the dates below to see if it's coming to your town - we'd love to see you out.

Erin also recently put the finishing touches on her debut album Love, Save The Empty. We JUST got back from mastering and are sharing the new version of "Pitter-Pat" with you now. Hope you like!

Be sure to check back soon for more updates. We have a lot of exciting announcements to share soon.

Until then...

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Erin McCarley

Latest bulletin 08.07.09

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