Erin Coburn

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Erin Coburn

Interview conducted on Sept. 14, 2020

By Dan Locke

Erin Coburn always has an affinity for writing songs, a passion for performing, and a dedication to fitness.

What is your upbringing?

I grew up with a loving and supportive mom and dad who took every advantage to teach me new things. I spent a lot of my time on the farm and became best friends with chickens. I was always surrounded by animals and music.

How did you discover music?

It all started with my dad’s acoustic guitar. My mom got him an acoustic guitar before I was even born but when I came along the acoustic guitar wasn’t played by him much… and one day I found it. There are videos of me playing the acoustic guitar in my diaper. The guitar was bigger than me! It looked like an upright bass.
My parents also always had all kinds of music playing in the house and the car and live shows on the TV.

How did you start to write music?

Well, that story I told you about me playing the acoustic guitar when I was in diapers… I was also creating my own songs then. The songs were mainly about “dragons and mountains and fire”, but they were still original. I’ve always loved creating my own sounds and songs, and I think it’s because I never felt like I could connect to my peers, so I created something I could connect to.

How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?

My parents got me my first guitar at age 7 because they saw how big dad’s guitar was on me still. My first guitar was a pink “Luna” acoustic with fairies on it. I still have it but it’s seen better days. My dad took it to the hunting camp a few years back for the guys down there to play and it came back pretty gross. Haha.

I saw your video with your Cort Effector guitar. Do you still have it?

I do! I am actually selling the Cort Effector! I don’t play it as much anymore.

Do you feel that guitar companies should make guitars with special effects built-in?

I don’t think guitar companies should or should not make guitars with built-in special fx. Personally, I like to choose my own fx and make my own pedalboard.

What was your first performance like?

My first public performance was a guitar recital at NKU. I believe I was seven or eight years old. I wrote an instrumental called “The Alligator Blues” and performed it solo at the Amphitheatre. After that performance my parents surprised me with a trip to Guitar Center and my first electric guitar.

What makes a good songwriter?

ERIN COBURN05 — ERIN COBURN (credit: Thomas Dove)

1.       Being able to write WITH and WITHOUT constraints
2.       Focus
3.       Being able to draw inspiration from anything
4.       Paying tribute to influences but not COPYING influences

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

My first song was “The Alligator Blues”. I did not record it. There might be a video somewhere.

You performed at Buddy Guys in Chicago. While performing at Buddy Guys did you take your guitar while playing and walked to door and outside like Buddy does?

I did not, but I’ll be back… 🙂

Tell me how you created the song “Out from Under”?

I had the chord progression for “Out from Under” in my head first. Before writing the song, I had recently bought Logic Pro X. I started to record the chords and it just came together from there. It was one of the first demos I recorded in my DAW.

What is your favorite track on the album?

My favorite track on the third album is either Roundabout or Out from Under!

How do you stay healthy while touring?

I try to get enough sleep after shows, wake up, and workout, and I eat healthy foods! I always stay away from fried food or artificial/processed foods. I tend to snack on seaweed or kale chips in the car.

What are you’re feeling about streaming music?

I think streaming music as a listener is AWESOME. As an artist, I think there is still work to do on seeing a better paycheck for the work we put in.

Digital vs. vinyl?

Digital. Vinyl is great for creating a room ambience, but digital is great for on the go.

What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?

I think there are obviously major issues here in the United States and they need to be better looked at. As a citizen of the United States, I want to see a place where people are welcome to be who they want to be and to be who they are SAFELY. The United States where we can all be people and not labels.

Do you think kids should go back to school his fall?

I am not a mother so I do not have an opinion on this subject. I think that is a question for parents.
As someone who went to online school for the last two years of high school, I don’t think the online school would be a bad idea for right now. I think there are a lot of precious lives on the line… and I also know how little kids like to trade things during lunch. It would be scary seeing your kid come home with a “cool new mask” they traded with their friend.

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?

For some reason “Brandy (You’re a fine girl)” is in my mind right now. My parents used to play this song all the time for me when we would drive down to our cabin in West Virginia.

How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

I think the music industry has always been creative when it comes to making new ways for income flow, so I believe COVID will just push those in the music business to be more creative.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

I have been learning new guitar techniques, writing new songs, recording my own songs, and building my recording studio!

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

Before COVID, I was weight lifting… and then COVID hit and I wasn’t doing it as much. Now, I am back to it and couldn’t be happier!

95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?

My favorite streaming channel to watch is Kenny Beats on Twitch! His streams are always so entertaining and informative, plus he has created a really positive community.

How was your birthday during the lockdown?

It was a good birthday! I spent the day alone planning “The MiSFIT” music video down to the second. I was very excited and focused. I also got a lot of birthday wishes from my amazing fans!
The day after I hung out with my mom, dad, and boyfriend and it was really nice! My dad got me a bidet for my new apartment!

How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?

INTERACT. Hang out in the chat of other livestreams, host livestreams, interact on your musical performance streams. Write handwritten notes on merch that you mail. Find new things to do on your streams so fans can take this time to connect even more with you.

Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home. Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music, and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?

My fan base is AMAZING and they are always so supportive of my online shows and streams. I think it will definitely be possible to make a living doing concerts this way. The value of the streams is the same as in-person shows which is the point that should be stressed.

With no real large/ festival live music (mostly virtual shows) expect for things like Drive-In Theater shows with crowds for the past 6 months, what do you think will be the future of music?

Streaming, virtual concerts, house concerts, music videos, and drive in concerts for sure.

For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?

I think that is going to be tricky because a lot of these venues are hurting too. I think once COVID is gone it will still take a while for musicians to make the money they were making. i

With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of the music fest for the next couple of years?