Emily Scott Robinson has had a couple of great music influences.
One was the church, a place where as a child she learned to sing in the choir while developing a love of music. The other is the festival world, in particular Planet Bluegrass in Lyons (a church in its own right), a place that kicked the idea that she could be a professional musician into high gear. Throw in rearing yourself on Townes Van Zandt, outlaw country and ’90s female folkies, and you’ve got the makings for tomorrow’s independent folkie.
If you go
WHAT: Emily Scott Robinson opens for Kelly Willis
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College
TICKETS: $22.50- $40
MORE INFORMATION: www.durangoconcerts.com
Since that Lyons realization over a decade ago, the North Carolina born, now Ouray resident has released five albums while trucking around the country bringing her music to the people.
Robinson will perform Tuesday in Durango opening for country-roots singer Kelly Willis at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
It all started with songwriting camp.
“In 2013 I went to the song school, the four-day songwriting camp leading up to the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival. For the first time a light went on for me, and I met people who were doing something I didn’t know I dreamed of doing, but when I met them I realized it was a dream of mine,” said Robinson, who in 2016 ditched a steady job to pursue music full time. “They were independent, touring singer-songwriters and folk musicians traveling around the country, playing shows and making it work. I quit my last day job, and I moved into an RV. I traveled all over playing in people’s backyard, living rooms, playing in coffee shops, playing in little venues – kind of wherever would have me, and I have been doing it ever since.”
Her latest effort is “Appalachia,” released on the Oh Boy! record label. Her third release for the label, which was started by the late and hopefully forever revered singer-songwriter John Prine. Hers is a perfect sound for the label, an offering of hearty folk and a dash of gospel, some cuts armed with enough twang to kick things into classic country territory, all helmed by Robinson’s amazing croon and her lyrics that nail sense of place.
The privilege of being selected to be on such a label isn’t lost on her.
“It’s been really an honor to be a part of John’s continuing legacy, because he founded this label to be a really artist-friendly label and to just be kind of countercultural In the music industry and they continue to be,” she said. “I feel so lucky to be a part of that. It’s really cool.”
Any artist can get sick of their own work; a dozen songs on one album could likely drive you nuts. “I’m sick of my own voice,” Robinson admitted both playfully and realistically. She, however, still digs “Appalachia” and the whole experience of making the record with a killer band.
“I’ve listened to these songs hundreds and hundreds of times, and I still love it and it resonates and connects with me deeply,” she said. “I don’t make these records alone: The songs have their own life and spirit from all of the musicians and friends who helped bring this to life. We made this thing together, and I think that we made is something special, it stands out.”
There’s also a general excitement of sharing the songs with existing and future fans. Artists write songs to be heard, and Robinson, who spoke of her latest with genuine, animated excitement, is psyched to get her music to eager ears.
“I’m so delighted to share with people and to share the songs,” she said.
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
