Souvenir by Erin Ivey

Returning with a collection of her songs that were deemed “too country,” vocalist and songwriter Erin Ivey just released Souvenir. It’s delicate folk with gripping vocals, evoking artists like Joan Baez and Margo Guryan by way of Emmylou Harris, with a country flair that pays homage to her Texas roots. Evocative and personal lyrics are brought to life by Ivey’s natural twang and fit beautifully in the arrangement alongside pedal steel, stable piano chords, and acoustic guitars. It’s worth noting that in the early days of pre-production, there were major delays as Ivey was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent a lengthy surgery and recovery process to be able to sing again and finish the album. The project isn’t explicitly About lung cancer, but the context brings air of tenacity and depth to her stories that Ivey herself explains as some form of subconscious premonition about dealing with significant change over time.