Shardul Pandey: I welcome you Aubrey at SANGKRIT.net, please tell our netizens about yourself.
Aubrey Erin: Well, I’m 21 from South Texas. I started singing when I was in 4th grade in choir, but never really desired to be a singer. I mostly wanted to be an Olympic Gymnast, but when I got older I realized I didn’t want to do that anymore. I was terrified of singing in front of people until my junior year of high school when I did my school’s talent show. After that, I went on to college at Baylor University where I thought I was going to study medicine and become a doctor, but after a semester I figured out that singing is what I want to do with my life. I picked up the guitar, started writing my songs, which I might add were AWFUL at first, and started making music. My junior year in college I really got going on it, I put out my first song on YouTube, and now when I look back at it, it makes me giggle a little bit. After that, I interned at ASCAP in Los Angeles and played a couple open mics out there and was on a radio show. Fast forward to now, I am living in Austin, TX working on my music. I’m currently raising funds to make an EP, and hopefully move on to Nashville soon.
Shardul Pandey: So would you like to briefly explain your sound, your first EP – 48 Hours to people who have not yet heard your music ?
Aubrey Erin: My first EP 48 Hours is something I’m really excited about. Simply put, it’s country music. Although, it’s not the honky tonk style of country. It definitely leans more on the side of country-pop, but not so bubblegum sounding.(If that makes sense) The title song, 48 Hours, is one I’m really proud of, and it has a happy sound to an unhappy story. So it’ll kind of throw you off. Another song on it is one I wrote for my sister’s wedding. It’s a love song ballad, and one of the best things I’ve gotten to perform. The other songs, well, you’ll just have to wait and see!
Shardul Pandey: How do you see yourself progress in this field? What keeps you unique ? What is your foremost experience as an artist ?
Aubrey Erin: I see myself progressing quickly. I keep putting myself out there and making music. It just takes 1 person to hear my sound, and like it enough to give me a real shot. I think with this EP I will really be able to put my foot in the industry. What keeps me unique is that I am influenced by a lot more than just country music, and I think that’s evident through my music. I listen to a lot of other genres and sometimes I incorporate that writing style and mix it with country music. There have been a lot of experiences that are crazy to me, but I think the one that sticks out the most was last summer when one of my songs got up to the Top 25 on the UK music chart Beat 100. It was so cool to me that people liked my music enough to vote for it out of the thousands of songs on there.
Shardul Pandey: What advice would you give to newbie musicians? Who were your biggest musical influences ?
Aubrey Erin: My advice for newbie musicians would be, get used to hearing “No”, a lot. It doesn’t mean that your music isn’t good, or that no one likes you. It means that at that point in time, you weren’t exactly what they were looking for. Keep going, keep making music, as long as you’re doing it because you love it, not because you want to be famous.
My biggest musical influences are tough to choose, but I’d say my top two were LeAnn Rimes and Pat Green. Also, in the non-country genres, there’s a band called Cartel who I really admire.
Shardul Pandey: Is there any other musical projects you currently working on, any upcoming music videos ? International Tours on your skyline ? Etc
Aubrey Erin: Currently I’m focusing on getting things together for my EP. Although, I am putting together a band, so it won’t just be me and my guitar anymore! I’m excited, because my music will have a fuller sound, and be something you would want to hear on the radio driving down the road! Unfortunately, I’m not doing any touring at the moment, but there have been whispers of maybe going and playing some shows across the US in the spring. Fingers crossed.
Shardul Pandey: What is your ultimate message for netizens ?
Aubrey Erin: My ultimate message for netizens is going to sound so cliché, but it holds true. If you have something you love to do, set goals, make plans to meet them, and then don’t stop until you do. We have a whole lifetime to do what we want, there’s no reason to give up.