Singer-songwriter, producer, and dedicated activist Erin McKeown returns with a new album that brings together her political and musical selves, emitting honesty and hope. The album, MANIFESTRA, earned its title as McKeown struggled to find a word to describe the process of internal change becoming external and a statement of purpose and unity. Funded by her enthusiastic fan-base in a mere six days via PledgeMusic, MANIFESTRA will be released January 15th on McKeown’s own TVP Records.
MANIFESTRA finds McKeown accompanied by many musical friends, who add a simple but lush foundation to her songs. Track “Baghdad To The Bayou,” co-written via text message with longtime friend Rachel Maddow, is a simmering New Orleans cut that addresses injustice from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Mexico. “The Jailer” is an upbeat, percussive number whose bright horns and melodic vocals belie the serious undercurrent of border politics. “Proof” is a soft, sweet ballad straight from an opening heart, soon to be accompanied by the first-ever music video of McKeown’s career, while title track “Manifestra” features a mantra of strength and gratitude set to McKeown’s minimal electric guitar line.
Download "The Jailer" as a FREE MP3 where it premiered with NPR Music today or HERE.
"The first time I interviewed Erin McKeown, I botched it — I kept jumping in to finish her sentences, and to quote her own lyrics back to her (as if she didn’t know them already). Erin played a song in studio that day, and at one point she stopped short in the middle of a line, and I took it upon myself to scream the rest of it out loud from across the room. This does not constitute a good interview technique! But it did start a very fun friendship. And when Erin asked if I might want to collaborate on a new song for a Gulf Coast wildlife benefit we were both doing, I said yes — provided we could keep my weapons-grade singing voice out of the mix. We started texting back and forth about it, and I realized that the experience I had in Louisiana covering the Deepwater Horizon disaster might reasonably become some lyrics. I texted her the prose, she texted back the poetry, and a song was born. A great Erin McKeown song that rather inexplicably has a little idea of mine in it. I’ve never had an experience like it — I feel like I won the music fan lottery." — Rachel Maddow
Having a passion for social justice and a strong interest in public policy, McKeown treats her music as a multi-dimensional way to convey messages, connect with fans, and become a better person. “At this point in my career,” she explains, “I am most concerned with cultivating relationships that are mutually fulfilling. I want to give my fans the best possible music and experience.” Be sure to catch Erin McKeown LIVE on tour & stay tuned for more news coming soon!
Erin McKeown on Tour:
1/17: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
1/18: New York, NY @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
1/19: Brooklyn, NY @ Littlefield
1/20: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
1/21: Arlington, VA @ Iota
1/23: Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
1/24: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
1/25: Chicago, IL @ The Hideout
1/26: Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
