In life, art, and love, Erin Gibney is learning who she is and what she wants, and that she won’t settle for anything less. Recent experiences — her first big breakup, forging deeper connections with her fans through social media, watching artists she admires release exceptionally personal albums — have left her emboldened to share her truths as she creates new music and “unapologetically continues to explore within her sound” (Today’s Country).
Originally from Southington, Conn., Gibney moved to Nashville in 2017, to study music business, with an emphasis on music production, at Belmont University. She released several singles and an EP while still in college, then, in 2021 and 2022, four ante-upping singles produced by Marshall Altman (Amy Grant, Josh Abbott Band): the ever-hopeful “That’s What I’m Looking For” (Taylor Acorn, Kyle Fishman, and Justin Wilson); the solo-written “Easy Like That;” the wistful and wishful “Single at the Same Time” (Lauren Alaina, Hannah Ellis, and Josh Kerr); and Gibney’s personal favorite, “Naïve” (Kelsea Ballerini, Jennifer Denmark, Nicolle Galyon, and Jimmy Robbins).
“My past songs were a little more whimsical,” Gibney notes. “I had this really romantic view on life, and, right now, I don’t have that view, and I think that’s okay. I think it just shows the ebb and flow of life.”
Gibney has, as a fan herself, watched that ebb and flow play out in the careers of her musical role models: Kelsea Ballerini and Taylor Swift. Their unflinching honesty — and their success because of it — is a source of strength for Gibney as she prepares to bare another piece of her soul to the world. In her time pursuing music, Gibney has also amassed a significant following on social media of fans attracted to her authentic approach.
“It’s honestly a little bit scary because I don’t think I’ve ever been this honest in my music before. I don’t think that I’ve ever said words like this out loud,” Gibney admits of sharing her new music, “and so [Kelsea and Taylor] are such pinnacles for me. They give women like me that courage to be like, ‘Okay, I am going to be as honest as possible, and it is going to be scary but it’s a reflection of my life experience.’ It’s scary, but it’s important. And, looking back on the past few years, it feels so apparent to me the ways I have grown as a person and as an artist. Now more than ever, I feel confident in sharing who I am with my fans in both my music and online. I am no longer scared of talking about the details of my heartbreaks and triumphs. It feels like my music is more vulnerable and my online presence is more honest and true to me.”
Today Glide is excited to offer an exclusive premiere of Gibney’s new single “Leave the Pieces” (PRE-SAVE), a simple and enchanting work of Americana brimming with infectious energy and vulnerable emotion. Gibney sings with a kind of road-weary tone that feels like she has been at this her whole life. Musically, the song takes a minimal approach with just acoustic guitar and banjo accompanying Gibney and letting her powerful vocals shine. The song is surprisingly faithful to the 2006 hit from The Wreckers, with Gibney handling the entirety of the soulful vocals on her own in a way that signals she may be ready to break out sometime in the near future.
Listen to the read our conversation with Gibney below…
What is this song about and what inspired you to cover it? Why is it important to you and what about the song really speaks to you?
I decided to cover this song because of the long history I have with it. I first heard this song when I was just a kid and used to sing it in my room, imagining the day that I could be a singer and write songs like The Wreckers. When I started touring for the first time, I added this song to my setlist and would tell that story every night on the road. Being able to bring my own version into my catalog is a dream come true.
What was the studio session and recording process like for this song? Any great stories from the creation process?
Recording this song was a really exciting and scary experience. I wanted to treat this version as a tribute to The Wreckers and how much this song has inspired me over the years. It was important to me that I “did it right” and kept the same initial feel of the music. Cam McClaren did a fantastic job and brought my version to life in exactly the way I had imagined.
Are there any lyric lines that you really love or that really are important to you? What do you feel makes them resonate?
I have always loved the line “It’s alright, yeah I’ll be fine.” It is such a simple lyric, but I think it really sums up the message of the song. When we get heartbroken, a lot of the time we have to rely on ourselves to pick ourselves up and heal our own heart. I think this line is a reminder that even when it feels like we’re not, we are strong enough to pick up our own pieces and put them back together.
If listeners can take away one thing from having heard this song, what do you hope that is?
I hope they find comfort in whatever heartbreak they are feeling. I hope it is a reminder that no matter what happens, they will heal and they will move on. This song has helped me in so many eras of my life, and I hope it does the same for the people listening.
How does this song fit in among others in your catalog? How is it similar or different?
I think this song really fits in the theme of heartbreak and healing in my catalog. I write a lot about finding love and losing it, so this song was a really natural fit for me. I have never released a cover before, so I am excited to explore this new chapter.
What is coming up next for Erin Gibney?
2025 is the year of new music for me, and I am so excited for what’s to come. This new music is some that I am really proud of, and I can’t wait to release it into the world.
