artoberVA Spotlight: Erin Lunsford on Empowerment in Songwriting
Photo by: Tristant Williams
Meet our second artoberVA 2022 Spotlight, Erin Lunsford. Erin is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in Richmond, VA from bluegrass, folk roots in Southwest Virginia using music to empower and share untold stories.
Read ahead for Erin’s words:
CultureWorks: Who are you and what’s your story?
Erin Lunsford: HI! I’m Erin Lunsford, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and frontwoman of Richmond band Erin & The Wildfire. I got my start in bluegrass music, playing with my family in Southwest Virginia. I entered flat-picking guitar and folk song competitions and jammed on fiddle tunes in hay fields like a country bumpkin. I met my bandmates from The Wildfire when we were at UVA and my songwriting split into two directions, one for my solo project and one for The Wildfire.
CW: Tell me a bit about your relationship to your creative work! Are there certain themes, sounds, and/or stories you are drawn to when writing music?
EL: My creative process is made up of 90% deeply personal experiences and 10% stories I’ve imagined would make a compelling song. In recent years I’ve been drawn to writing about emotional growth, body acceptance and body justice, and independence. I love music that makes me feel empowered and free, so I try to infuse my writing with those elements as well.
CW: Similarly, do you have a personal process for getting into the mindset of creating art?
EL: I can be struck with lyrical ideas anytime anywhere, so I often write ideas in my phone or record them on my voice memo app. There was a time when I would only get ideas while I was driving and that was a bit trickier (don’t try this at home). My writing usually begins like a diary entry - a few lines capturing some sensory details about a moment and then I expand from there.
CW: How have you felt your creative work connect to the community around you? Have you discovered anything new over the years, and do you have a special memory in your experience?
EL: I am so lucky to say that I’ve had many experiences of my music connecting with people, especially women who appreciate the body-positive messages in the songs. The most recent connection that comes to mind was at a show in Hendersonville, NC when a woman came up to me with her 3 kids all around her and she was in tears. She told me she felt so moved by the messages about trusting your inner child and accepting your body. She said, “Thank goodness you’re doing what you’re doing because I could have missed this.” I also cried. It was such a sweet moment. There’s so much more to say about the people I’ve met through shows and writing who quickly became dear friends and musical collaborators. Music really brings us together!
CW: Are you exploring any creative projects or practices currently?
EL: I’ve been dabbling in some commercial work recently which has been a blast and a completely different challenge than I’m used to. Jingles, tag lines, and creative approaches to ads, etc. I hope I get more of those opportunities in the future. My band is settling back into a writing groove right now, which feels SO good. We meet every week to workshop new tunes and we will be back in the studio soon to record the next album!
Photo by: Tristan Williams
CW: What advice do you have for budding creatives interested in songwriting?
EL: Keep writing and keep studying the work of your elders. I want to be a student of music for life - always learning and always growing. I’ve written hundreds of songs at this point and most of them don’t see the light of day. Being selective and curating my art is so challenging because part of me doesn’t want to critique myself… but it’s such an important part of growing. Also, studying the writing of my idols has been so enlightening. Every time I listen to Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, or Joni Mitchell I learn something new. Lastly, I try to participate in the music scene of Richmond by going to writers rounds, open mics, and local shows. I always learn and feel more connected and therefore more inspired.
CW: What feeds your creativity when you are not actively creating work? How do you overcome artistic blocks?
EL: My writing process always has ebbs and flows and I’m trying to accept that. There have been fruitless, barren years and then there have been verdant summers full of new tunes. When I feel down on myself for not being productive I try to remember that it’s the voice of capitalism in my head demanding that I create for productivity’s sake and not for my own creative joy. I’m allowed to take breaks and I’m allowed to bury myself in writing when I need to. Also, if I’m trying to motivate myself more purposefully, going to see a concert will always light me up.
Photo by: Lucienne
CW: What does artoberVA mean to you? Why do arts & culture matter?
EL: artoberVA means opportunity, to me. I’ve been to events during the last 3 artoberVAs, and at each of them, I’ve met new artists and felt the richness of the Richmond music scene wash over me like a sweet perfume. I am so fortunate to have found my community through art and music, and I feel a responsibility to keep creating and expanding this space so that others may have the opportunity to find their community as well. Arts and culture have completely shaped my identity, my relationships, and my outlook on life. I intend to keep working towards a more inclusive music scene for Richmond, VA - one that has more women, BIPOC, and LGBT+ people. The example of inclusivity we set in the music community will hopefully translate to a larger stage and help even more people find their community and find their voice.
To learn more about Erin Lunsford: https://www.erinlunsford.com/
To learn more about Erin & The Wildfire: https://www.erinandthewildfire.com/