ERYN BENT

Photography by Jessica Preston Photography

The Eryn Bent Show

When did you first get into music? What was your inspiration?

I started singing at a very early age, and was inspired by Celine Dion, Heart and Disney songs when I was very young. In my teenage years, I started taking instruction and got more seriously into singing and performing at age 13 and was heavily inspired by Broadway musicals, most especially The Phantom of the Opera.

How has your music evolved since you first began creating music?

When I first started writing, I was a teenager and really wrote about the rollercoaster of emotions one feels as a growing teen, so my earliest songs were not very well structured but were filled with just pure naive emotion and teen angst. I try to put more thought and effort and work into the songs I write now, and go about writing in a more deliberate way. My sound has evolved from a folk/pop sound to a country/americana sound over the last 15 years as such.

Photo by Jessica Preston Photography

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

I do hold tight to being an autobiographical songwriter, but I feel my uniqueness is in my live performance. I’m incredibly passionate about the delivery of my songs, and singing them to people is my absolute favorite thing to do, and I feel that it shows in my performance. I get lost in it, and there’s a certain magic that the language of music only has.

What has been your biggest challenge as a performing artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

My biggest challenge as a performing artist is dealing with anxiety in a band setting. I am incredibly comfortable playing solo in any given setting, but throw my band behind me, and I get anxious. I do still struggle with this, not as badly as when I first started playing out with a band, but thankfully I have very patient and professional bandmates that deliver every time and work with me through that anxiety. Practice and communication are what help me overcome and manage it, as well as talking myself through what I’m feeling at the time.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

I hear that phrase a lot, I don’t believe that anyone must suffer for their art. Sure, there are some dues to pay when it comes to any job. I feel that every single person on this earth suffers in one form or another, and sometimes artists choose to take that pain and turn it into art. I think my reframed statement regarding that would be “You must work for your art.” Some of my best songs were written in the happiest times in my life, but I still, no matter what, have to work at writing songs and making time to write and create.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music industry?

As an independent artist, the internet has helped open up many doors to me that wouldn’t have otherwise been available, and I feel like that’s true of any music artist in the music industry. We’re able to reach fans internationally, live-stream shows to audiences worldwide, connect with other artists and musicians, distribute music digitally on multiple platforms. An endless amount of possibilities at your fingertips.

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

I’d like to see musicians paid more royalties for their streamed music.

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why?

This was hard - but these 5 are definite parts of my life and soundtracks to major events that have played out for me throughout my life.

1. Wreck of the Day - Anna Nalick - I first heard “Breathe (2 am)” as a freshman in college (that Grey’s Anatomy episode!) while studying opera and vocal performance - I was just starting to play shows around town with my guitar and this was one of the covers I played at those shows. This whole album is a work of art, and Anna’s voice and writing is so inspiring and unique. Really was a part of my first steps into my career as a singer-songwriter.

2. Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Kraus - my favorite album. I’m so excited to see they are releasing another one soon, but the production, the vocals, the songs, the lyrics - this album has been present at every point in my life, and “Polly Come Home” holds so many memories and emotions. Their vocal pairing is exquisite.

3. Dierks Bentley - Modern Day Drifter - it was hard to pick just one of Dierks’ albums as I am incredibly familiar with his whole discography, but Modern Day Drifter was a huge part of my life when I picked up and moved from Montana to New Mexico. That album helped influence my writing during that time and Dierks’ music really was the catalyst for my country sound.

4. Dreaming Through The Noise - Vienna Teng - I went through a very raw and rough time mentally after my move to New Mexico, and I came across Vienna Teng’s “Blue Caravan” on a Robert Plant/Alison Kraus playlist. One of the best songs I’ve heard to this day. The whole album was something I l clung to during that time, it was an emotional support of sorts. Her skill as a musician and writer are on a whole other level I deeply aspire to.

5. A Tori Amos Collection - Tales of a Librarian - Tori is a beautiful burning flame of creativity and art and passion that I absolutely admire and idolize. This album is just a collection of some of her brilliant work, but she IS passion, and in my opinion no one comes close to her.

Photo by Jessica Preston Photography

What is the best advice you have received?

When I was a freshman in high school, I was cast as the lead in the Wizard of Oz. I remember during our first rehearsal, I had a crush on the boy playing the Tinman, and was flirting during our scene. My director

pulled me aside, looked me in the eyes, and said “Do you want this to be the (Boy’s Name) Show? Or the Eryn Bent show? Because right now, you’re making this show all about him.” That was exactly what I needed to hear. “No, this is the Eryn Bent Show.” It was good advice for that show and for my life - I have control over where my attention goes and what I set as priority. Whenever I need a quick adjustment I think, “Is this still the Eryn Bent Show? or am I making my life about someone/something else?”

What’s next for you?

I’m gearing up for the release of “Red” on October 29th and for a 2022 tour of the album. I am shifting my live performances to more stages, so I will be playing out more with my band. I’ve also started prep work for #EB4, so I’m hoping to get into the studio with the next album within the next year.

Photo by Jessica Preston Photography

“Don’t Know Why”, the latest single release off of “Red”, starts off the 11-track album and gives a starting point to the auditory illustration of the rest of the album and its story that plays out following this song.

It showcases a cheery, fantasy-esqe melody while lyrically it delves into the purgatory that is lost love. It is a clear step in the country direction, while also clinging to the unique, raw, singer-songwriter elements Bent is known for. The accompanying music video gives a glimpse into the visual album that goes along with “Red”.

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music and follow your career?

The best way to follow me is on social media sites (Instagram, Facebook) or through my official website: erynbentmusic.com

The easiest access to my music would be through streaming sources such as Spotify, Pandora, SoundCloud, Tidal, Amazon Music, Apple Music, etc.