Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Murphy.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always loved singing, whether it was singing in church, singing in the shower, or singing at the top of my lungs to get some attention around the house. My parents knew the value of a musical education, so they enrolled me in piano lessons when I was 10. Luckily for me, my wonderful piano teacher put up with my stubbornness and helped cultivate my musical creativity. When I decided I didn’t want to play Bach anymore and I presented her with my first, horrible song, she saw that as an opportunity to show me that there was so much more to music than just classical music (which I have since reconciled with, by the way!). Piano lessons turned into songwriting lessons, and I fell in love with the magical world of songwriting. Since then, I have written/recorded a 3-song EP and 5 other singles (and a new one is in the works!). After graduating high school in 2016, I felt kind of lost for a couple of years, unsure of what my next step was. I majored in Communications at Santiago Canyon College and graduated in 2019, but it wasn’t enough for me. Despite the ambiguity of those years, I kept writing music and finally decided to take a huge step, fully committing to a musical career. Currently, I am attending LACM (Los Angeles College of Music) in Pasadena, CA and majoring in Songwriting. I am so incredibly thankful that I am still making music and constantly growing as a person/artist every day.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Of course, it hasn’t been a smooth road! If it’s a smooth road, something’s definitely wrong. Growing pains hurt, and I’ve had my fair share of them. I battle with myself on the daily, asking myself if it’s all worth it, if I’m worth it, and what the point of it all is. But I know that it’s worth it because I always come back to songwriting, no matter what. No matter how long it’s been, no matter how disappointed or upset I am, no matter how broken my heart is… I always find myself sitting at my piano, pairing melodies with lyrics, along with a crappy voice memo to top it all off. I feel alone, hidden, insecure, but what human being hasn’t? Pushing myself when all I want to do is hide under a blanket, eat Sour Patch Kids, and watch the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is difficult. So, so difficult. But I push myself because no one else will do it for me. I am accountable for making my own dreams come true, and that’s been a challenge to admit. I kept waiting around for someone to hand me the keys to city, but I am pushing through despite all the obstacles I face.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Songwriting and singing were my first loves, but since then I have developed my theory and production skills. In fact, I recorded most of the midi of my last two songs (“Rise and Fall” and “A Part of You”) on my laptop, so I’ve come a long way. Little Erin would be so proud. My specialty will always be songwriting, and I am specifically known for my honest, visual, melodramatic, introspective lyrics and dreamy alternative/indie pop sound. I was significantly inspired by artists such as Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and Banks. Every song is different and demands a specific sound, but most of the songs I write for myself stay around that genre. Most of my songs have piano in them as a nod to my background and reverb. Lots and lots of reverb. I’m most proud of someone saying that I sounded like a singer, just by the tone of my speaking voice. I can’t even remember who said that to me, but it means so much. The fact that my body unconsciously expresses everything that I strive for, even while I’m speaking, makes me so incredibly proud. I’m an old soul in a 22 years old body, so the little things mean a lot to me. I’m a fantastic listener and I love to just hang out… I like to think that’s what sets me apart from others, especially as an artist. You can hear it in the music.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are so many ways to support local artists, and most of them are free! You can: 1. Listen to my music 2. Add my songs to your playlists 3. Share my songs/posts on your social media 4. Follow me on Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube 5. Engage with my posts (like, share, comment, etc.) 6. Tell your friends and family 7. Buy my songs on iTunes, Amazon Music, and Google Play I’m always looking for new people to work with! Musicians, producers, artists, songwriters, graphic designers, photographers, videographers… I love collaborating and networking, so don’t be afraid to hit me up! Let’s collaborate and help each other out in this crazy industry. You can e-mail me at: [email protected] Or just DM me on Instagram (@goodbye_erin). Don’t forget to say that VoyageLA sent you!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodbye_erin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLiRzyHMukCoIenN8pfVelQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/goodbye_erin
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5HDJjsTvDDiq9OnOmqokFT?si=bsPgZyeaQIislGKup3XiXQ
Image Credits:
Alyssa Ma Photography Dustin Tebbe
