A Walk Around The Sun
Self-Released, 2022
10/10
Listen to A Walk Around The Sun
An Asheville resident and member of the New Orleans collective Tuba Skinny, Erika Lewis explores love and loss, joy and grief, and longing and contentment across these 11 well thought out tracks, where strings and guitar play an equal part of her bewitching formula.
“A Thousand Miles” starts the listen with Lewis’ pretty pipes in a very warm version of Americana that’s a bit country and a bit folk, and “If You Were Mine” follows with gorgeous pedal steel complementing the poetic singing and breezy melodies.
“Running Wild” lands in the middle and radiates organic beauty that’s got some punchy grit, too, while “A Walk Around The Sun” brings soulful backing vocals into an emotive and textured album highlight. “Unsatisfied”, another excellent track, then gets a bit louder with well timed organ and a thumping, rootsy flavor.
“Love Song” and “Thief And A Liar” exit the listen, where the former is full of stirring intimacy, and the latter benefits much from eloquent piano as she hits some pretty high notes in the dreamy finish.
Lewis recently went through a health scare that could have ended her career. Not one to sit idly by, old songs were finished up and new songs were penned for the occasion, as the outcome of the surgery was unclear. Though some might buckle under the pressure of possibly recording their last album, Lewis shines bright with her classic country, cosmic Americana and indie-folk hybrid that is nothing short of stunning.
Travels well with: Sad Daddy- Way Up In The Hills; The Whitmore Sisters- Ghost Stories