Colorado songwriter Emily Scott Robinson beckons to those who are lost, lonely, or learning the hard way with American Siren, her first album for Oh Boy Records. With hints of bluegrass, country, and folk, the eloquent collection shares her gift for storytelling through her pristine soprano and the perspective of her unconventional path into music.
“I think that the thread running through the album is those things that call to us, and how we can’t resist that call,” she says. “It’s about the siren songs that come up through our lives.”
Though not fully autobiographical, American Siren gracefully blends imagined characters with meaningful people she’s encountered on her journey. Showcasing her ability as a storyteller, “If Trouble Comes a Lookin’” invents a scene where a vulnerable priest and an unhappy wife meet in an Arkansas hotel bar. “Hometown Hero” is an emotional tribute to her cousin, a veteran lost to suicide. “Lost Woman’s Prayer” stems from the words of a sage friend she met while traveling abroad, while “Every Day in Faith” is a personal testament to seeing things through.
“If you make music that you love that tells the truth, or that tells a story, everything emanates from what you have inside,” she says. “I knew at the core that I love writing, I love telling stories and I love performing. I knew if I just kept doing that, even when I didn’t always know what the next step was, that it would continue to grow and that the people who were meant to be a part of that would find me.”
For her fans and for herself, this revealing collection proves that heeding the call to make music was the right decision. “Ever since this dream was born, I don’t think it’s ever left my mind,” Robinson says. “I’ve worked toward it every day, even when I felt like I was stumbling in the dark. Now I can look back and see how beautifully it all knits together.”
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Deemed “a fine singer with guitar work reminiscent of the cult hero Nick Drake” by the New York Times, singer-songwriter, Andrea von Kampen is known for her captivating melodies and introspective storytelling. von Kampen’s most recent, third full-length record, “Sister Moon” was released on March 15th, 2024, and focuses on themes of climate change, the connectedness of nature, and the stories of Richard Powers.
Under the Radar said, “Sister Moon finds von Kampen in a meditative and naturalistic mood…[it] feels equally earthen and spiritual, grounded in von Kampen’s intricate guitar work and elevated with her swooning melodies.”
Andrea’s previous releases include the 2022 film soundtrack and acting debut “A Chance Encounter,” and a 2021 album “That Spell,” both released on Fantasy Records. von Kampen independently released a handful of EPs and her debut album “Old Country” in 2019.
Sharing the stage with an impressive array of artists, including The Tallest Man on Earth, Trampled by Turtles, Watchhouse, Punch Brothers, The Wood Brothers, Bonny Light Horseman, Darlingside, Lief Vollebekk, and many others, von Kampen has established herself on the road. She has performed in renowned music festivals such as The Newport Folk Festival and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival.
