Nashville Artist of the Month Erin Rae has officially mastered the art of cosmic country. Produced by Jonathan Wilson in his Topanga Canyon studio, Rae’s latest effort Lighten Up represents a shift in her musicianship. Much like the lyrics of 2018’s Putting On Airs, the follow-up explores topics like personal growth and mental health, but with a psychedelic tinge reminiscent of the Laurel Canyon music scene in the ‘60s and ‘70s. With noted influences like J.J. Cale and Bobbie Gentry, an unhurried aesthetic is prevalent throughout the album, but never without a bit of honky-tonk twang.
Witness Erin Rae’s effortless delivery of Lighten Up’s “Can’t See Stars” and “Modern Woman” live at WNXP’s Sonic Cathedral alongside a cast of notable Nashville musicians.