Evolving songwriter
Amy Ray Band to play at Santa Fe Brewing Co.
On any given day, one could find Amy Ray deep in the writing process.
It’s a task that she has done for well over two decades.
And she’s not slowing down. “I’m writing all the time in some form,” she says in a recent phone interview.
Over the years, her writing process has evolved.
“I’m more disciplined as a writer,” she says. “It came around 2000, and I started reading books about writing. That helped me shift my whole perspective. I become more intentional as a writer. I wanted to work on different melodies within the music. It’s really helped me streamline my process.”
Ray is better known as one-half of the legendary duo the Indigo Girls. During hiatuses from the duo, Ray does solo work, and in September, she released the album “Holler” with her band.
The band consists of Jeff Fielder, Matt Smith, Adrian Carter, Kerry Brooks, Jim Brock and Alison Brown.
The album features musical cameos from Derek Trucks, Vince Gill, Brandi Carlile, Phil Cook and Justin Vernon.
The bulk of “Holler” was tracked live over a nine days at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville, N.C.
Ray turned once again to producer Brian Speiser, who has also worked with the Indigo Girls and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Ray wanted the entire process to be organic.
“I learned to take my time with it all,” she says. “We were in the studio pulling some long hours. I went in with songs that sounded a certain way. Some of them changed into what you hear on the album, and each became better because of the process.”
For her stop in Santa Fe on Wednesday, Feb. 27, Ray is expecting to play the majority of “Holler,” though there were be some older material in the set.
As for what’s next, she says she and Emily Sailers have recorded a new Indigo Girls album that will be released this year.
“We recorded it in England, and I’m really happy with it,” she says. “We’re planning on touring after the album comes out. I also want to do a solo record with collaborations. I’m still trying to figure that out, as everyone I would want to work with has a busy schedule as well. I’m putting it out into the universe and see what transpires.”
AMY RAY BAND With Chastity Brown WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 WHERE: The Bridge inside Santa Fe Brewing Co., 37 Fire Place, Santa Fe HOW MUCH: $27 advance, $30 day of show at holdmyticket.com