Recently, I attended AmericanaFest in Nashville, a gathering for all in the music industry — musicians, record labels, radio stations, festivals, agents and more — to help keep the Americana genre alive and thriving.
During that week, I was able to sit down with several musicians at a studio for conversations along with intimate and stripped-down performances you'll be hearing on KAXE.
Aoife O’Donovan
Folk musician Aoife O’Donovan and I started our conversation off in a tender place, connecting over listening to Adrianne Lenker’s solo album Bright Future as a salve for grief in this past year.
The conversation quickly turned to O’Donovan’s 2024 album, All My Friends, a collection of songs reflecting on the enduring struggle for women’s rights across generations, the desire to break these cycles and improve future opportunities for women.
Though O’Donovan does not see this release as a political album, she said overall, it focuses on civic duty and historical awareness, particularly the importance of voting — a reminder of the responsibility that comes with citizenship, emphasizing how each vote impacts daily life.
Also a member of I’m With Her with Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins, O’Donovan gives great value to friendship in every project. She expressed deep admiration for two women who are both close friends and talented musicians, their close bond making the music more meaningful and allowing for honest, intimate songwriting.
"I am in awe, musically, of Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz," she said. "They're also two of the most generous, deeply feeling people that I know in my life, and they're very close friends. That really brings our music to a very special place."
Take a listen to the conversation above.
