Greenville-based artist Angela Easterling makes it big on the music scene
Posted by The Skyliner on October 21st, 2009Samantha Mayo
Staff Writer
Americana artist Angela Easterling tells her story and taps into her South Carolina roots in her sophomore album BlackTop Road.
Easterling began her journey toward her musical career in Greenville, S.C. where she studied theatre at the Fine Arts Institute. She left the Greenville area to continue her studies at Emerson College. At Emerson, Easterling picked up a guitar and began writing songs, but her focus was still on acting.
Easterling moved to Los Angeles where she appeared in several minor roles in films and acted in commercials.
Music captured her heart, however, and she eventually moved back to the east coast to pursue a career in music.
“When she got away from Greenville, she fell in love with Americana music … she started writing and expressing herself through it. I think it’s surprised her,” Mason Easterling, Angela’s father and North Greenville University’s vice president of denominational relations, said.
After several years away from South Carolina, Easterling returned to the Greenville area where she now bases her business.
While in the area, she visited her mother’s family farm in Greer. The farm became the inspiration for the title track of BlackTop Road. The song protests valuing progress over heritage by expressing her anger and frustration when part of her family farm was paved over for a road.
Easterling draws on her personal experiences for several other tracks on the album as well. “American I.D.” is based on her encounters with the world while studying abroad and her reflections on what it means to be an American. The song connects with the free and enterprising spirit of America and celebrates both the unity and the diversity of American identity.
In BlackTop Road, Easterling paints a broad and colorful picture of America through the bluegrass feel of “Field of Sorrow,” the upbeat rock n’ roll of “BlackTop Road,” the haunting tones of “A.P. Carter’s Blues” and the Cajun influence in “Un Microphone.” She further diversifies the album by recording “Un Microphone” in both English and French.
“[I am] trying to make music that relates to all of us in America and in the world,” Easterling said.
Easterling has met with tremendous success since releasing BlackTop Road this summer. The album was listed on Americana’s Top 40 for six consecutive weeks. BlackTop Road also made it onto Vintage Guitar Magazine’s list of recommended albums in October. She was featured on Country Weekly’s hot new artist page as well.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Easterling said in response to her recent success. “Hopefully people will continue to respond.”
Mason Easterling shared his daughter’s excitement over her recent achievements.
“I am extremely proud of her. I’m honored that she is beginning to get some significant recognition for her work. She’s a very smart and talented young lady and she’s worked very, very hard,” Mason Easterling said.
Easterling will be following up her success with a tour covering all the southeast. A calendar of Easterling’s performances is available at angelaeasterling.com.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 6