Shawn Colvin Steady On 30th Anniversary Show

Performing Steady On Acoustic in its entirety, plus other favorites
with special guest, Daphne Willis

” Now 30 years old, Shawn Colvin’s Steady On has weathered the decades beautifully because the songs are just SO GOOD. Like, ridiculously brilliant. Not just to fans or critics, but to peers and poets of various generations, as well.” — Folk Alley

Three-time GRAMMY winner Shawn Colvin’s debut album, Steady On, was released in October 1989, a stunning introduction to an artist who quickly established herself as a mainstay in the singer-songwriter genre. The album was lauded for its confessional songwriting and well-crafted melodies, and for Colvin’s tender and provocative vocals. Colvin received the ultimate acknowledgement for Steady On when she was awarded the GRAMMY award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. She swiftly amassed a dedicated and passionate fanbase.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of this landmark album, Colvin has released a newly-recorded solo-acoustic version. Colvin brings a 30-year lens to her treasured songs, casting new light on the stories she first told as a young artist. This mesmerizing re-visitation brings Colvin’s lyrics into sharp focus. “You can cry like an angel when there are no words,” she sings, offering an outstretched hand that is at once steady and comforting. “Shotgun Down the Avalanche” intermingles melancholy with the resignation of a failed romance, her world-weary voice nearly whispering the sorrow of being taken down by a broken relationship. “The Story” thumps along the dusty highway of life, telling the “story” about her upbringing and place in the family, written as a talk with her sister—each experience cherished as a badge of honor. Colvin has long been hailed as an exemplary solo acoustic performer and these new recordings are a brilliant showcase for her enduring artistry.

“I was 32 years old, and the dream of my life had been fulfilled,” Colvin says, “not only because I made an album but mostly because I had written or co-written every song, an accomplishment that was hard won. I was so proud. My feeling was then—and still is—that if I never made another album, Steady On would have been enough.”

Steady On Acoustic strips each song to the core, placing Colvin’s songwriting masterclass on full display. “I’ve played these songs countless times, primarily as a solo acoustic artist,” she says. “All in all, this is the incarnation that feels most genuine. And so, to commemorate this milestone I decided to celebrate Steady On by recording it again, this time using only my voice and my guitar. This represents who I am as an artist and all I ever wanted to be, and I believe it does its predecessor proud.”

Over the course of three decades, Colvin has established herself as a legacy artist by creating a remarkable canon of work, touring relentlessly both nationally and internationally, and having her songs featured in television and film. She is a revered storyteller deserving of the special recognition of both her peers and those who have been inspired by her songs. The reworking of her iconic debut feels not only timely but essential, further underscoring that Colvin remains a vital voice for women in music and reaffirming her status as an Americana gamechanger.

Shawn Colvin will perform Steady On Acoustic in its entirety in what promises to be a very special evening for her longtime fans.

DAPHNE WILLIS

There is something real and raw that emanates from Daphne Willis when she performs. Her songs and her voice convey hope and compassion for others; her lyrics are sincere, compelling and relevant. She has a critical message to relay to others when she speaks and performs to her audiences nationwide.

Raised in Chicago, Daphne now calls Los Angeles home after living in both Nashville and NYC. Willis cites influences as varied as Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles and Eminem.  Her musical output cleverly incorporates such inspirations into a style that crosses multiple genres ranging from Acoustic to Pop to Hip Hop to R&B, yet is refreshing and singularly her own.

In early 2016, Daphne caught the eyes and ears of Sony/ATV Music Publishing who quickly signed her to a worldwide publishing agreement. Their partnership has resulted in several of her songs being recorded by other artists and used in Commercial, Film and TV productions such as One Tree Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral (2019), Empire, Samsung, Royal Caribbean, Target, Clinique and Microsoft Ad Campaigns and Volkswagen/Women’s World Cup.

Daphne has also dedicated her artist platform to defeating the stigma around mental health, addiction recovery, trauma and family dysfunction. Her famed “Somebody’s Someone” has fast become an anthem for the addiction recovery community. The song, a heartfelt call for kindness and compassion for those suffering with addiction, is a loving reminder that we are all human, we are all ‘somebody’s someone.’

A prolific writer and performer, Daphne has released four albums to date and will release 5 new singles in the coming months. daphnewillis.com