In this interview spotlight, we chat with Erica about her new release, influences and more.

Full Q&A along with links and a stream of Honey below.

Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?

I’ve been listening to a mix of genres all my life.  I try to not confine myself to one style or construct any boxes around creativity.  Lyrics have always been something I’ve enjoyed exploring and from there I like the artistic freedom to stretch in any direction.

How long have you been creating and sharing your music with the public?

I started playing music as far back as my memory goes.  I began performing when I was about 20 years old.

Who or what influences your playing and/or writing? Also, what motivates you to keep going?

What keeps me motivated is the feeling that I can always do better and challenge myself in new ways with new ideas.  I always feel that I have more songs than I can keep up with and that alone keeps me practicing, recording, and developing ideas further.  What influences my writing can range from the music I listen to, to the environment I’m in, to the creative goals I have.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific with Honey? Creatively or otherwise?

Honey was written in a wide variety of locations; culled from many experiences.  The album is a collection of songs and stories that I wanted to gather together, like pieces of a puzzle.

What was the last song you listened to?

The Hour by Valerie June.

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

The sound quality of vinyl is my favorite.  But CDs and MP3s are so convenient for listening to and making, and I appreciate that greatly.

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?

I like bandcamp because of the artist friendly nature and the option for fans to set their own price.

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract listeners to your music?

I prefer introducing people to my music through live performances.  But so much of an artist’s career these days takes place online through digital releases, distribution, and promotion.  The fact that artists and listeners depend on the internet so much to connect is a challenge for me in itself. I prefer connecting in real life over performances in real time.  But I still do appreciate being able to share my music with folks who may not be able to get to a show for one reason or another.

Do you gig, tour or perform? Do you ever live stream? Where can music lovers see you live?

We gig regularly in Asheville, NC and tour a few times a year.  People can keep up to date with performances by following us on facebook or checking out our website.

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more of your music?

Www.ericarusso.com has all our music and videos in the same place.  Bandcamp is a preferred way to purchase our music, and facebook and instagram are great for finding current information on shows, music, and more.

Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?

Thank you to everyone who supports our music! It has been a challenging year for many people around the world and I hope this album, and the one we release in 2017, both bring some moments of happiness for you all.