Basic Folk – Edie Carey

Edie Carey’s last solo full length album was in 2010 (holy smokes!) so we are more than ready to dig into her new record, The Veil, encompassing themes like motherhood, infertility, love, being a lady while raising a girl and all the things that make you cry in your cereal.

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Edie first appeared on Basic Folk in episode 18 and if you haven’t, you should listen. Not only does she talk about her history, but she very openly details her experience with infertility, including winning her son in a raffle (TLDR: her husband won a free IVF treatment at an infertility conference, which then turned into their son Luca). In this conversation, Edie and I go track by track on her new album, which is a JOY because #1 I love Edie’s songs and #2 I love Edie. A winning combo.

These days, Edie is residing in Colorado Springs, working with area musicians, touring occasionally (when COVID is not raging) and raising her two young kids. Something that’s extraordinary about Edie is that she is not afraid of saying things out loud that most people are. She experienced burn-out after her first baby was born, longed for her pre-baby life, and felt guilty about it. The good news is that she turns emotions like this into fully formed songs where people can see themselves through her experience, and then be okay with talking about hard things. Enjoy this conversation – Edie is so fun and inspiring!


Photo Credit: Steve Willis

WATCH: Tejon Street Corner Thieves, “The Road”

Artist: Tejon Street Corner Thieves
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Song: “The Road”
Album: Thick as Thieves
Label: Liars Club/Regime Music Group

In Their Words: “‘The Road’ was filmed at the witches castle in Portland, Oregon. It was a 7-mile hike down into a shaded lush green valley. The house we filmed at was haunted by an old witch that was rumored to have eaten her own children for sacrifice. The song is about the party lifestyle and how sometimes it’s hard livin’ but how if you could go back you wouldn’t do anything different. It’s about how even after you pass on to the next life, or what have you, the party must still go on.” — Shawn D’Amario, Tejon Street Corner Thieves


Photo Credit: Mountain Trout Photography

LISTEN: Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose, “Heart of Mine”

Artist: Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Song: “Heart of Mine”
Album: Spark in Your Smile
Release Date: July 5, 2021

In Their Words: “I wrote this song about how it feels to not fit in and the things we do to get a sense of belonging. I imagine we can all get to feeling like we are on the outside looking in or that we are stuck between two worlds. For me I felt like I had to hide my queerness for a long time, but once I was out I felt like an impostor in queer spaces. Luckily, I have been supported by many of the people in my life and keep meeting more folks I can relate to (in part thanks to organizations like Bluegrass Pride). This song is brought to life by Joe D’Esposito on fiddle, Jean-Luc Davis on bass (both from The Railsplitters), Colton Liberatore on drums, Maggie Liberatore on harmony vocals and Aaron Youngberg on synthesizers.” — Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose


Photo credit: Grace Clark

WATCH: Tejon Street Corner Thieves, “Deal Rag”

Artist: Tejon Street Corner Thieves
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Song: “Deal Rag”
Album: Stolen Goods
Release Date: May 7, 2021
Label: Liars Club

In Their Words: “‘The Deal Rag’ had been a staple in our band since day one. It’s upbeat and fun as hell to play! It’s about when deals go wrong and you end up in a bad situation. Something we’re all too familiar with. We love the ragtime swing and the and the washboard solo rips. This is the first song we decided to put on Stolen Goods. It really sets the pace for the whole album.” — Connor O’Neal, Tejon Street Corner Thieves


Photo credit: Mountain Trout Photography

WATCH: Tejon Street Corner Thieves, “No Good” (Acoustic)

Artist: Tejon Street Corner Thieves
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Song: “No Good” (Acoustic)
Album: Monarch Sessions
Release Date: October 16, 2020
Label: Liars Club

In Their Words: “At first glance, ‘No Good’ is about being a party animal. But a more in-depth look reveals the struggle for acceptance and a teetering battle with impostor syndrome. It’s easier to be hard on yourself than it is to understand why people like you. The song is a reminder to practice a positive self-image even though it takes work. Monarch Sessions combines both audio and video mediums so that we were able to portray our most authentic and emotionally-fueled performance in a time when live music isn’t an option. The video accompaniment allows for an inside look at our own reactions to the songs as we perform them, adding a layer to the album that wouldn’t be achievable otherwise. We put our heart and soul into these songs and you can finally see it through Monarch Sessions.” — Connor O’Neal, Tejon Street Corner Thieves


Photo credit: Gabriel Rovick @F4DStudio

LISTEN: Xanthe Alexis, “The Offering”

Artist: Xanthe Alexis
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Song: “The Offering”
Album: The Offering
Release Date: August 21, 2020

In Their Words: “I see ‘The Offering’ as a voice of an omniscient narrator, The Oracle, The Mother. She is beckoning the listener to open. Offering a promise of protection. A presence of the mystical, the benevolent. When I wrote this song, I was in need of guidance and reassurance. These words soothed my heart that is so often straining under the weight of our collective suffering. I hope it does the same for others too.” — Xanthe Alexis


Photo credit: Luigi Scorcia