Melodies and motherhood
OHbaby! caught up with multi-talented musician and mum Erin Cole-Baker, who recently returned to the recording studio to work on her fourth album. On the eve of the release of her brand new music video - starring her gorgeous girls, June and Flo - Erin shares honest responses to the question - how does one balance motherhood with creativity, meeting the needs of children while simultaneously finding space for oneself?
OHbaby!: Making music while having babies... You’ve taken a six-year hiatus from music. Was that intentional or an unexpected, but natural, consequence of the motherhood season?
The whole parenting process has been wild. Wildly good and wildly tough - in some ways I feel I'm still orienting myself to life as a parent. I am still working out how to be me amongst all the other hats I wear. My daughters are now five and two, and I am able to snatch more moments to get my creative fix with my music, which is incredible. I think it makes me a better parent to take the time to feed my creative soul.
Since becoming a mum, I've become more badass! My husband has always nudged me towards electric guitar, and I've balked at the idea. Earlier this year my husband nudged again and I took the bait and have fallen madly in love with my electric guitar! I am finishing working on my first album since having my girls, which has been a crazy awesome process working with amazing friends and musicians and creating something that I am going to be so proud to share. The new album will be released early next year (2018) and has a song on there for each of my kids. My song in the video, This Guitar, is played on an acoustic guitar and is really simple, but adding electric guitar to my skill set has been real fun!
HAHAHA! It was just a passing idea with the cinematographer, to maybe have the girls in one of the shots, so we had them come to the location with my mum and yes, of course, it almost fell to bits when they didn't want to co operate and I almost lost the plot .... the shot was saved by the great skills of the production team!
It feels amazing to create music in the moment and share that with people. The online world is something different and releasing recordings and videos is really frightening! I have to work up the courage to believe in myself constantly, as I really want people to like what I do, but I know not everyone will, and that's okay too. I just have to be true to my art and love what I create, and hopefully that will show to whoever watches/listens to my music!
It's so good and okay to take time for yourself to follow your heart and create, create, create! It's easier said than done, of course ... But do it, do it, do it! There will be a stage in your kids' growth when you can take a hold of a bit more time for yourself, and make those moments happen.
NEW SONG RELEASE // “This Guitar” by Erin Cole-Baker, written and performed on her guitar made by Breedlove Guitars. Video created by Nina Wells.
Subscribe to Erin's Youtube channel to hear upcoming releases first!
Erin lives with her husband Bruce and their two daughters, June and Flo, in
rural Northland. Her new album will be released in early 2018. Find out more about Erin and discover her music at: www.facebook.com/erincolebakermusic and www.instagram.com/erincolebaker.
Photo credit: Alice Veysey, paperandpearl.co.nz
