With one hundred dollars from a great aunt, Erin and her brother bought a cheap guitar and taught themselves to play. When she was ten she wrote her first song. The household was full of acoustic music, bluegrass, blues, rock, jazz – rootsy stuff – at one point they even had a family band. Erins sound is influenced by The Weepies, Gillian Welch, Ryan Adams and Sufjan Steven to name a few.
Cole-Baker learned classical piano from the age of five and when her interests started to change, she ventured into jazz and improvisation which led her to play in Jazz festivals around New Zealand. When Erin left home at eighteen she picked up the guitar again - a piano wasn’t around – so she got more proficient on guitar and the songs started to come. The more songs she wrote the more in love with music she fell.
After moving to The States from New Zealand in 2005, Erin started a duo - The Erins - with Erin Zurflu. The Erins harmonies gathered new fans everywhere they played along with Cole-Bakers compelling songwriting about following your dreams, belonging and the honesty of the journey of life, with her catchy thoughtful lyrics. The Erins recorded their debut album in 2007.
In December 2009 Erin released her newest album, kicking it off with a three week tour in France. She writes songs on guitar, banjo, mountain dulcimer, piano, baritone ukulele and will keep exploring what medium she writes on.
I will be playing music for the rest of my life. Music is my life, my love and passion and I hope to share it with you. Erin Cole-Baker.
Her songs are simple wonders, a blend of acoustic Americana music and the winsome indie-folk of artists like Sufjan Stevens and The Weepies. The Bend Bulletin
...a matured songwriter whose songs are solidly structured and lyrically unique. The album proves one of the most complete folk-oriented offerings to come out of Central Oregon in recent memory. The Source Weekly
The music she creates is full and passionate. bendnights.com
