My Echo

Released in 2020, My Echo serves as a pivotal and deeply personal entry in Laura Veirs' discography, written and recorded during the collapse of her marriage to longtime producer Tucker Martine. While Martine still produced the record, the tension of their separation permeates every track. Sonically, the album continues Veirs' exploration of 'chamber folk,' utilizing a rich palette of strings, woodwinds, and piano to augment her fingerstyle guitar work. However, the lyrical focus shifts from her usual geological and astronomical observations toward a more direct, though still metaphor-heavy, self-examination. The album features contributions from Jim James, Bill Frisell, and Karl Blau, adding a subtle experimental edge to the folk foundations. Critics noted the album's 'unsettling beauty,' praising Veirs for her ability to maintain her trademark poise while navigating such turbulent emotional waters. It stands as a companion piece to her previous work while being significantly darker and more insular.