Open Doors

Released in 2002, Open Doors is a self-released EP that serves as a foundational document in Brandi Carlile's discography. Predating her major-label debut by three years, these five tracks (four on some digital versions) showcase a starker, more folk-oriented sound than the 'Americana-rock' she would eventually define. The EP is notable for featuring an early version of 'Turpentine,' a song that would become a staple of her live sets and a fan favorite on her 2007 breakthrough, The Story. Sonically, the record is defined by its minimalism; the 'Piano Version' of 'Wasted' highlights Carlile's ability to carry a narrative through vocal dynamics alone, while the title track establishes her penchant for introspective, nature-adjacent metaphors. While the Hanseroth twins (Tim and Phil) would soon become her primary collaborators, this EP captures Carlile in a more singular, singer-songwriter mode, leaning into the 'anti-folk' and 'indie-folk' aesthetics prevalent in the early 2000s. It remains a sought-after piece of her history for its raw, unvarnished glimpse into her developing craft.