Monday, May 12, 2014

The Quiet American's Rural Oregon Roots

Oregon duo The Quiet American named their new album Songs from a Rocking Chair in anticipation of the biggest event in their lives: the birth of their new baby! With a little boy on the way, their cozy home in Hood River along the picturesque Columbia River Gorge is filling up with music and songs and family. Nestling into this home, Songs from a Rocking Chair is living room music, the kind of music that people used to play for their family after dinner or on Sundays. With acoustic instruments and a broad selection of traditional and original songs, The Quiet American paints a portrait of home and family.

The Quiet American is husband and wife duo, Aaron and Nicole Keim. Their music incorporates ballads, banjo breakdowns, raggy choruses, gospel duets and other dusty Americana gems, all delivered on a wide variety of acoustic instruments, some of which Aaron built himself. Before forming The Quiet American, Aaron was known for his work with the well-loved Colorado roots band Boulder Acoustic Society. Over 8 years, the band built a passionately loyal following, but Aaron found that their diverse sound was keeping him from his passion for old time folk music. In a quest to get “back to basics,” he turned inwards, moving to the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon to work as a luthier for Mya-Moe Ukuleles. Nicole, who is a musician and artist, embraced the chance to sing and play with Aaron, as they re-dedicated themselves to roots music and to a new life together. This home-made, hand-crafted lifestyle created a new sound for their music, drawing them closer to the traditions that first inspired them. This is homesteading music, but don’t let the bucolic nostalgia obscure the fact that it takes a lot of talent and taste to make roots music sound this simple and this beautiful.




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