Amy Speace - Navigating the Chaos of a Lyrical Life

Amy Speace is a modern troubadour whose music is reminiscent of folk music’s 1970s glory days. She has spent the last 20 years on the road chasing her dreams from New York City to Nashville to around the world. She has built an international audience without the help of a major label performing an average of 150 shows a year including the Glastonbury Festival and NPR's Mountain Stage.

Discovered and mentored by Judy Collins during the early 2000s, Speace left her career as a classically-trained Shakespearean actress and kicked off a string of acclaimed albums. She was championed by the likes of The New York Times and NPR for her solo work. I personally love her work as a member of Applewood Road, a harmony-heavy trio that I discovered one year at Folk Alliance.

Me and The Ghost Of Charlemagne, her latest work, captures Amy at her now mature core, with stripped down songs that showcase her amazing voice and stellar songwriting chops. She’s no longer focused on the elusive holy grail of fame and fortune. She’s more than satisfied with the strange and crazy trip this life is. She is a reinvested and re-energized songwriter who is nowhere near finished with what she has to offer.

I share my 2013 “origin story” with Amy at the beginning of this conversation. A lot has happened to the both of us in the intervening 6 years. Amy had just suffered the loss of her much beloved father less than two weeks before. We spoke right before her first show after having to cancel quite a few dates and I will always be most grateful for her kindness and consideration for granting me the opportunity to spend some quality time with one of my favorite Americana artists.

We talk about mutual friends and acquaintances, navigating the “chaos” of a lyrical life, and an interesting perspective on showcasing at conferences and “building your brand” like Americanafest and Folk Alliance vis a’ vis more commercial musical pathways. I’m comforted with the thought our mutual music loving friend Tom Green was smiling down on us from the other side of the ether and sending us virtual hugs. Enjoy this conversation with folksinger Amy Speace!