Eryn Shewell is quiet and soft-spoken, but you wouldn't guess it by listening to her sing.
The 24-year-old East Windsor resident's debut album, "Window Pane," was released in August 2008, and on it she belts out jazz- and blues-infused tracks that showcase her powerful voice and soulful style -- a style she says is influenced by such female singers as Aretha Franklin, Susan Tedeschi and Eva Cassidy.
Shewell, who was born in Maryland and moved to New Jersey at age 8, has been performing since she was a young teen, singing backup for Jody Joseph and the Average Joes and joining cover bands Stronger Than Dirt and Under New Ownership at venues around the state.
The Eryn Shewell Band formed in 2007, and it was nominated for three Asbury Park Music Awards within its first year.
Metromix Jersey Shore recently caught up with Shewell in Nashville, Tenn., where she's recording her second album and performing at such legendary venues as Café Coco and the Bluebird Café before returning to the Jersey Shore for shows at The Downtown and Twisted Tree Cafe next week.
How did you get started as a musician?
Well, my family is all musical. My aunt sings in a country band, my mom sings and my dad is a Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra impersonator. My aunt kind of took me under her wing when I was young, and put me in her band. So that's kind of where I started. I was 14 when I started writing music.
So it's been a decade of writing and performing. How did it feel to finally get your album out there?
Oh my god, it feels like my entire life was wrapped up in one small, little package. The first album is a collection of all the songs I wrote for the last 10 years, so it felt like my life was just put into a little plastic box.
Is it a strange feeling?
No, I love it. I'm hoping that people will like it, you know. If it wasn't doing so well I might be a little heartbroken.
Who do you count among your influences?
Well, I grew up on country music, completely -- people like Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain. But as I got older, I started to listen to more jazz and blues, like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Aretha Franklin. I can definitely hear my country-ness sometimes, and other times I can hear the soulful part. Or people point it out, anyway.
Is there a song on "Window Pane" that stands out as your favorite to perform or listen to?
The ones that I like to perform are different than the ones I like to listen to, actually. "More Melody," I think, came out beautiful, and "Storm" and "I Want You For Breakfast." I like to perform that one. Some of the songs are hard to duplicate live, but I have a lot of fun playing some of the more upbeat songs on the album, like "The Goodbye Song," "Window Pane" and "I Don't Know."
How would you classify your sound?
I'd say we're pop with a blues rock, even a jazz influence. The new stuff is more blues-funk oriented. My co-writer, Pat, who's my guitar player, has been a major part (of the new sound). He's awesome; he's an incredible partner. The band is all awesome people. I wouldn't be where I am without them.
Is everyone down there recording with you in Nashville?
No, just my trumpet player and my guitar player are on the new album. We'll be doing the same full-band type sound, but I have Nashville musicians come in.
How has that worked out?
It's awesome. It's great, getting to play with new and different musicians. My first album has a very live, organic feel. And with this album, I wanted to structure it song by song and find a specific musician for each song. Not every song requires the same type of bass player or same type of drummer. It's definitely going to have more depth.
What's it been like playing at famous Nashville spots like the Bluebird Café?
It's amazing. I wasn't expecting to get such a good reaction. I mean, I don't think I'm too country, and I came down here expecting people to be like, "Oh, who is this girl?" But I was really surprised.
Being on the road and away from your daughter must be tough.
Yeah, I miss her to death, I do. But I love it. I mean I think I was born to be on the road. I moved around a lot when I was a kid, so I've lived out of suitcases for almost my whole life.
And you still like playing New Jersey venues?
Yeah. I love The Saint. I love the owner; he's very supportive of us. Even when we brought nobody, he booked us back. But it's also like a little piece of history. There's a certain vibe in that room that I just love.
So we're not going to lose you to Nashville?
No, I'm definitely stuck on Jersey.
