Name?
Erin Rae McKaskle

location?
Nashville, TN

What is your “day job”?
I’m a receptionist at a drug and alcohol treatment center. I answer phones ten hours a day, 3 days a week. also.. i babysit a lot. and house sit. i do a lot of sitting.

your art medium?
music. I play guitar and sing melancholy folk music… and then for extra fun i take pictures with an old film camera someone gave me.

website(s) featuring work?
myspace.com/erinraemusic

Youtube.com/erinraemusic

Airplaneportraits.tumblr.com

why do you choose to work a menial job? Is it a choice?
I guess it is a choice.. i can easily feel stuck at times.. but i took this job because its money i can count on, and hours that are the same every week that i can schedule around. and I enjoy the people i work with, and it gives me a little accountability. Also, Its paying for the production of my first EP! So I can’t complain. They’ve also been really flexible when i need to be out of town, cause a lot of the folks that work here are or have been working musicians at one time or another.

does your “day job” effect your creativity?
You know, I hate that i have to sit here bored all day. That being said I’ve been able to bring my guitar to work with me, so when its slow and no one’s really around i can practice. That’s helped me get so much better. and, I get really neat opportunities to play here, like for the spiritual service on sunday mornings, or Sing and Share for the women’s program, or trading songs with a youth patient that plays music. There’s really not a negative aspect to this job, now that you made me list all these good things! haha
what was your last meal? lunch- veggie burger and fries. The food at work is WONDERFUL.

two artists that you look up to?
So many. I mean SO many. but this week I’m thinking and listening to a lot of
Glen Hansard/Marketa Irglova of The Swell Season- they made me realize that it was possible to do this whole music thing if i wanted to.
and Leslie Feist. have you seen. that lady. play the guitar. I’m equal parts jealous and inspired.
also- Patty Griffin, Kathy Mattea

If you could trade places with one living human/ animal for a day who and why would it be?
Oprah.

Just kiddin.

I would be Patty Griffin. or be myself and be best friends with her.

What would your “dream” life consist of?
Traveling, Playing music, and continuing to meet more and more amazing people like I am now. Have a little house somewhere with wood floors and big windows and a porch,  My life is so rich because of this music i get to make and the music those around me make. When you meet someone else who plays music or creates in anyway, there’s this instant platform for connection with that person. It is such a gift. Oh, and just once I want to play the Ryman. preferably with emmy lou harris, Patty Griffin, and Kathy Mattea.. but by myself for an empty room would be okay too.

do you like answering random questions?
Sure. That was random. =]