Alicia Stockman is a Utah-based folk-meets-Americana singer-songwriter whose music pulls back the veil to reveal everyday vulnerability. Her songs are written like intimate moments, drawing listeners into a relatable emotional journey.
At a young age, Alicia Stockman began her deep love for music, compelled by the vivid storytelling of powerhouse songwriters including Patty Griffin, Brandi Carlile and Jewel. After performing in a loud rock n’ roll band playing bars with sticky floors and belting out Stevie Wonder tunes, Alicia began writing her own music more seriously. Realizing her new songs didn’t have a place in a loud bar with a party atmosphere, she branched out and started playing more intimate venues, quickly finding her home in the folk and Americana scene. Her whisky-dipped soulful vocals and creative takes on day-to-day realities soon sparked the interest of “Nashville’s Americana Queen” Mary Bragg who began collaborating with Alicia on her new album.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
Of course! I love singing Patty Griffin songs in the shower.
If you were to write an autobiography, what would the title be?
“You can take the girl out of Heber” (but you can’t take the Heber out of the girl)
What makes you nostalgic?
On an inquisitive level: architecture. I love historic buildings, old cities, vintage anything. It makes me wonder about what it was like when these things were part of everyday life. When certain styles were shiny and new. I love learning about history and the way people lived.
If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
What is something you’ve wasted way too much time on, and I should give up right now?
Or…. what is this week’s winning powerball numbers?
If you were talking to a younger version of you, what advice would you give yourself?
Go bigger. You’re capable of more than you know.
What first got you into music?
My family has always been big into listening to music – we were early adopters of the CD club and had one of those 500-disc changer CD players. It was my job to catalogue and organize that monster. We always had CDs, mixtapes, or the radio going. My first dip into learning music was playing the clarinet in the 6th grade wind orchestra. From there I picked up my dad’s guitar when I was in high school and taught myself how to play. I started writing angsty songs in college in my dorm room, then I joined a rock/blues cover band after I graduated. I went back to my folksy songwriter roots and began writing songs that eventually led me to quit my own band and pursue a solo career as an Americana roots songwriter.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
My music is very lyric-driven, but energetic. Even the sad songs move along. I think I’m somewhere between a Sheryl Crow, and Jewel, and a Susan Tedeschi.
What is your creative process like?
I keep an ongoing note in my phone with ideas for titles or lines or topics. I’m also in a couple different online songwriter groups that keep me accountable to writing. I like to start with a title or idea and my guitar, working out musical structure and then fill in the melody and lyrics. I edit a LOT. I’m very particular about getting it just right and will go through many many drafts before I consider a song finished.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
That is so hard to narrow down…. but…. There’s a Sylvan Esso song I really love, “Funeral Singers”; I think it would be cool to collaborate with someone like them to do an electro-pop singer songwriter collab, transforming the kind of songs I write into something resembling “Funeral Singers.”
What is one message you would give to your fans?
THANK YOU. Thank you for giving me a reason to keep writing songs. Thank you for making them feel important and relevant. Thank you for cheering me on and keeping me going.
“Stay Between The Lines” is the first single from Alicia Stockman’s debut album These Four Walls, which is set for release November 2021. The single features “Nashville’s Americana Queen” Mary Bragg.
Her upcoming debut 10-track full-length album is entitled These Four Walls and is a collection of “songs to make you feel and feel seen.” The album says, “I see you. I’ve been there. I understand.” Written over a three year period, These Four Walls is a luminous roots release infused with gritty blues rock guitar licks and attention worthy melodies.
The first track on the album, “Stay Between The Lines,” was written during a long drive home from New Mexico and the highway inspired single discusses how we all can sometimes “dance between right and wrong and personal limits and boundaries to keep life interesting.” The reverb drenched guitar and wild west twang make “Stay Between The Lines” an alluring listen.
“Grit” is about working hard, falling down, and then getting back up again. As some of the toughest lessons in life happen through our failures, this Americana tune is the singer’s “pat on the back to the next generation, or anyone who might need a little push outside their comfort zone.” Alicia continues, “Growth can only happen outside your comfort zone, and outside that safe little bubble, things happen to be dirty, messy, challenging, and sometimes scary.” Featuring stirring vocals, moody lush acoustic guitar, and Johnny Cash inspired landscapes, “Grit” is an anthem of determination.
In the album’s title track, “These Four Walls,” Alicia hopes to destigmatize the conversation on mental health. She confides, “I wrote ‘These Four Walls’ to help me process a former relationship in which my partner had severe depression/anxiety disorder. This song was my way of unpacking all that and finding a way back to myself.” The song features a stripped-down melody with dreamy, tender lyrics that showcase her vulnerability as an artist.
Recognized for her unique songwriting and performance formula, Alicia has received accolades from several performing songwriter competitions including Songwriter Serenade, Tucson Folk Festival, Suzanne Millsaps Songwriter Competition, and the Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival.
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