Some artists don’t just play the blues — they expand its emotional vocabulary. This week on Blues With A Feeling, we welcome one of the most distinctive guitar voices of her generation: Laura Chavez, joining Shaun in conversation to celebrate the release of her long‑awaited debut solo album My Voice. For years, Laura has been the guitarist whose tone, fire, and emotional depth have shaped the sound of contemporary blues. Her résumé reads like a map of modern roots music: Deborah Coleman, Nikki Hill, Dani Wilde, The Mannish Boys, Mike Ledbetter, Vanessa Collier, Casey Hensley, Whitney Shay — and of course the late Candye Kane, whose band became both Laura’s musical home and her artistic crucible. Now, after decades of elevating the voices of others, Laura steps forward with a voice entirely her own — expressed not through lyrics, but through the instrument that has always spoken for her. As the press notes say, “the album is fully instrumental — because for Laura Chavez, the guitar is her voice.” Across ten tracks, Laura tells stories rooted in heritage, memory, and the places that shaped her. There’s the driving, uptempo reimagining of “Born On The Bayou,” recorded as a tribute to her father — “He is a huge CCR fan and would play the tape all the time in the car.” There’s “El Cascabel,” honouring her Mexican heritage and life near the border. And there’s the haunting emotional peak “La Llorona,” arranged as a slow blues at the insistence of Thomas Ruf — “The story of La Llorona is dark and so is the music, but also beautiful and haunting.” In the interview, Laura opens up about the making of My Voice, the challenge of telling stories without lyrics, the emotional weight behind these songs, and the journey from sideman to solo artist. To deepen the arc, we’ll also revisit her powerful years with Candye Kane, drawing from Comin’ Out Swingin’ — a period where Laura’s tone sharpened, her confidence grew, and her musical identity crystallised. Those tracks don’t just provide context; they reveal the roots of the artist we hear today. A rare conversation with a modern master — and a chance to hear the stories behind the sound. Laura Chavez. My Voice. In her own words. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
