TWE 314: Singer-Songwriter Carrie Rodriguez Connects People with Soulful Storytelling

TWE 314: Singer-Songwriter Carrie Rodriguez (l) with TWE Host Catherine Anaya (r)

Available also on Apple Music, Spotify and Stitcher

Don’t miss a BRAND NEW episode of The Women’s Eye podcast with Catherine Anaya as I talk with the incredibly talented singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez. She is making a difference in the world with storytelling and connecting people through her music.

Poster for musical iAmericano! opening Off-Broadway in April with music composed by Carrie Rodriguez

Carrie started taping concerts at her house during the pandemic with her husband, Luke Jacobs, and her then four-year-old son, Cruz, who helped them shoot the video. She and her husband also created From Texas with Love, an outdoor video series.

“We asked ourselves what is inspiring us? What songs do we feel might help people? What’s helping us? So it was a really sweet way to stay connected and feel like we were still able to give,” she says.

The Austin, Texas-based artist is now involved in a number of music projects, including one that has her switching roles from performer to composer/lyricist of an original Off-Broadway musical ¡Americano! in New York City!

It tells the true story of Tony Valdovinos, an Arizona Dreamer who learned he was undocumented when he turned 18 and tried to join the Marines. It follows his inspiring fight for societal and self-acceptance.

The musical had a wildly successful run in Phoenix, Arizona where it broke box office records, ending its 27-show debut in February 2020 with music that is unique, powerful, and moving.

In this podcast, Carrie shares how she became involved in the project ¡Americano! and how challenging it was for her having never written for a musical before.

Also:

The long and challenging journey to finally having the music of ¡Americano! come alive on a global stage when it opens for a 12-week run in April. Previews start Mar. 31.

How she came to co-compose the theme music for Brene Brown’s popular podcast Unlocking Us.

Why it was so important for her to use video to connect people through music, as she did during the pandemic, and how her many projects celebrate collaboration, culture and diversity.

Don’t miss my engaging conversation with Carrie Rodriguez on this episode of The Women’s Eye podcast.