Perhaps the most reflective, thoughtful album from this poet/musician. Sensitive, well placed arrangements place Wally's guitar and voice front and center.

10 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Folk Pop, POP: Folky Pop



Details:
âMy Placeâ is the second of Wally Lawderâs 3 CDs, recorded in 2004 shortly after he moved to New Mexico.

"In some ways, I see this as a complement to the Adobe Cafe CD. This is the mellower side of the two." Using his acoustic folk-pop style, this album moves from an almost folk feel to a soft jazzy pop. A good collection to settle into with a glass of wine after a day on the road or after work.

Bio:
Wally Lawder is a Kansan-born New Englander who now lives in Silver City, New Mexico. A talented singer-songwriter with a loyal following, he likes to think of himself as a contemporary troubador. "It's hard for me to categorize my music--I've had so many far ranging influences. My roots are as much in rock/pop as folk, and I've got a big appreciation for jazz and world music."
A musician for many years, he didn't start writing his own material until the mid 1990's, when he found himself energized by the contemporary singer-songwriter boom. "I really took a liking to performers like John Gorka, Ellis Paul, Patty Larkin, Susan Werner, Bruce Cockburn. I could relate so much to their songwriting and was inspired to write my own."

Some of his earliest musical memories come from his exposure to the music that was played in his home as he was growing up: rockabilly, classical, jazz, early folk ("It was a curious but fascinating mix, and I think it helped shape my eclectic style.") Wally's real musical awakening came later with the Beatles, and that inspired him to buy his first guitar. Other early musical influences included Mississipi John Hurt, Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Paul Winter.
His songs, sung in a resonant baritone, mostly come from direct life experiences and observations. He's a natural storyteller and has a way of drawing audiences into his stories. He can be very funny yet touch serious topics deftly. While he sings about a wide spectrum of experience, overall his message is upbeat and life affirming.

Live, he often plays solo, or with his backing band, the Flying Coyotes.