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Music Journeys: Angela Perley

Heather Anderson

Angela Perley has been writing, performing, and recording music for the last decade - all while calling Columbus home. Her new record "4:30" reflects on that time and displays her growth as a songwriter. Perley's album release show takes place Friday night at Skully's Music Diner. In this edition of Music Journeys, Perley talks about her Columbus roots, her new songs, and the music moment she'll never forget.

Let Go plays...

Angela Perley feels good about the direction of her music. 4:30 marks her third full-length record, but the first she's co-produced with longtime guitarist and collaborator Chris Connor.  

"It's taken me awhile to develop over the years,” Perley said. “This record is still very much a full band record, but Chris and I are leading the way. It's the first independent release for me and figuring out how to do that is kind of interesting. There are some challenges but also great rewards. Taking everything I learned from the last ten years and putting it toward this album. It feels really good.”  

Lost and Found plays...

"I've lived in Columbus my whole life, and I’m 33 now,” Perley said. “I grew up in Hilliard. Earliest memories were dancing to oldies music on my back porch as a kid. I loved 50's and 60's pop music. I was the one kid on the school bus that wanted them to change to the oldies station. I started writing songs in high school. I went to college at Ohio University in Athens, and moved back to Columbus around 2009. I’d play coffee shops and pizza shops, just getting into the city scene at an early age. Columbus has been so supportive and there’s a strong music and arts scene here. It has help create a really great base for me and my band." 

4:30 plays...

"It's about overcoming obstacles and to kind of keep going,” Perley said in describing the title track. “It's a personal song with me and my musical journey and also relationships. It just set the tone for the album. It's a lot of reflection and also some character-driven songs in there too.”   

Don't Look Back Mary plays...

"That one came as more so as a poem,” Perley recalled. “I write a lot of songs as little poems and little scenes in my head. It's kind of like a broken character, but there's some beauty. I always tend to go for a more tragic but also kind of idolized character in my songs for some reason.”  

Dangerous Love plays...

"We've been trying to capture that song for so long,” Perley said of Dangerous Love. “It was too new for the last record – 2016’s Homemade Vision. We've been playing it live for awhile. It's probably the oldest song that's on this record. From playing it so many times, we finally captured it the right way.”

Local Heroes plays…

“Music really does connect people from different backgrounds,” Perley said. “It means so much. It's celebrating life and relationships. I think the biggest thing is that it brings the community together. Just from playing shows, I’ve realized that people will meet at our shows and become friends or get married. It has a life of its own. It's a celebration and reflection of life and very therapeutic to have music in your life.”     

Ruby Girl plays...

"The biggest moment for me was opening up for Lucinda Williams, one of my all-time favorite songwriters and musicians,” Perley reflected. “Her music really turned me on into developing what I am now. When I first heard her voice and her songs, I immediately felt connected. I never considered myself a singer, and there was something about her that was so real and authentic. She was such a huge inspiration. So when I opened up for her, it was surreal. Now I've met her several times. She's so positive and cool. I remember her saying that every artist is on a different journey. People get maybe to the same place eventually, but everyone has their own path and different times to get to different places. I thought that was very wise, so I will never forget that.”  

Back In Town plays...

"Each album kind of grows organically,” Perley said. “I never have time to really think about it. Having a little more room and flexibility on travelling and the band, I’m excited to work with talented musicians, engineers, and producers. That's the really fun part about making albums and playing music.”  

Angela Perley's album release show takes place Friday night at Skully's Music Diner. There are several dates around the state and the country coming up as well. You can find all the details at angelaperley.com.

Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.
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