Mara Hahn is a Seattle based vocalist and songwriter who has a skillful ear for distinguished harmonies. She grew up in Colorado, toured the country with children’s choirs and now spends her daytime hours as a nanny. Since the fall of 2010, Mara has contributed exquisite vocal harmonies to many of Eric’s songs as a member of the Eric Miller Band.

Eric met Mara about two years back at the Hopvine Open Mic where she sang an acapella version of ‘It Had To Be You.’ Eric was drawn to her powerful, sultry sound and they soon began collaborating. In the coming months, Mara worked diligently to learn the band’s repertoire and many of her harmonies have been captured on the latest Eric Miller CD coming out this spring.

In order to pursue her own songwriting and further work with Seattle band, Cordaviva, Mara has decided to discontinue her work with the Eric Miller Band. Eric is supportive of his friend’s decision and says, “Mara, thank you for all you have contributed to the Eric Miller Band. I wish you the very best!”

Floyd Reitsma is a Seattle based audio engineer who personifies patience and professionalism. He’s been engineering for more than twenty years and is the proud father of two beautiful children (whose pictures can be found on the Studio Litho fridge). Within Eric’s community, Floyd is respectfully honored for the prestigious roles of engineer, co-producer, and cigar-smoking-buddy.

Eric met Floyd a few years back when laying some guitar tracks on Ali Marcus’ album “The Great Migration” and later approached Floyd about recording his first full-length album. Because of Floyd’s generosity of time and advice throughout the recording process, Eric credited him as a co-producer on “There Is Nothing For You Here.”

As Eric began considering engineers for his second album, Floyd assured him, “I want to record your next album.” Eric and Floyd (along with many others!) have been hard at work on that album the last few months and are looking forward to mixing and mastering in the new year. Eric says, “Floyd, I don’t know what I’d do without your expertise and friendship. You’re the best, man!”

Rarely does one leave a live performance revitalized, inspired, and excited to be a musician. The Seattle Rock Orchestra’s tribute to Stevie Wonder was such an experience. Arriving just minutes before the show began, wishing I’d known the event was open seating, my wife and I slipped into a back row, stage left. We were immediately engulfed in an evening of pure bliss as the rock-solid orchestra, conducted by Kim Roy, accompanied vocalist after vocalist who blew us away in a perfectly arranged line up of Stevie’s known and unknown songs.

The arc of the production was impeccable with a show stopping performance of ‘Heaven Help Us All’ by Flora McGill, a tear inducing rendition of ‘Evil’ by okanomodé, and Darrius Willrich’s funky ‘Superstition’ that had the crowd out of their seats and dancing. 

All the vocalists brought their stellar musicianship (Allen Stone, Galen Disston of Pickwick, Michele Khazak, Fysah Thomas, Mycle Wastman, Tiffany Wilson, and Carson Henley) to partner with some of the best instrumentalists Seattle has to offer (Margaret Davis on Harp!).

Oh, and did I mention that the entire orchestration was written by local Seattle musicians, Scott Teske, Ian Williams, Emily Westman, Danny Oleson, Lauren Zeck, and Cian McCarthy?

The Seattle Rock Orchestra is phenomenal.

If you have yet to experience it, you are missing out.

Molly Bauckham is a Seattle based harpist and singer who brings a contagious joy to all she encounters. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon’s Clark Honors College where she received a degree in Theatre Arts and is currently playing the significant roles of both musician and friend in Eric’s community.

Eric first met Molly while she was working her day job at Dusty Strings in Fremont, Seattle. He knew she was an amazing harpist and nervously approached her about playing on his album, ‘There Is Nothing For You Here.’ As it were, she was as enamored by Eric’s songwriting as he was by her harp playing and happily agreed to perform on two tunes for the album.

Cut to a couple of years later and Eric is delighted to spread the word that Molly is releasing her own debut album, ‘Maid on the Shore,’ September 30, 2011. The album consists of traditional Irish and Scottish songs, contemporary pieces, original compositions and even a belly dancing tune! Comments on Molly’s YouTube channel call her voice “beautiful and haunting” and her harp playing “very delicate, gentle, and warm.” Eric says, “Molly, ‘Maid on the Shore’ sounds amazing; looking forward to purchasing my copy at your CD release show!”