Carrie Rodriguez, a singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas, finds beauty in the cross-pollination of diverse traditions. A passionate performer, she effortlessly melds fiery fiddle playing, electrifying vocals and a fresh interpretation of new and classic songs with an “Ameri-Chicana” attitude. Her newest project found her switching roles from performer to composer/lyricist of an original musical. ¡Americano!, which ended its 27-show debut at The Phoenix Theatre Company at the end of February of 2020 with 10 consecutive sellout performances, follows the true story and journey of Tony Valdovinos, born in Colima, Mexico and brought to the U.S. when he was two years old. The musical casts a profoundly human light on what it means to be a DREAMer. An album of 9 selections from the musical (aptly titled ¡Americano! The Musical) was released in January ‘20. Produced by the musical’s arranger Sergio Mendoza, the album features his band Orkesta Mendoza, Carrie on vocals and strings, and guest vocalists Joey Burns (Calexico), Brian Lopez, and Carlos Arzate.
“¡Americano! is an inspired act of conscience. It is a work that speaks to a moment in time when a nation's principles are being challenged. It carries with it an emotional power that is palpable and yet immensely entertaining.”
- Herbert Paine, Broadway World
In 2017 Carrie founded a highly acclaimed ongoing concert series set at the historic Cactus Cafe in Austin,Texas called Laboratorio that both celebrates and explores Latinx culture and its contribution to the American experiment. Carrie and her all-star Laboratorio band collaborate with a different guest artist for each unique performance, ensuring that no two shows are ever the same. They’ve collaborated with artists such as legendary Tejano vocalist Ruben Ramos (of the Grammy award winning Los Super Seven), Latin pop songstress Gina Chavez, jazz trumpet player/bandleader Ephraim Owens, and guitarist/composer/producer Adrian Quesada (of the Black Pumas) to name just a few.
“Not only does each unique “laboratory” produce joy and wonder (on stage AND in the audience), it also reflects our American experiment: men and women, young and old, black, white, brown, and everything in between, collectively creating an uplifting sense of surprise in each performance...The musicians share duties, switch instruments and take turns being featured, expressing the values of mutual respect and innovation that the best aspects of this country were built on.”
- Evan Voyles, The Neon Jungle
Rodriguez’ last full-length solo effort, the bilingual album Lola, was heralded as “the perfect bicultural album”, and was included in NPR’s best albums of 2016 as well Rolling Stone’s Best Country albums of the year. Inspired by the 1940’s-era recordings of Carrie’s great aunt, Chicana singing sensation Eva Garza, the album is a mixture of new and old songs. It features Spanish songs written by some of Carrie’s favorite Mexican composers, as well as her own Ranchera-inspired original songs written in English, Spanish and “Spanglish.”
“I don't think I have ever heard anything express so powerfully the kind of bicultural existence so many of us live....Lola is a classic example of storytelling and a definitive statement of identity that stays with you long after that story ends."
- Felix Contreras, NPR Music
Carrie, an Austin native, began playing violin at age five. Her training quickly became the passion and focus of her childhood, and by age 10, she had performed as part of a group at Carnegie Hall. She continued the classical track in her first year at Oberlin Conservatory, then shifted gears to pursue her true love affair with the fiddle—staying true to her Texas roots—at the Berklee College of Music.
Early in her career, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Chip Taylor, who penned rock and roll classics such as “Wild Thing” and “Angel of the Morning”, resulted in four highly acclaimed duet albums. Her subsequent solo albums highlight the diversity of her musical identity, from her debut Seven Angels on a Bicycle to 2013’s Give Me All You Got, which reached no. 1 on the Americana Music Charts.
“A superb interpretive singer, not only milking melodies for all their pleasure but also revealing new implications in the lyrics."
- The Washington Post
Carrie has performed and worked with legendary artists such as Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Patty Griffin, Bill Frisell, Rickie Lee Jones, Mary Gauthier, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo and Los Lonely Boys, among others. She has made numerous television and radio appearances, including Austin City Limits, The Tonight Show, A Prairie Home Companion, and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. Carrie has been profiled in many publications, including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Times of London, The New Yorker, and the Washington Post.
“She’s the trifecta for me – beautiful singer, soulful songwriter, and kick-ass fiddler.”
- research professor and author Brené Brown
Carrie lives in Austin with her partner and musical collaborator Luke Jacobs, a multi- instrumentalist/singer-songwriter from Minnesota, and their 4 year old son, Cruz.