Catch Of The Week: Abigail Vail
Meet Abigail Vail from Plymouth, MA
This sweet, sensitive voice may have been born about 50 years too late. Or could she be right on time? Perhaps, the world needs Abigail Vale now. One thing is for sure, she is an old soul. Abby’s influences are woven throughout her words, her chords and her sound. From Joni Mitchell to Carly Simon, and her more contemporary, Lori McKenna. Soulful songwriters spreading messages of love and tolerance, sharing stories of everyday life are part of this young artist’s repertoire.
Abigail was fed a diet of poetry, music and all mediums of art, growing up in Canton, Massachusetts. Her dad was a music teacher and taught her to play guitar. She started performing as young as 14 years old. In fact, Luke Vail often accompanies his daughter on guitar, as they did on a recent visit to our station. It’s clear that Ms. Vail is on a path to please the world with her poetry and ethereal vocals, quite reminiscent of early works from one of her heroes, Lori McKenna. She’s off to a remarkable start.
Vail’s mother is an ER nurse and is the inspiration behind her brand new song, “The Hero.” Her vocals soar in this touching and powerful tribute to a woman who goes to work without thinking of the implications because, “being strong for the weak is all she’s ever known, and people keep saying that she’s a hero.” Her message is carried out like waves of emotions crashing on the shore, then holding back, with tranquility, only to pound the surface again.
So, dive in, and take a listen to Abigail Vail’s incredibly moving original, “The Hero.”
A little over a year ago Abigail and her father, Luke, came to our studios to perform a couple of original songs live. Take a listen to the beautiful imagery in the song, “Wandering Soul.
Abigail UnVailed
- From: Canton
- Grew up in: Canton
- Now lives in: Plymouth
- Current single, and or EP or Album: My “wandering soul” album is to be released in fall of 2020! I also have a number of acoustic singles I recently released on my website.
- What lead you to music: My father is a musician and music teacher so I’ve been around music my whole life but never really pursued it. I enjoyed writing poetry when I was younger and in high school I found a love for putting that poetry to music as lyrics.
- How old when you started: I started at the age of 14.
- Instruments played: I play guitar mainly, I dabble with other instruments but not well enough to actually claim that I play them!
- How would you describe your sound: I think it would be best described as Americana, folk and country.
- Who inspires you: I have a lot of inspirations but I am most inspired by artists that focus on lyrics in their writing practice, I love the poetic aspect of song writing. Lately I have been very much into Patty Griffin and Dolly Parton but I grew up on folk music from artists like Carol King, Melanie and Carly Simon.
- Awards/accolades: I recently was nominated for a limelight award and was chosen as the recipient for an Iguana Fund grant through club Passim to support my coming album “Wandering Soul.” I feel so fortunate to have been provided with both of these opportunities!
- Dream duet partner: My dream duet partner would have to be Dolly Parton because her writing is so incredible and she has been such a support to other female artists and has served as an incredible role model.
- All- time favorite country songs: My all time favorite country song is by a local artist, Lori McKenna, she wrote the song for Tim McGraw and won the CMA song of the year award for it. The song is called “Humble and Kind,” and illustrates the values that she hoped her children would carry with them through adulthood. Her latest single, “When You’re My Age,” has also been a highlight during the coronavirus pandemic, it was a pleasant surprise and has become a fast favorite of mine.
- First country concert: Brad Paisley
- What songs do you like now on Country 102.5: I still love the song “Beautiful Crazy” by Luke Combs
- If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing: I’m really not sure what I would do if I wasn’t a musician, I’ve loved the arts in all forms so I’d probably turn to something else like writing books or poetry, painting, or dancing.. these were things I pursued heavily before music captured my heart and still play around with in any free time I have today.
- Day Job: I made the leap and became a full time musician last year, it has been one of the best and happiest decisions I’ve made for myself in a long time. There’s something really freeing about doing the work you love, it doesn’t feel like work and I’ve been able to pour myself into it entirely with no distractions.
- Most proud moment: Performing at the Cape Cod Melody Tent and South Shore Music Circus as an opener for different artists was a huge moment for me. It was the first time I looked at the work I had been doing for years and really thought that what I created was real, substantial and worthy of being taken seriously. Music has many ups and downs so it’s moments like that, that keep you believing in yourself even when you are having feelings of self doubt.
- Crazy thing that happened in your music career: A crazy moment happened when I had gone on vacation to Ireland, I was in a bar late at night and saw this trio playing in the corner. My family convinced me to go talk to them and ask about a particularly pretty mandolin one of the men had. After a really amazing conversation they invited me to play with them and then invited me to play their next show the following night at another bar. At the second bar the owner had offered me a full time position as the house singer, he said he’d let me live in the apartment above the bar and pay me money for spending if I sang every night. I was only 18 and my mother quickly shut down the idea of my living by myself above a bar in another country but it was a very tempting and flattering offer!
- Other things you like to do: I love to draw, dance and cook!
- Fun facts: 1. I love to salsa dance 2. I paint portraits of peoples dogs on wine glasses as a side business 3. I wrote a children’s album
- Mantra: Be honest and kind.
- Gigs: Corona virus has thrown a pretty major wrench in all of the performers plans. As opportunities arise I have been keeping people up to date on different happenings through my social media page. I have a calendar of dates on my website but I’ll be informing people through my Facebook page as to whether those will end up staying in place or if they won’t come to fruition because of covid but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will be performing in some capacity this summer.
The Vail Vine
Every week, Kruser’s Local Catch highlights New England’s homegrown country music talent, and tells you where to catch them locally and in Nashville. Click here to view previous catches.
*Singer/songwriters with original music: Please submit for consideration on The Local Catch by emailing Kruser at [email protected]
