Erin Margaret is a rising talent in Schuylkill County and beyond. She is known for her contradicting vocal styles accompanied solely by an acoustic guitar, or a metal band. Erin has had the disadvantage of being born with a “little hand,” but that has not stopped her from living the life she dreams of. Her story is an inspiration to any who know her, many praise her talent and wish her success.
Erin Margaret was born in Pottsville with a birth defect that left her with a fraction of a hand, which she dubs her “nub”, “cannon,” or “little hand.” Despite this deformity, Erin has become known for her ability to perform on stage.
Erin explains that after she was born, “a nun told my mother God gives things back when He takes things from us.”
Her musical background began when she was in fifth grade and she began playing the trumpet. She also branched out to piano and guitar. Erin has had to adapt to different techniques of playing instruments. She explained that playing guitar is difficult to her, but she has begun using duct tape and a pick to continue doing what she loves.
“I still struggle wanting to play more complicated guitar, the disability has become more of a style that I've embraced,” Erin said.
Erin Margaret began her path to the stage at eighteen after her uncle, Biff, bought her a guitar. She had her first performance in Ashland during an Ashland Boys Association (ABA) Parade. Hank Arhensfield, a local event coordinator, took her under his wing and helped her to get her start at performing more frequently. Since then, she has begun doing acoustic acts around the county. Erin also previously played in a band, Homespun, based out of Tamaqua. Then, she branched out vocally when she became a member of Tusko, a metalcore/heavy metal band. It is almost difficult to imagine that the person who sang alongside the acoustic guitar could also belt out such harsh vocals in Tusko.
Frank Fields, also known as Frank Phobia, is involved in talent buying, music marketing, and record producing in the Reading Pennsylvania area. He first saw Erin Margaret perform with Tusko and describes her performance as, “unhinged, volatile and fierce. I gotta be honest, I couldn’t really get into what she was doing, the danger was intense, but, I never heard a chorus or a real hook. It was a train wreck that was so hard not to watch. The band a puzzle, each member had a role in the chaos and Erin was the focus. Her charisma and charm always kept me intrigued, not her voice.” Frank Phobia continued to explain his opinion of her acoustic act, “I remember the first time, I heard Erin ‘sing’, and my opinion of her voice did a 180 in about two minutes. She is an old soul, with a pain and beauty in her tone and vocal delivery that is unforgettable. Her gift is her voice and her sense of melody to tell her story and keep you riveted. I’m really rooting for her, that she believes in herself and her undeniable gifts.”
She credits Jim “Smurf” Thomas, a fellow musician and Tusko member, for teaching her to do-it-yourself (DIY). Jim Thomas explained that DIY means, “mainly, doing first for bands, before expecting from bands. She really took to that idea. We would work together to book great line ups and make sure the flyers and other promotional tools were top shelf. And as the crowds grew, she worked harder, and she’s been doing great handling her own events for a while now.”
Erin Margaret acknowledges her mom, Kelly, and step-father, Ron “Rad,” for introducing her to music while she was growing up. She also thanks every musician that has helped her discover new music and supported her on her journey. She mentioned, Shane Flail, for helping her to find and play the music she loves.
Currently, Erin is working with Shane Flail, from the bands Tusko and The Glass House Children, as well as Tyler Troutman of Condition Oakland. She plans to bring her original music to light soon, for now she is calling her project Erin Margarte & The Folk Punks. Her original music is almost all inspired by some aspect of Schuylkill County.
Erin gave an example from her song “Fine,” “The air's getting cold and this town's getting old. A bar or a church at each corner pick your poison to keep you warm.”
Erin Margaret noted that many of the trials she has faced getting to where she is now, was not due to her “little hand.” Erin explained, “I hate being ‘that guy’ but being a woman in music has been the major challenge. With the community I've built myself around it's never been an issue.”
She appears to struggle more with how people judge her looks, as opposed appreciating her as the person she is. Through all the adversity she has faced growing up with a “little arm,” Erin is strong willed and determined to make something of herself in the music industry. She seems eager to speak with anyone who wants to find a place on the stage and struggles with a disability.
Erin stated, “The world is one hell of a whirlwind we all need to figure out, and you can't take on the world without overcoming what it's thrown at you. You're here and have been dealt a good hand (no pun intended). Make an impact. Take over the world.”
Erin Margaret will be performing at these locations:
June 2nd - Barnstock 2k18, Auburn
June 9th - Hazleton Art League, Hazleton
July 21st - JB Lovedrafts, Harrisburg
To find out more about her music visit her on Facebook at facebook.com/erinmargaretmusic