Americana Highways brings you this premiere of Erin Gibney’s song “Exit Signs,” a co-write with American Idol winner Kris Allen, who also sings backing vocals on it. It was produced and by Paul Ebersold and will be released via Rock Ridge Music on May 12.
Musicians on the track are Erin Gibney on vocals, Kris Allen on backing vocals, John Estes on bass and pedal steel, Court Clement on guitar, Paul Ebersold on B3, and Jordan Person on drums.
We had an opportunity to chat with Erin Gibney about the song. The premiere appears just beneath the interview.
Americana Highways: What prompted you to write this song? What was the inspired it? What is its message?
Erin Gibney: This song was inspired by my realization that it was time to leave my long-term relationship. I had spent my early 20s in love with someone who I thought I would spend my life with. I realized that as I grew up, I changed more than I thought I would, and I wasn’t the same person that I was at the start of the relationship. It took a great deal of strength to walk away, and this song details the confusion and guilt I felt during that time.
AH: How did this song come together when you wrote it? What was the songwriting process like?
EG: When I walked into this write, I knew I wanted the hook to center around the idea of “Exit Signs.” Traveling had been a big part of my relationship, and I knew I wanted to honor that in the song. Before the write, I had spent weeks trying to piece together how I felt with music, so by the time we sat down to write it, I had a few lines that I knew I wanted to include in the song.
AH: This song was a co-write. How did you come to work with your co-writer? What did they bring to the table and contribute to the song?
EG: My team at Rock Ridge Music helped set this write up. I am a huge fan of Kris Allen’s so when I learned about the write, I was thrilled to be working with him. Kris brought so much into the writing room. He constructed the melody, and created this hook from the original idea.
AH: What kind of a vibe were you going for on this song? How does the final version differ from what you imagined it might be before you went into the studio?
EG: With this song, I actually didn’t know the direction I wanted to go with it right away. I knew that the lyrics could lend towards a ballad, but I didn’t want it to feel too sad by making it that way. My producer, Paul Ebersold, really helped me piece my ideas together once I got into the studio. It was exciting to watch it come to life in ways I hadn’t fully imagined yet.
AH: What do you hope listeners get from hearing the song? What message do you hope it conveys?
EG: I think that being the one to leave a relationship is a really difficult thing. I needed a song like this one to remind me that I wasn’t alone in how I was feeling. It’s my hope that anyone going through this same situation will listen to this song and feel understood.
AH: What is coming up next for Erin Gibney?
EG: This year, I’ll be releasing more music than ever! I have been writing more than I have in my entire life, and I am really proud of the songs that have come out of it. I can’t wait to bring this new music into the world.
Thanks for chatting with us, Erin Gibney. Find more of her music here: https://lft.lnk.to/ExitSigns
This breakup song contains a mixture of grief and optimistic hope, set in a countrified arrangement that really allows Erin’s vocals to shine. Good song.