With the cold winds a-blowin' and the snow drifts a-pilin' up, The Walker Project is here to envelop Athenians in a singer-songwriting blanket of warmness.
I just think everybody is snowed in and people need a release and we provide that
guitarist and vocalist Carole Walker said.
The Walker Project is a laid-back folk group composed of a brother-sister duo, Walker and her bassist brother Chris Walker, along with drummer Tim Hensley.
(Chris) brings so many different mindsets Walker said. It's nice to paint with all these colors.
The colors The Walker Project paints with come from all over the spectrum. Hip-hop, spoken word and singer-songwriter all accurately describe the band's songs, Walker said.
About every four months or so, the group makes the trek from Cincinnati to Athens, an open-minded oasis the band always enjoys playing. In Cincinnati, Walker said people are more apt to listen to cover bands or groups that already have established themselves around town.
But in Athens, people seem to be much more receptive to new bands and sounds.
It's so nice to come (to Athens) as an artist because you put yourself into your songs and people listen
she said. People in Athens have no fear about new music.
This desire to drink in new music is something Walker said she loves because it makes artists not only feel appreciated but also urges them to perform better, knowing people actually are listening.
Audiences might remember the trio from the regional success they enjoyed with their former band, Heavy Weather. That band achieved notable regional success but has been on indefinite hiatus for a few years. Walker said she still gets together with Heavy Weather's members on a social level and asks for their input on songs but doubts the band will get together for any extended period of time.
In 2003, The Walker Project received the Cincinnati Enquirer's Cammy Award for Best Urban/Hip-Hop Vocals. The award was flattering, Walker said, but she figured that The Walker Project received the award because of their few spoken word pieces ' and because they didn't fit into the other categories.
It was very nice
she said, but it was like
'Hip hop? I'm just a songwriter.'
The Walker Project will be playing at 10:30 p.m. tomorrow at The Blue Gator (downstairs), 63 N. Court St. The show is free.
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