Hi friends and fellow music lovers, I’m Erik Gaines, a singer-songwriter and performing musician from Virginia. I write and play original music rooted in Americana, blues, country, southern rock, and soulful storytelling. I perform regularly at venues across the Williamsburg area and pour my heart into every show.

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Music has always been my way of connecting with people, and right now I have six songs that are ready to take the next step. These tracks have been living with me for a while, and I want to capture them the right way — with real studio time, great engineering, and quality mixing — so they can be shared with more people and stand the test of time.

Here are the songs I want to record:

The Conch Song — A true story and local fan favorite inspired by my trip to Jamaica. It’s become a favorite at my live shows, and I’m excited to finally give it a proper studio home.

Black Dog — A raw, personal song about the struggle with rage and the “black dog” that can threaten to boil over in my own soul. It explores how this battle feels hereditary — passed from my father to me and now to my sons — and serves as both a confession and a warning to them.

Ok Oklahoma — A heartfelt song about leaving a small town for the big city, only to realize that what you really want is to go back home to that same small town.

What She Don’t Know — A fun, playful roots song about how sometimes I’d rather skip the crowds and just get my woman home so we can be alone together (if you know what I mean).

Heavy (a cover of the Train hidden track) — A powerful, heartfelt reimagining of one of my all-time favorite songs, delivered in my own roots/Americana style.

I’ll Love You More Tomorrow — A deeply personal song I wrote for my wife on our 20th wedding anniversary. It tells the story of our life together and how, with each passing day, I love her more.

Recording professionally means working with talented engineers, spending time in a studio, and making sure each track is mixed and mastered to sound its best. My plan is to record and master the songs one by one, then release them individually as singles. This way, you’ll get to follow the journey in real time and hear each new song as it’s finished.

Instead of choosing myself, I’d love for the people who support my music to help pick which song gets recorded first. When you donate, leave a comment on this page with your top choice. You can also vote using a quick anonymous poll.

VOTE HERE

I’ll check the votes regularly, post updates on the current leader, and start recording with the song the community wants most. Your input will genuinely shape this project from the very beginning. Every contribution, big or small, helps turn these songs from ideas and live performances into polished, professional recordings. In return, I’ll keep you in the loop with regular updates — studio photos, rough mixes, behind-the-scenes moments, and early access to each new song as it’s released. Supporters will also receive digital downloads of every track.

This isn’t just about making records. It’s about inviting the people who connect with my music to be part of the creative process. I’ve always felt the strongest bond with listeners who feel like they’re along for the ride. If you’ve ever enjoyed one of my songs at a show, connected with the stories, or simply believe in supporting independent, heartfelt music — I would be truly grateful for your help. Thank you for listening, for showing up to the shows, and for considering being part of this. Whether you donate, share this campaign, or just send encouragement, it all means the world.

VOTE HERE