The Low Stakes Band | One Of A Kind

By David Jordan Jr

The magical ability that musicians posses to create artistic sounds and connect with people from all walks of love is one of the greatest talents one can possess. Music enables a person to take a life journey through their ears, mind and heart in their car, a nice lounge or the comfort of their living space. The Low Stakes Band, hailing from the Northeast region of the United States of America has combined dynamic instrumentation, humanistic lyrics and a soul gripping sound to make music that resonates with anybody that embraces everything life encompasses on a daily basis. Band members Eric Colville and Ann Holbrook talked to ESHE about how they formed the band, their music creation process and the impact of music in the lives of everyday people.

David Jordan Jr: How did you all cross paths and begin making music together?

Ann Holbrook: After years of singing with various country, rock, and Americana bands, I was looking for new musical collaborations—preferably on original music—and found Eric’s ad on Craiglist looking for a female singer with a low voice who harmonizes easily. It sounded like a perfect fit, and when I listened to his songs, I knew I loved them. When we met and began singing together, we quickly found that synergy the songs deserved

David Jordan Jr: What encompasses the music and artistry scene in New Hampshire?

Ann Holbrook: There’s a vibrant bluegrass and Americana scene, especially in the Seacoast area, and lots of singer-songwriters within it.

David Jordan Jr: As I’ve listened to you all’s music, I find a common element of simplicity in lyricism and mastery in delivery through both of you all’s voices and through the strings of the guitar and the keys of the piano/keyboard. What is your process for creating songs?

Ann Holbrook: At first we just sing them together to see what harmonies naturally emerge, and where, with no commitment to any until they resonate—and even then we leave room for changes as the songs deepen with practice. We believe that less can be more, so we leave room for lead melody vocals in the verses sweetened by partial harmonic lines to complement full duet singing on choruses and bridges. Except when we don’t! No rules beyond musicality.

Eric Colville: I find it interesting how much it has evolved since we began. I recently listened to one of our rehearsals and I was surprised at the parts that weren’t there.

David Jordan Jr: The song “Philadelphia” has a homey, personal and nostalgic feel to it that enables the listener to drift to many different places; places of the past, places of deep thought, places of serenity, and places that contain hope for the future. What was the inspiration for Philadelphia?

Ann Holbrook: Eric’s childhood there. I love the details a child would notice: the tree, the exact time of arrival, the sky, the appeal to different senses.

 

Eric Colville: I feel that I was expressing a longing for my roots once I realized that it mattered to me. I took years to truly realize that as a song even once I had the idea to actually make it a song.

David Jordan Jr: How do you feel music enables people to connect?

Ann Holbrook: Everyone loves to hear their stories sung in other people’s songs. We’re comforted to know others suffer similar insecurities and doubts, the same sense of mortality and vulnerability. We also love be inspired by others’ reasons for joy—we need that, in fact. And everybody loves good melodies and haunting harmonies.

Eric Colville: I truly believe people are more the same than different and that honest exposition of our experiences will always find an audience with someone.

David Jordan Jr: As musicians what do you feel is the most important obligation that you have to people all over the world that listen to your music?

Ann Holbrook: To be honest. To sing each song as if it’s being pulled out of us freshly each time. To love what we’re doing, as we do.

Eric Colville: I cannot agree more with what Ann said. It’s our obligation to deliver it with the same feeling that brought it to life.

David Jordan Jr: What current projects are you all working on and what can we expect from The Low Stakes Band in 2026?

Ann Holbrook: We’re working up a backlog of good tunes both for performance and recording. We share ideas and observations, and sometimes find ideas when we’re just talking about, well, anything.

Eric Colville: Yes – the backlog. What I’m actually most exceited about is our somewhat newfound realization that we sound best less controlled and with less concern about perfection. I want to explore recording practically live.

David Jordan Jr: What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received in life that has contributed to your career as a musician?

Ann Holbrook: That we’re all part of a giant web of musicians and music, regardless of our skill level or preferred genre, and that jealousy or judgment don’t belong there. We also know that musicianship develops in a never-ending process. Don’t get hung up worrying that you’re not better right now: just keep practicing, just keep playing. You do it for the sake of doing it, not for money or fame. Because you can’t stop yourself.

Eric Colville: For me it’s simply “be true to thyself” and never worry about what’s en vogue and popular. Each or our viewpoints about things is valid.

The Low Stakes Band Official Website CLICK HERE