Aaron Espe

Raised in small-town northern Minnesota, Aaron Espe got his start by opening for the folk duo Storyhill in Minneapolis before dropping out of school to tour solo sets. Espe’s career has taken him across the U.S. and Northern Ireland, playing in coffee shops, bars, churches, and even the occasional yoga studio. He has released over five solo albums including: My Whole Life (2005), Songs From A Small Town (2008), Three (2012), Through Frozen Forests (2012) and most recently Safe Enough To Wander (2013). In addition to his solo success, Espe has opened for The Fray, John Gorka, Juliet Turner and Brian Houston. He’s also secured coveted placements on ABC, MTV, VH1, Animal Planet, as well as commercials for Sainsbury’s, Payless ShoeSource, Volkswagen, The University of Minnesota and the film, “Where the Yellowstone Goes.” He says his success as a songwriter comes from “taking chances and being open to new discoveries,” a principle by which he also tries to live. One of his major influences is Martin Sexton’s Black Sheep album, which prompted him to focus his songwriting on topics a bit more confessional and vulnerable. One in particular, the song “Glory Bound,” which he says, “lays it all on the table…if you don’t feel something deep inside of you when you’re listening to it, I don’t know what to tell you.” Outside of music, Espe enjoys working with his hands, sometimes gardening with his wife, or tinkering in the garage while accompanied by his two-year-old son. He also acts as one-half of Bombs Over Nowhere, a collaborative project with his friend and fellow songwriter busbee. Currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee, Espe writes for Nettwerk and Revelry. — “Espe wears hats of Damien Rice, John Mayer, and James Taylor without any of the fanfare, arrogance, or preconception. [Songs from a Small Town] is the perfect collection of unknown folk songs. Instantly singable, effortlessly lovable, and incredibly well for the wear.” Patrol Magazine “[Songs from a Small Town] transports you into Espe’s world and you will be better off for having visited.” THISisMODERN.net “[‘My Whole Life’] One of the top 20 CDs we’ve found anywhere in the last year.” Intelligent Pop “[His] music is honest and true. A real breath of fresh air in an ocean of superficiality — with songwriting that reveals the insight of a skilled poet twice his age.” Ron Craighead, KGLT Radio “Hearing his music is like the experience of not realizing how thirsty you are until you start drinking….There’s no doubt that this is some of the most gorgeous male folk music you’ll hear.” CD Baby Editors