Inge Hoogerhuis, Admissions Director at NWA has recently taken her musical talents to the next level by creating her first full length studio album, Out Ridin’ Sunny.
“I had already done a small EP, working with a pianist,” said Hoogerhuis. “But then I started writing and I applied for the Northwest Academy Creative Grant for faculty, and then suddenly I had to really show up and make an album.”
Upon receiving the grant, Hoogerhuis had to instantly ramp up creation of the album, which meant finding a studio, a producer, musicians, artists, as well as spending a lot more time writing and recording, which took over two years.
“[Making an album] is not easy,” said Hoogerhuis. “It takes a lot of time, and a lot of money to do an album right. It is really scary but it is also the most exciting and rewarding thing that I think I have done in ages.”
The grant provided an opportunity for Hoogerhuis to work in tandem with a producer and studio musicians to bring her ideas to life.
“I was really fortunate to work with the Rye Room and a really gifted, producer, engineer that knows all the best people in town,” said Hoogerhuis. “I was able to bring in these incredible musicians to work with me.”
Out Ridin’ Sunny is mainly an album of Americana, but many tracks on the album are in several other genres.
“Some of the songs are just so outright western and country that they just crack me up, like I can’t believe that I wrote that,” said Hoogerhuis. “Some of the tracks are more anthem style and I even have a gospel choir singing on one of the songs ‘We’ll Get There.’”
The album explores many themes as well as genres, including love, nostalgia, regret and hope. One song on the album “Blue Lullaby,” Hoogerhuis collaborated with Luke Prince of Love Dean which was written as a response to a visiting writer event several years ago.
“’Blue Lullaby’ was inspired by a book by a visiting writer who came to NWA several years ago,” said Hoogerhuis. “The book is entitled Whiskey When We’re Dry by John Larison. I loved the book and wanted to create a song that could be dropped in the middle of it and feel like it totally belonged, and I am proud of it.”
According to Hoogerhuis, the most difficult part about making an album is not the writing or recording, but applying the finishing touches.
“Wrapping up the album has been really hard for me,” said Hoogerhuis. “In finishing, it meant that I had to do a photoshoot, which I was able to do with the amazing Kelli Pennington. I had to find somebody to make the album cover and I had to make a website. Those are just things that are more outside of my control. I have to really seek help for that.”
Hoogerhuis has been interested in music from a very young age, and has been pursuing her love for writing and performing ever since, through both singing and playing guitar.
“I think that [music] has always been of interest to me,” said Hoogerhuis. “It started when I first saw Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, when I was so young, and I was just enamored with her and her beautiful voice.”
Hoogerhuis also cites Nat King Cole as one of her early influences.
“My father used to listen to standards, so I bought him a Nat King Cole album,” said Hoogerhuis. “And I played it far more than he played it.”
Hoogerhuis hopes that the album will lead to other creative endeavors, not only in writing and recording in the studio, but also performing.
“What I am hoping this album will do, is just offer me other creative opportunities to perform more,” said Hoogerhuis. “I would love to write with other people.”
Photo by Kelli Pennington
