Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-06-11
Anguilla, British West Indies – Multi-award-winning U.S.-based Indigenous artist and guitar virtuoso Cary Morin releases his latest EP, *Songs From Anguilla 2026*, a collection of original songs written and recorded in February 2026 at the Anguillan studio AMA Recording.
This collection of songs was recorded following four months of preparation. The project was conceived by U.S.-based artist Sean Devine and financier Gordon Woodward, co-founders of the new recording grant program AXA Muse. AXA Muse, in partnership with AMA Recording, will help bring more international music artists to Anguilla to collaborate with local talent.
“It Matters To You Now” wades into buyer's remorse and the strange sensation of watching our own lives play out like a reality show. With the current state of things in the U.S., I've slowed my restless movement — fewer miles, more intention. Celeste and I have put down roots in Colorado in a way we never quite managed over the past few decades.
The songs are shifting, too. What started as simple blues ideas are opening up into something with more to say, social commentary creeping in at the edges. The more time I spend building songscapes, the more directions I feel pulled. I want to paint something you can place yourself inside, something that speaks to where you are and what surrounds you. To do that well, I need to understand you better. That's the work.
The feel of this one reaches back to Sade — her music had taken up permanent residence in my head during production and simply refused to leave. The lyrics came out fast, almost frantic, and were then entirely rethought once the track was laid down. I gave the song room to breathe after that, let it sit and settle, and that patience paid off. Melodies emerged from the quiet — guitar lines and other elements that only revealed themselves once I stopped forcing it.
This experience was both creatively and culturally enriching. It offered an opportunity to learn a distinct production style and bring that knowledge back to my own work. The songs reflect my perspective on current social and cultural dynamics in the United States within a broader global context. As a Native artist, I often draw parallels between my own heritage — rooted in a not-so-distant nomadic past — and the deeply rooted cultural traditions of others.
Recording in an island environment added a unique dimension to the project, echoing the spirit of many recordings that have long inspired me. I hope this collaboration is the beginning of an ongoing creative exchange rather than a one-time experience.
*Songs From Anguilla 2026* is available for all to stream or purchase on all music platforms. For more information, please visit carymorin.com. One single will be released per month from May through August of 2026, with the full EP available to the public on August 14.
Songs From Anguilla 2026 EP Tracklist & Liner Notes:
1. Peace – 4:46 – Reggae, Roots Rock — release date of May 15, 2026
2. It Matters to You Now – 6:14 – Rock, Pop — release date of June 12, 2026
3. Live A Little – 5:18 – Reggae, Roots Rock — release date of July 17, 2026
4. Another Place – 6:35 – Rock, Pop — release date of August 14, 2026
Run Time: 22:09
All songs co-produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Darius James and Omar Tomlinson at AMA Recording Studio at the Anguilla Music Academy in Anguilla, British West Indies.
All songs written by Cary Morin (Cary Morin Music / BMI)
Producer – Cary Morin
Executive Producer – Gordon Woodward
Artist & Repertoire/Program Director – Sean Devine
Music Personnel:
Cary Morin – songwriter/composer, guitar, vocals
Celeste Di Iorio – harmony vocals
Dennis Warrington – keyboards, co-producer
Shakes Warrington – bass
Joshua Gumbs – drums, percussion
Dave Clapsaddle – saxophone
Rob Grabill – harmonica
Thank You’s:
AMA Recording Studio – Unlike any other destination, AMA Recording makes perfect partners of a luxury creative recording experience and tranquility of being on a bespoke tropical island. The AMA Center is a non-profit, international collaboration space for innovation, technology, and the arts in Anguilla. The revenue generated by AMA Recording and other AMA entities goes towards enabling the programmatic and operational capabilities that The AMA Center provides for the people of Anguilla and the broader Caribbean region.
Sean Devine for choosing Cary Morin to pilot this collaborative project!
Gordon Woodward – without whom we would not have been able to realize this wonderful opportunity.
About Cary Morin:
Internationally acclaimed as a mesmerizing live performer, Cary Morin’s soul-stirring voice and jaw-dropping fingerstyle guitar playing have captivated audiences for decades. “Cary is a unique and brilliant player, songwriter, and singer. I have huge respect for his style and technique,” says legendary multi-instrumentalist and songwriter David Bromberg. “If you haven’t heard him yet, you should.”
Morin’s career catalog fuses the best of American roots music: blues, folk, soul, bluegrass, and the timeless and distinctive sounds of the rural countryside, from the Western Plains and Rocky Mountains to the rhythmic melting pot of the deep South.
His music has reached millions through prestigious performances at venues like the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center as well as national television and radio programs. He has shared stages with Taj Mahal, Los Lobos, and Bonnie Raitt, among countless others, while earning multiple awards including two Indigenous Music Awards for Best Blues CD. When not performing across the U.S. and Europe, Morin finds inspiration in Northern Colorado, which he proudly calls home.
