Article Contributed by Brat Girl Media
Published on 2026-03-28
Photo credit: Austin Britt
Ruf Records is proud to announce the release of My Voice, the long-awaited debut solo album from acclaimed American blues, soul, and rhythm & blues guitarist, songwriter, and producer Laura Chavez. My Voice captures one of the most respected guitar voices in modern blues stepping forward with a project that is both deeply personal and musically expansive. The album is fully instrumental—because for Laura Chavez, the guitar is her voice.
Widely celebrated for her fiery technique, emotional depth, and unmistakable tone, Chavez has spent years shaping contemporary blues through her collaborations with such artists as Deborah Coleman, Nikki Hill, Candye Kane, Dani Wilde, The Mannish Boys, Mike Ledbetter, Monster Mike Welch, Vanessa Collier, Casey Hensley, and Whitney Shay. Rooted in the Texas and Chicago blues traditions while embracing both classic and modern influences, her playing has earned her multiple nominations for Instrumentalist – Guitar at the Blues Music Awards, ultimately winning the category in 2023—making her the first and only woman to ever receive this prestigious honor.
With My Voice, Chavez presents a compelling collection of instrumental performances—originals and re-imagined classics—that reflect her musical heritage, personal history, and the diverse influences that have shaped her career. Through each track, her guitar speaks with clarity, emotion, and storytelling power, making lyrics unnecessary.
Among the standout moments is “Born On The Bayou,” a powerful tribute to her father. “I did this song for my Dad. He is a huge CCR fan and would play the tape all the time in the car. I wanted to do it uptempo and driving—completely the opposite of most of what CCR is known for—but I knew the guitar part and melody were so iconic everyone would instantly recognize it.”
Another highlight is “So Long Baby, Goodbye,” Chavez’s homage to her California roots and its unique blend of musical cultures. “This song is my tribute to my home state of California and its one-of-a-kind Roots/Rock & Roll scene that has influenced me in almost everything I’ve done… The Blasters epitomized this melting pot and even hired one of my all-time favorite guitarists, Hollywood Fats, to add to their highly charged, R&B-infused Rock and Roll sound.”
On “El Cascabel,” Chavez honors her Mexican heritage and the cultural richness of life near the border. “I live in San Diego, 15 minutes from the Mexican border, and it is easy to be immersed in Mexican culture and tradition… This is a Mariachi standard and has always been one of my favorites. I wanted to see how we could arrange something like that for a Blues and Rock band, drawing influence from groups like Los Lobos, another of my all-time favorites.”
Her love of soul-driven instrumental music shines through on “Chinese Checkers.” “Initially I wanted the covers to all be songs where the original versions had vocals, while my originals were intended to be instrumentals. But no one epitomizes popular soul and R&B instrumental music more than Booker T & the MGs… I thought it would be cool to flip it—play Booker T’s parts on the guitar and let the keys do something else. Plus, it was just fun to do.”
A haunting emotional peak arrives with “La Llorona,” inspired by Mexican folklore and created at the insistence of label founder Thomas Ruf. “He insisted there be a slow blues. I really wanted to focus on songs that weren’t only vehicles for guitar solos and didn’t know how to do it without vocals… This was around Día de Los Muertos, and when I heard this song again, I thought maybe I could do it as a slow blues, perhaps in the style of Peter Green.”
The melody and myth behind the song deeply resonated with her: “The story of La Llorona is dark and so is the music, but also beautiful and haunting, with a mournful melody that I thought could work in this context.”
My Voice is more than an album title—it is a declaration. After years of elevating the music of others, Laura Chavez presents her own story using the instrument that has always spoken for her. Raw, expressive, and deeply human, her debut solo album reveals a guitarist in full command of her craft and ready to be heard—without ever saying a word.
MY VOICE TRACK LIST:
001 Born On The Bayou
002 Mind Your Step
003 Shot-Zee
004 Wanderer
