Folk artist Laura Gibson tours engrossing, critically acclaimed new album to Alaska

When listening to Laura Gibson's recent album, "Empire Builder," released in April, it's hard to imagine she hasn't always considered herself a musician. Musically, Gibson is an old soul, despite the fact that she didn't grow up learning the craft.

"My origin story is a little nontraditional, I didn't play music growing up, at all," Gibson said. "I was really into sports and school and my parents weren't musical, so I just didn't really think of it as an option."

"Empire Builder" is a tightly written, emotionally charged folk album, featuring the likes of Neko Case drummer Dan Hunt, violinist Peter Broderick and Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Dave Depper. The album picked up critical acclaim from tastemakers including Pitchfork and NPR for its strong, mature songwriting — somewhat surprising from a musician who didn't pick up guitar until well past her teenage years.

"I started playing guitar when I was about 20, or a junior in college, and I started writing songs as a way to express myself," Gibson said. "I really fell in love with songwriting as a form and music."

After graduating, Gibson moved to Portland in 2002. She was inspired to share her music there, but rather than hitting the bars or open-mic nights, she had a different audience in mind.

"I thought I might start volunteering somewhere — and specifically with people who were dying or in the last phase of their lives," Gibson said.

Gibson's decision to volunteer was informed by her father's health struggles throughout her formative years, and the constant presence of a home hospice nurse: "Understanding that experience from a more mature place in my life drew me to the idea," Gibson said.

That desire to share herself with listeners and honor the human experience shines through in Gibson's strong, narrative songwriting. Her songs are engrossing and relatable and, layered as they are with Gibson's evocative musical arrangements, often feel like Gibson is telling your story.

On the sweetly hopeful "Empire Builder" track "Two Kids," Gibson sings of a bravely naive young love: "Sneak a move, trade a roof for the open sky / Living on luck / tethering our hopes to a pickup truck." Yet, on the same album the wistful and sparse track "Damn Sure" tells of a failed relationship that began with the same heady hopes: "Now I'm lost in the belly of a cold museum / staring at the beaks on the bird-faced men / Now you're sitting in the kitchen with someone else / Stacking up peels of your clementines."

While 2006 marked Gibson's first full-length album, 2016 serves as a time to reflect on the past decade. "Empire Builder" was written while completing a master's program and dealing with the after-effects of a destructive apartment fire in March 2015. Gibson notes that one of her biggest developments as a songwriter is her lyrical perspective and how she faces situations.

"When I listen back to my very first record, the songs I wrote were very much imagining myself in some other place. A lot of them are very dreamy, nostalgic for the past or kind of dreaming of some kind of alternative future," Gibson said. "The biggest difference I see between that first record and my fourth record is that ("Empire Builder") feels so much more present. I am observing the things in front of me, the objects and concrete details … I'm looking at the human experience from a less escapist way."

Anchorage residents will be able to experience the potent songs from "Empire Builder," as well as older favorites, during an upcoming listening show. Local boutique booking agency Ladybird Booking, operated by Megan McGee and singer-songwriter Emma Hill, helped to arrange the event.

After completing her tour in support of "Empire Builder," Gibson plans to return to the Pacific Northwest and Portland. Musically, Gibson hopes to pursue projects that can incorporate her love of writing, both fiction and music.

"I'm pretty excited about the idea of making music outside of the traditional (way) — write songs, make a record… I'm interested in combining music with writing in different ways," Gibson said. "I'm trying to dream up the next bit of time for myself, creatively. And I'm excited about the next thing."

Laura Gibson

When: 7 p.m. Friday, July 29

Where: Tap Root Public House, 3300 Spenard Road

Tickets: $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Tap Root or online at taprootalaska.com.